April 23, 2021

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are an absolute classic. Add brown butter to the mix, load them with dark chocolate, and sprinkle them with flaky salt, and you’ve got a Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie masterpiece.

A couple years ago I shared a chocolate chip recipe that was pretty good, but had room for improvement. This recipe for Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies is the result of several rounds of testing and tasting. And I guarantee y’all are gonna love it.

I debated for weeks on whether or not to share this recipe here, or to save it for my first cookbook. It’s that good. But I decided it deserves to be out in the world, because I want all y’all to taste and savor this deliciousness, too. No real reason to keep y’all waiting for however long it takes me to actually write a cookbook.

With wedding planning in full swing, it’s been nice to take some time here and there to bake. That time may become more and more limited over the next year, but I’m going to enjoy it when I get it. And I’m going to enjoy it with a very large batch of these delicious Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I tested this recipe several times, with different adjustments each time: flour mixture, eggs vs yolks, melted butter or softened, sugar ratios, chill time, chocolate choices, scoop size, and more. All of these factors can make a difference in how your cookies turn out. This recipe was my third test batch, so in this case, third time was definitely the charm. These cookies are thick, soft, chewy, loaded with dark chocolate, and deliciously indulgent.

I tested these in two different sizes: a smaller, more “normal” cookie, and a jumbo cookie. I used a medium, 1.5 tablespoon scoop for the smaller cookies, and a larger ice cream scoop for the jumbos. While the jumbo cookies turned out super thick and chewy, day to day, I prefer the smaller cookies. They’re still thick, soft, and chewy, but they’re the ideal size for a little sweet pick-me-up in the afternoon, or a treat after dinner. As crazy as this sounds, I don’t always want a big ol’ cookie at the end of the day!

Tips for making the best ever Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Don’t over-brown your butter. The butter should reach a nice caramel color and smell nutty. Don’t let your butter get too brown, or else it’ll taste burned. Keep an eye on your butter while browning so it doesn’t go too far.

Also, something I recently learned about brown butter: moisture evaporates as the solids brown, so you have to replenish that moisture somehow in the recipe. My solution is to add a small ice cube to the butter once it’s browned and off the heat. You can also adjust your master recipe to account for the added moisture, but adding a little ice or water is just as easy.

Use good quality chocolate. Store-bought chocolate chips are fine, but using high-quality chocolate really makes a difference. In a pinch, I’ve used Baker’s bars that I’ve chopped up, but by far my favorite chocolate to use is Belle Chocolate’s 70% dark.

Side note: Belle Chocolate is local to Chattanooga, and one of my favorite local brands. Check ’em out!

Use a mix of cake flour and all-purpose flour. Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, so it results in softer, more tender baked goods. The all-purpose flour has a higher protein content than cake flour (but not as high as bread flour), so it helps the cookies keep their shape, while keeping them soft.

Don’t have cake flour, or can’t find it? You can make a substitute with all-purpose flour and cornstarch. Just combine 3/4 cup flour with 1/4 cup cornstarch.

Add an egg yolk for extra richness. I tried this recipe with and without the extra egg yolk. It’s delicious either way, so this part is really up to you.

Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 8 hours. This lets the flavors develop and combine, resulting in a rich, flavorful cookie. The longer you refrigerate, the stronger the flavors, but don’t go longer than 72 hours. I usually refrigerate between 24-48 hours.

Hit with flaky salt as soon as they come out of the oven. Just a pinch of flaky Maldon salt on each cookie really elevates the chocolate and makes them extra indulgent.

One last tip: Cookies on demand

Sometimes, you may not want to bake all the dough at once. My solution? Pre-scoop and portion the remaining dough and freeze it for cookies on demand. These days I’ll bake about half my dough and scoop and freeze the rest.

To do this, line an extra baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat. Scoop your dough and place it on the sheet. You can keep these dough balls pretty close together. Once it’s all scooped, cover the sheet with plastic wrap and freeze until the dough balls are solid, about 2-4 hours. Once frozen, store the dough balls in a tightly sealed bag or container until your craving strikes!

Are y’all ready to bake some thick, chewy, indulgent Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies? The recipe is here below! I hope y’all love them as much as I do. If you love this recipe, follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for even more. You might also like: