Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

What makes these brown butter chocolate chip cookies special? It's all in the browned butter.

By simply heating butter until it turns golden brown, you unlock a world of flavor that deepens the richness of the cookie dough.

The result is a cookie that's both chewy and crispy, with a slightly caramelized, nutty taste that pairs beautifully with melty chocolate chips.

The best part? These cookies are incredibly easy to make. You don’t need any special equipment—just a little patience while you brown the butter

—and in return, you get bakery-quality cookies right out of your own kitchen.

The smell alone is worth the effort!

Step 1: Brown the Butter

Start by browning the butter. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir continuously as the butter melts and begins to foam.

Keep stirring, and within a few minutes, you’ll notice the butter turning golden brown and releasing a nutty aroma. Be careful not to burn it—once the butter is a deep amber color, remove it from the heat. Pour it into a bowl to cool for about 10 minutes.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

While the butter is cooling, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Set it aside.

Step 3: Cream the Sugars and Butter

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled brown butter, dark brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat until the mixture is well combined, smooth, and slightly fluffy.

Step 4: Add the Wet Ingredients

Next, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract to add a lovely aroma to the dough.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix—overworked dough leads to tough cookies!

Step 6: Add Chocolate Chips and Chunks

Gently fold in the chocolate chips and dark chocolate chunks. The combination of the two creates a balance of textures—smooth melted chocolate with rich, thicker chunks of chocolate in every bite.

Step 7: Chill the Dough

This step is optional, but for thicker, chewier cookies, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. You can chill it for up to 24 hours if you're prepping ahead.

Step 8: Preheat the Oven

While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 9: Bake the Cookies

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out dough balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown but the center is still slightly soft. Remember, cookies continue to cook on the baking sheet even after they're out of the oven!

Step 10: Add Sea Salt (Optional)

Once out of the oven, sprinkle the warm cookies with a pinch of sea salt flakes for that sweet and salty contrast. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.