These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies feature crispy edges with a soft and chewy center. This cookie recipe is easy to make and delicious too!

A stack of cookies that have been broken in half showing the texture and melty chocolate chips.

Have you ever tried brown butter? If so, you know how delicious it can be in desserts. If not, then this brown butter chocolate chip cookie recipe is a great starting point!

Brown butter is essentially regular butter that’s been melted and cooked until the water has evaporated and the milk solids fall to the bottom of the pan and brown. It has a rich, nutty flavor that makes it a perfect addition to just about any baked good. 

In today’s post I’m covering everything you need to know about how to brown butter as well as how to make these cookies. And don’t worry – I promise it’s easy!

How To Brown Butter

First things first, you want to brown your butter and chill it. I recommend using a light colored skillet or saucepan so that you can easily tell when your butter is browned. Here’s a simple breakdown for how to prepare it:

  • Slice butter into tablespoon-sized pieces: This will help the butter melt evenly.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan or skillet: I recommend melting the butter over medium heat.
  • Once melted, cook for 6 to 9 minutes, stirring often: The amount of time this will take will depend on the skillet/saucepan that you use as well as your stove. I recommend stirring the mixture often while it’s cooking to ensure that it cooks evenly. As soon as you smell a nutty aroma and see brown bits on the bottom of your pan (see picture above on the left for reference), it’s time to remove the butter. 
  • Remove it from the heat and transfer to a heat-proof dish: This will ensure that it doesn’t cook any further and end up burned.
  • Chill the butter: While this isn’t necessary every time you brown butter, it is necessary for these cookies. Make sure to chill your brown butter until it’s solid, this will take about 1.5 to 2 hours.

How To Make These Cookies

To make these brown butter chocolate chip cookies, simply combine the chilled browned butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl and mix until everything is well combined. See the brown specks in the pictures above? Those are the browned bits in the butter and add maximum flavor to these cookies!

Once the butter and sugars are mixed together, mix in a couple of room temperature eggs and pure vanilla extract. I recommend stopping to scrape down the sides of your bowl and mixing again to ensure that all of the wet ingredients are well combined.

A glass mixing bowl holding the finished brown butter chocolate chip cookie dough.

Then, whisk together your dry ingredients – all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until they’re fully combined.

You may notice this recipe is similar to my regular chocolate chip cookie recipe with a few small adjustments. The most important adjustment is that we’re reducing the amount of flour. Why? When you brown butter the water from the butter evaporates which means you lose some of the moisture in your cookie dough. To compensate for that, you will be using 1/4 cup less flour in these cookies.

Once the dry ingredients are well combined, add them to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined, then mix in the semi-sweet chocolate chips.

A bakers dozen of brown butter chocolate chip cookies laid out on a brown piece of parchment paper.

Since the butter is chilled before mixing up the cookie dough, I’ve found that there’s no need to chill the dough. At this point, you can go ahead and scoop the cookie dough and bake it. I typically use a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop and bake my cookies for 9 to 12 minutes.

If you prefer softer cookies, I suggest removing them from the oven closer to the 9 to 10 minute mark and let them cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets.

A close up image of some cookies showing the texture and melted chocolate chips.

Baking Tips

  • I suggest using a light-colored skillet or saucepan so that you can easily tell when the butter is browned. 
  • As soon as you see brown bits on the bottom of your pan and smell a nutty aroma, make sure to remove the butter from the heat so that it doesn’t burn.
  • Make sure to chill the butter until it’s completely solid, this usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. I also recommend leaving it uncovered so that it chills faster.
  • When measuring your flour, make sure to use the spoon and level method. Too much flour can lead to super thick cookies that don’t spread in the oven.

More Cookie Recipes To Try

Brown butter chocolate chip cookies laid out on a brown piece of parchment paper.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

5 from 1 rating
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Chilling Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 42 minutes
These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies feature crispy edges with a soft and chewy center. This cookie recipe is easy to make and delicious too!

Ingredients

Servings: 38 cookies
  • 1 cup (230 grams) unsalted butter sliced into tablespoon-sized pieces
  • 2 and ½ cups (315 grams) all-purpose flour spooned & leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (200 grams) light brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 and ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 and ½ cups (270 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Add the sliced butter to a skillet or saucepan. Place over medium heat until the butter is completely melted. Once the butter is melted, allow it to cook for an additional 6 to 9 minutes, stirring often or swirling the pan often, or until the butter is browned. The butter is browned once you see brown bits of milk solids on the bottom of the pan and smell a nutty-aroma. Immediately remove the butter from the heat and pour it into a heat-proof dish. Transfer to the refrigerator uncovered for 1.5 to 2 hours or until the butter is solidified.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat the chilled brown butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together for 2 to 3 minutes or until well combined.
  • Mix in the eggs, one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract until fully combined, making sure to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Mix in the dry ingredients until just combined, then mix in the chocolate chips on low-speed until fully incorporated into the cookie dough.
  • Using a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, making sure to leave a little room between each one.
  • Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until the tops of the cookies are set and the edges are lightly browned. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 to 10 minutes, then carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Storage Instructions: Once the cookies have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Cookies will keep for up to one week.
Freezing Instructions: Baked cookies will freeze well for up to 3 months, thaw to room temperature before serving. Cookie dough will freeze well for up to 3 months, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and bake as directed. You may also freeze balls of cookie dough and bake from frozen for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
Brown Sugar: I typically use light brown sugar because it's what I keep on hand, but dark brown sugar would be fine too.
Chocolate Chips: Feel free to swap out the semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or butterscotch chips. 
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Danielle
Did you make this recipe?Mention @livewellbakeoften on Instagram or tag #livewellbakeoften.