Brown Butter Honey Caramel Cookies (Print Version)
Nutty brown butter cookies studded with caramel and chocolate, finished with flaky sea salt for gooey, indulgent bites.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dairy & Fats
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter
→ Sugars & Sweeteners
02 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/4 cup honey
→ Eggs & Extracts
05 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
06 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
→ Dry Ingredients
07 - 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1 tsp baking soda
09 - 3/4 tsp fine sea salt
→ Add-Ins
10 - 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
11 - 1 cup soft caramels, chopped into small pieces
12 - Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue cooking, swirling the pan often, until the butter foams and turns a deep golden brown with a nutty aroma, about 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately transfer to a mixing bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.
02 - Add the light brown sugar, granulated sugar, and honey to the cooled brown butter. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
03 - Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt until evenly distributed.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
06 - Gently fold in the semisweet chocolate chips and chopped caramels until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
07 - Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight, for thicker, chewier cookies.
08 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
09 - Scoop the dough using about 2 tablespoons per cookie onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
10 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers are just set. Do not overbake.
11 - Immediately sprinkle the warm cookies with flaky sea salt. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The brown butter adds a deep, nutty caramel flavor that makes people close their eyes when they take their first bite.
- That drizzle of honey makes these taste like something from a fancy bakery but they come together in your own kitchen.
02 -
- Underbaking by one minute gives you that dreamy soft center that stays gooey even after cooling.
- Chilling the dough overnight is the single biggest upgrade you can make for texture and flavor development.
03 -
- Press a few extra chocolate chips and caramel pieces into the tops of each dough ball before baking for that bakery style look.
- A pinch of cinnamon in the dry ingredients adds warmth that makes these cookies taste even more complex without anyone guessing your secret.