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Brown Butter Sugar Cookies: Soft, Chewy, and Rich Flavor

A stack of three chewy brown butter sugar cookies generously coated in sparkling granulated sugar.
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Learn to make these bakery-style brown butter sugar cookies. Browning the butter adds a deep, nutty richness that upgrades the classic sugar cookie, resulting in treats with crispy edges and soft, chewy centers.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Place the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Cook, swirling often, until the butter melts, foams, and then brown bits form at the bottom, releasing a nutty aroma. This takes about 5 to 8 minutes. Immediately pour the browned butter into a heatproof bowl, scraping in the brown bits. Let it cool for 15 minutes until it is slightly solidified but still soft.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the slightly cooled brown butter and 1 1/4 cups of granulated sugar together until creamy.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Place the remaining granulated sugar on a shallow plate.
  7. Scoop the dough into balls, about 1.5 tablespoons each. Roll each ball in the extra sugar until fully coated.
  8. Place the dough balls on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing them 2 inches apart. Gently press down on each ball with the bottom of a glass to flatten slightly.
  9. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 9 to 11 minutes. The edges should look set and lightly golden, but the centers should still look slightly soft.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Browning the butter is key for that deep, nutty flavor. Watch it closely after it foams to prevent burning.
  • For extra chewy cookies, slightly underbake them; they will firm up as they cool.
  • You can chill the dough for 30 minutes if your kitchen is warm, which helps maintain shape during baking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://pureplatepath.com/brown-butter-sugar-cookies-recipe/