Brown Butter Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cookies (Print Version)
Chewy chocolate chip cookies with brown butter and vanilla for rich, nutty flavor.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dairy
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter
02 - 2 tbsp whole milk, room temperature
→ Sugars
03 - 1 cup packed brown sugar
04 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
→ Eggs
05 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
→ Flavorings
06 - 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
07 - 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
→ Dry Ingredients
08 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
09 - 1 tsp baking soda
10 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
11 - 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
→ Chocolate
12 - 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until butter foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Cool for 10 minutes.
02 - Add brown sugar and granulated sugar to the browned butter. Whisk until fully blended and smooth.
03 - Whisk in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract, almond extract if using, and milk. Mix until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
05 - Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
06 - Fold in chocolate chips or chunks until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
07 - Cover dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours for enhanced flavor development.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
09 - Scoop dough, about 2 tablespoons per cookie, onto prepared baking sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart.
10 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are golden brown and centers are just set. Avoid overbaking for chewy texture.
11 - Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The brown butter adds this incredible nutty depth that makes people ask whats your secret
- These cookies stay perfectly chewy for days thanks to the extra moisture from the milk
- The vanilla and almond extract combination creates this bakery style flavor profile
02 -
- Overbrowning the butter creates a bitter taste so remove it from heat as soon as you see those golden brown speckles
- The chilling step is nonnegotiable because it prevents cookies from spreading too thin and losing their chewy center
03 -
- Use a light colored saucepan for browning butter so you can actually see the color change happening
- Weighing your ingredients instead of using measuring cups creates the most consistent results every time