Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Published February 16, 2013. Updated April 2, 2020

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Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – a delicious upgrade on the classic. The nutty browned butter adds some depth and the sea salt gives them a fancy flavor and a nice balance to the sweetness. It’s a cookie people of all ages will love!

salted browned butter chocolate chip cookies

There aren’t many desserts out there that can compare to a classic chocolate chip cookie. And can’t we count on one hand the number of people in the world who don’t like them – not to single you guys out or anything =). Chocolate chips cookies are simply a timeless cookie that will likely never fade and foodies around the world will all continue to try to make “the best chocolate chip cookie.”

I’ve already posted my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but these are in very close comparison. I never thought it would meet its match. They are two similarly soft and chewy textured cookies, each one with a lead flavor of it’s own.

The other recipe I’ve posted is highlighted with flavors of cream (thanks to the coffee creamer powder) and this is obviously highlighted with the gourmet flavor of nutty browned butter. When that brown butter combines in this cookie with the browned sugar and sea salt it seemingly mimics flavors of salted caramel, yes indeed one of my very favorite treats.

salted browned butter chocolate chip cookies

I did cookie experimenting today with this recipe. I created the base dough and then I added different bonus ingredients (I guess you’d call them). First I stuffed them with homemade caramel – yes delicious but quite messy, second I added pistachios, third I stuffed them with a whole Oreo and last I added dried strawberries.

They each had their own goodness but in the end my favorite was the plain and simple, nothing else added browned butter with sea salt chocolate chip cookie. I just didn’t like how the added flavors created a competitor for the browned butter and brown sugar flavor of the cookie.

While trying to create something over the top, I realized sometimes over the top is simply sticking to the basics and just trying to perfect it the best we can. Well, here is my idea of a what I’d consider a very close to perfect version of the browned butter chocolate chip cookie. Enjoy!

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Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

A delicious upgrade on the classic. The nutty browned butter adds some depth and the sea salt gives them a fancy flavor and a nice balance to the sweetness. It's a cookie people of all ages will love!
Servings: 28
Prep20 minutes
Cook30 minutes
Cooling30 minutes
Ready in: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Brown butter in a medium saucepan (careful not to burn). Remove from heat and pour into a heatproof storage container, cover with lid or plastic wrap and freeze for 30 - 40 minutes, until cool.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt for 20 seconds, set aside. Remove butter from freezer and pour into the bowl of an electric stand mixer, using a rubber spatula to scrape out any excess. Add light-brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla to butter. 
  • Fit mixer with the paddle attachment and whip on medium-high speed until slightly pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add in eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition until combined. 
  • With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combined (if your dough seems too dry you can add a Tbsp of half and half or milk to help it come together a bit). Stir in chocolate chips. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees during the last 10 minutes of refrigeration.
  • Scoop dough out about 2 1/2 Tbsp at a time and shape into balls (a bit larger than a golf ball). Drop cookie dough balls on Silpat lined baking sheets (fitting 9 per sheet) and bake in preheated oven for 10 - 12 minutes until golden, transfer cookie dough that isn't currently baking to refrigerator to chill until ready to bake. 
  • Remove from oven and sprinkle each cookie with a small pinch of sea salt. Allow cookies to cool several minutes on cookie sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts
Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 218 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 30mg10%
Sodium 139mg6%
Potassium 82mg2%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 231IU5%
Calcium 34mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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39 Comments

  • Tia

    Just made this recipe! I thought I’d share that I used margarine instead of butter; and I definitely had my concerns in the burning phase, but everything still worked out rather well! I also only used Semi-sweet chips, and I was pretty satisfied. My cookies never time out right and I didn’t get them as soft as i wanted so the salt didn’t take; but this is my ovens fault… it doesn’t hold a stable temperature so I have to get used to eyeing it.
    A question; would this work without burning the butter? Would you increase the amount of butter in that case?

    Thanks! I plan to make this again!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      It probably work without browning butter but you would want to reduce the butter by a few tbsp as you lose a few tbsp during browning.

  • Claudia

    Hi there,
    I’m just loving this site!
    Planning to try some recipes ’cause it all seems so good…

    I was thinking…how many cookies does this recipe makes?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Thanks Claudia! So with this recipe I’ve made them so many times since I’ve posted them and every time I mean to count them and forget. I’m thinking it was somewhere just under 2 dozen. I hope you love them if you make them!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Yes I used salted butter and salt. I almost always use salted butter. I know it’s not recommended because they say you can’t control the salt amount – but I say yeah you can control the salt amount if you just check the ingredients label for the sodium level (and if needed compare it to the sodium level of 1/4 tsp on the salt label). I guess that may seem like a hassle but I just think salted butter gives baked goods more flavor. How they say salted butter isn’t as fresh – I usually use my butter the same week I buy it so I’d say it’s just as fresh. Salted butter has a longer expiration date. Anyway feel free to use which ever you prefer. Hope you enjoy!

  • Christine

    I have to start off…I’m an experienced baker.

    I made this recipe, following the instructions exactly as written. These cookies are on my “never to repeat” list…they were hard (even when “underbaking” or, of course, over baking), tasteless, ie too sweet and the browned butter didn’t seem to add much…all that work for ??…there was no noticeable taste of browned butter.

    I was so looking forward to the browned butter taste of the cookies, for in baked goods, this adds such a dimension!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Christine – sorry you felt that way. I’d recommend next time you brown the butter a bit longer and bake the cookies for a shorter period of time – if you wanted to try again. These are one of my favorite cookies.

      • Christine

        Oh, don’t worry Jaclyn…I know how to brown butter…do it all the time for recipes. Mine was a dark (not burned!) brown…nice and fragrant. And I did the experimentation of cooking the cookies with less time, too.

  • Debbye

    I made these for my boys and nephews today and they all loved them. Although I’m not a fan of the browned butter taste, the cookie itself was perfect (and I’ve tested a lot of recipes!) Crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, they looked beautiful, too. I stole the nutella idea from your comments and put it inside of these cookies….delish! I’ve said it before, but I love your blog, I’ve been impressed with every recipe I’ve tried so far….thanks again.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Debbye – I’m so glad to hear you and your family have enjoyed another recipe you’ve found here! Thank you so much for your comment! Have a great week!

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  • Jenny

    I made these today and they were easily the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever made. Thanks Jaclyn!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Jenny – that’s so great to hear!! I’m so glad you loved them, thanks so much for your comment!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Yes a classic but I can’t outdo yours =). Your nutella version of the bb cc are amazing!! The Nutella stuffed version was perfect because it didn’t compete with the chocolate chip flavors and everything it just blended in so deliciously, that recipe you made is seriously genius! No, EPIC might be a better word =).