Brown Butter Caramel Pretzel Cookies (Print Version)
Chewy cookies featuring brown butter, salted caramel, honey pretzels, and chocolate chips for the perfect salty-sweet combination.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter
05 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs, at room temperature
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Mix-Ins
09 - 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
10 - 1 cup roughly chopped honey pretzels
11 - 3/4 cup soft caramel candies, chopped into small pieces
12 - 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more for topping
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue cooking, swirling often, until the butter foams and turns deep golden with browned milk solids at the bottom, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer immediately to a mixing bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt until evenly distributed.
03 - To the cooled brown butter, add the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
04 - Gradually stir in the dry ingredient mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
05 - Fold in the chocolate chips, chopped honey pretzels, caramel pieces, and 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
06 - Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours for best flavor and texture development.
07 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
08 - Scoop 2-tablespoon portions of dough, about golf ball size, onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
09 - Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers are just set. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with additional flaky sea salt.
10 - Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The brown butter transforms an ordinary chocolate chip cookie into something that tastes like it came from a professional bakery.
- That salty sweet crunch from the honey pretzels paired with gooey caramel pockets will ruin all other cookies for you.
02 -
- Browned butter goes from perfect to burnt in seconds, so watch it constantly and pull it the moment it turns golden amber.
- Chilling the dough is not optional here, as the caramel pieces will melt and spread everywhere if the dough is too warm going into the oven.
03 -
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform portions so every cookie bakes evenly and you do not end up with some burnt and some raw.
- A light sprinkle of flaky sea salt right when the cookies come out of the oven makes the caramel and chocolate flavors sing in a way that will have everyone asking what your secret is.