Ingredients
Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1 Tbsp-size pieces (113g)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar (50g)
- 1 large egg, room temperature (56g)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (5g)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (125g)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda (3g)
- 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
- White sanding sugar or additional granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Brown the Butter: Place the unsalted butter in a light-colored pan over medium heat. Continuously stir with a rubber spatula to ensure even cooking. After about 5–6 minutes, the butter will turn golden brown with a nutty aroma. Immediately remove from heat and pour into a heatproof bowl to stop cooking. Chill in the refrigerator for 45 minutes until solidified and cooled to room temperature.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, combine the cooled brown butter with the granulated sugar and light brown sugar. Using an electric hand mixer, cream together for 2 minutes until the mixture lightens in color. Alternatively, whisk vigorously for 3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the large egg and vanilla extract on medium speed until fully incorporated. Scrape the bowl sides and bottom as needed to ensure even mixing.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and fine salt to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined. The dough should be sticky.
- Scoop and Chill Dough: Using a 2 Tbsp cookie scoop, portion dough balls onto a parchment-lined dish, yielding about 12 balls. Chill the dough in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight for better flavor development.
- Prepare to Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Roll in Sugar and Bake: Remove chilled dough from fridge and roll each ball in sanding or granulated sugar until fully coated. Arrange on prepared baking sheets about 3 inches apart, 6 per pan. Bake one pan at a time for 11-13 minutes until edges begin to brown, keeping the second pan chilled in the fridge during baking.
- Cool Cookies: Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Browning the butter beforehand intensifies the nutty flavor—prepare it a few hours in advance for convenience.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for proper texture and flavor development.
- If you don’t have an electric mixer, vigorous whisking can be a good alternative for creaming.
- Baking one pan at a time ensures even cooking since the dough is chilled before baking.
- Use a light-colored pan for browning butter to better monitor color changes and prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American