Description

These chewy brown butter chocolate chip cookies feature a nutty, toasty flavor from browned butter, a perfectly soft and dense texture, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. They are easy to make, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for parties or gifting.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
1 ½ cups (300g) light brown sugar, packed
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups (340g) chocolate chunks (semi-sweet and milk)
Flaky sea salt (like Maldon), for sprinkling
Optional: ½ cup toasted pecans

Instructions

Brown the butter: Melt butter in a light-colored skillet over medium heat. Stir constantly until it foams, settles, and turns amber with brown specks and a nutty aroma (5-7 minutes). Remove from heat and pour into a heatproof bowl. Cool for 10-15 minutes until just warm.
Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the cooled brown butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until combined. Add eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
Add dry ingredients: Add flour, baking soda, and kosher salt to the wet mixture. Fold in with a spatula just until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
Fold in chocolate: Stir in chocolate chunks (and nuts if using) until evenly distributed.
Chill dough: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (or up to 3 days). This prevents excessive spreading and develops flavor.
Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Scoop and bake: Scoop dough into 1.5 tablespoon balls and place on sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges are golden but centers look slightly soft.
Cool and salt: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set structure. Transfer to a cooling rack. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt while still warm.

Notes

Do not skip the chilling step; it is crucial for texture. Use a kitchen scale for flour to ensure accuracy. Underbake slightly for a chewy center. If using salted butter, reduce added salt by half. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum if needed.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 220
Sugar: 18
Sodium: 150
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 7
Carbohydrates: 28
Fiber: 1
Protein: 3

Keywords: brown butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, chewy cookies, sea salt cookies, party cookies, make-ahead dessert, baking from scratch