This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.
These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are some of my favorite cookies ever! Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies are full of delicious chocolate chips with a warm brown butter flavor. These huge cookies are a hit!
Browned Butter Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies never get old: they’re the gift that keeps on giving. I have a ton of recipes on this site and don’t plan to stop creating them anytime soon! This cookie is definitely one of the best chocolate chip cookie recipes I have made.
They are made with brown butter which gives the cookie a nutty aroma and toffee-like flavor. Why brown butter for chocolate chip cookies? It toasts the milk solids in the butter and adds so much flavor. If you’ve never tried it in cookies you must and these are a great cookie recipe to start with.
Ingredients & Variations
- Unsalted Butter: Unsalted butter is a must because we are going to brown it. You don’t want to brown salted butter as it will concentrate the salty flavor.
- Sugar: I use both brown and granulated sugar in the recipe. Brown sugar helps keep them soft. I normally use light brown sugar but dark brown sugar may be substituted.
- Eggs: Eggs are important for the structure and texture of cookies and the fat from the egg yolk makes them rich and chewy.
- Chocolate Chips: You can use regular size or mini semisweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks. Milk chocolate can also be used but I love the chocolate flavor of semi-sweet chocolate chips best. Even dark chocolate would work!
- Extras: Feel free to add some chopped walnuts or pecans (reduce the chocolate chips to 1 1/2 cups and add 1 cup chopped nuts). You can also sprinkle the warm cookies with some flaky sea salt – salted chocolate chip cookies are SO GOOD.
How to make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Browning butter is really easy. It melts easiest if you start with sliced butter. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the butter foams. Continue stirring and the butter will turn a dark caramel color.
- You can use a stand mixer or hand mixer or stir by hand – just mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop cookie dough balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. You can do 2-tablespoon size, 1-tablespoon size, or ¼ cup size for giant cookies. Chill in the fridge at least 30 minutes, longer if making giant cookies.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone liners.
- Bake 8-10 minutes for 1 tablespoon size cookies, 10-15 minutes for 2-tablespoon size, and approximately 15 minutes for giant cookies.
Expert Tips
- Brown the Butter: It’s easy, but you have to be careful. It’ll burn quick! You just melt your butter over medium-low heat and cook, stirring, until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. The butter will foam, and that’s okay. The foam will go away once it’s removed from the heat. Read my post to learn how to brown butter easily.
- For an extra flavor boost add 1 teaspoon almond extract in addition to the vanilla.
Storing
Store these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can freeze these cookies in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure they are sealed in an airtight container.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup (134g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (200g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (340g) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, about 6 minutes, until it becomes brown in color. It will foam, reduce, then foam again. Once it’s done cooking the foam is a light brown and it will dissipate after you remove it from the heat. Once it starts to brown, keep stirring so it doesn’t burn. Let sit for about 5 minutes to cool.
- Pour into an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer or stirring by hand). While still hot, add both sugars and mix on low until combined. Let sit to cool for a few minutes.
- While butter mixture is cooling, combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir and set aside.
- Turn mixer (with butter mixture bowl attached) on low. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing completely. Mix in vanilla extract and almond extract (optional, but it adds great flavor). Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Scoop cookie dough balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. You can do 2-tablespoon size, 1-tablespoon size, or ¼ cup size for giant cookies. Chill at least 30 minutes, longer if making giant cookies.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line cookie sheets with parchment or silpat liners.
- Bake 8-10 minutes for 1 tablespoon size cookies, 10-15 minutes for 2-tablespoon size, and approximately 15 minutes for giant cookies.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- I love adding a sprinkle of sea salt on top the freshly baked cookies.
- It’s important to use unsalted butter for browning – browning concentrates the flavor and the butter will be too salty if using salted butter.
Hi! I’m making these cookies right now! I was just wondering if it is supposed to be crumbly after adding all of the flour in? I even went in with my hands to knead it and it isn’t quite working right. Hopefully I didn’t mess them up!
It shouldn’t be crumbly when you add the flour – my dough is usually quite wet still. How do you measure your flour? There is a chance you may have overmeasured. The best way to do it is to scoop the flour into the measuring cup with a spoon so it doesn’t get packed.
Hi. I’m going to have a party next weekend and it’s too much work if I’m going to bake everything on the same day. Do you think I can freeze this dough and only bake them in the oven on the day of the party?
YES! I love doing that. Just make sure the dough is thawed, but still very cold, before baking!
Finally got around to making these babies! I love the mini-chips, wasn’t sure about the almond (but did it) it adds a certain something good to the taste. Had to split the results to send to 2 college daughters (care packages), but I hide a few for me. Thanks for the great recipe ?
You’re welcome! Thanks so much for commenting and I’m so glad you liked them!
Hi I made these a couple years ago but can’t seem to recall how much butter is used, 2 sticks? Is that 1 cup total or 2 cups? Asking because I’ve seen sticks of butter that are only 1/4 cup and then sticks that are 1 cup butter. Thanks.
best. cookies. ever. thank you so much for coming up with this amazing recipe!!! it has become my go-to for chocolate chip cookies. this is the third time i have made them. there is a little coffee shop here in town that we used to frequent for their big, home-made chocolate chip cookies… well, these are even better than theirs… i didn’t think it was possible! 🙂 one thing i do to make it easier… i scoop out the dough and form it, then place in a container on waxed paper, cover and refrigerate. then all i have to do is take them out and pop ’em in the oven. (saved my arm from the workout with extra chilled dough 😉
I am so glad you like them Dawn!! Yay!! Your comment made my day. <3
Hi Dorothy, I was wondering if the cookies would turn out okay if I reduced the amount of sugar in the recipe.
I don’t know Angie, I’ve never tried it. If you try it let me know!
Featured In
Rate This Recipe
Recipe Ratings without Comment