Browned Butter and Caramelized White Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Learn how to make the best homemade browned butter and caramelized white chocolate chip cookies with this easy baking recipe. The secret to these extraordinary cookies lies in browning the butter for a nutty flavor and slow-roasting white chocolate for caramel notes – creating a cookie that's crisp-edged yet chewy inside.

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Prep Time:

45 mins

Cook Time:

12 mins

Serves:

18 cookies

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"> <li class="ingredients-single-item">225g unsalted butter</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">200g white chocolate, chopped into chunks</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">150g granulated sugar</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">150g light brown sugar, packed</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">2 large eggs, room temperature</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tsp vanilla extract</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">280g all-purpose flour</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tsp baking soda</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">½ tsp baking powder</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tsp salt</li> <li class="ingredients-single-item">¼ tsp flaky sea salt, for topping</li> </ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"> <li class="equipment-single-item">Light-colored saucepan (to monitor butter browning)</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Baking sheet</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Silicone baking mat or parchment paper</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Stand mixer or electric hand mixer</li> <li class="equipment-single-item">Cookie scoop or tablespoon</li> </ul>

Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4> Preheat your oven to 120°C. To caramelize the white chocolate, spread the chopped pieces evenly on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove and stir with a spatula to redistribute. The chocolate will look lumpy and slightly yellow – this is normal! Return to the oven and repeat this process every 10 minutes for a total of 30-40 minutes, until the chocolate reaches a deep caramel color. The slow roasting transforms white chocolate's flavor from sweet and one-dimensional to complex and caramelized. Cool completely before using. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4> For the brown butter, place butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. This type of pan helps you monitor the color changes accurately. Melt the butter completely, then continue cooking, swirling occasionally. The butter will foam vigorously – this is the water content evaporating. Watch carefully as the milk solids drop to the bottom and gradually turn from golden to a rich amber brown, giving off a wonderfully nutty aroma (about 5-7 minutes total). Immediately transfer to a heat-resistant bowl to stop the cooking process, scraping all the browned bits at the bottom – these contain incredible flavor! Allow to cool until just warm to the touch but still liquid. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4> In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown butter (including all browned bits), granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until well combined. The mixture won't become as light and fluffy as with regular butter since we've removed the water content during browning, resulting in a denser, more flavorful cookie. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4> Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated. These wet ingredients provide the necessary structure and binding properties for your cookies. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4> In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. Overmixing at this stage will develop too much gluten, resulting in tough cookies, so stop as soon as no dry flour is visible. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4> Gently fold in about three-quarters of the caramelized white chocolate chunks, saving some for topping. The dough will be slightly softer than traditional cookie dough due to the melted butter, but don't worry - we'll chill it. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight. This resting period allows the flour to fully hydrate and the flavors to meld while also preventing excessive spreading during baking. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4> Preheat your oven to 180°C and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion the dough into balls about 3 tablespoons in size, placing them about 8cm apart on the prepared sheets. Press a few reserved caramelized white chocolate chunks onto the top of each dough ball for an appealing appearance after baking. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4> Bake for 11-13 minutes until the edges are golden but the centers still appear slightly underbaked. This is key for achieving that perfect texture contrast: crisp edges with a soft, chewy center! The cookies will continue cooking slightly after removal from the oven. Immediately sprinkle each cookie with a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt – this enhances all the complex flavors we've developed. </li> <li class="MethodStepper"> <h4 class="step-title">Step 9</h4> Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This resting period lets the cookies set up properly. The cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days, though they're at their absolute best within the first 48 hours when the contrast between crisp edges and chewy centers is most pronounced. </li> </ol>

FAQs

Find answers to your most pressing questions about this delicious recipe right here.

What ingredients are used in Browned Butter and Caramelized White Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe?

These gourmet cookies require unsalted butter, white chocolate, granulated and brown sugars, eggs, vanilla, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and flaky sea salt for topping. The magic comes from browning the butter and caramelizing the white chocolate.

How to cook Browned Butter and Caramelized White Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe at home?

Learn how to cook Browned Butter and Caramelized White Chocolate Chip Cookies by first caramelizing white chocolate in a low oven for 30-40 minutes, browning butter until nutty and amber-coloured, then combining with sugars, eggs and dry ingredients. After chilling the dough, bake at 180°C for 11-13 minutes until edges are golden but centres remain soft.

Why is chilling cookie dough important for these brown butter cookies?

Chilling the dough for at least an hour allows the flour to fully hydrate and flavours to develop. More importantly, it firms up the melted brown butter, preventing excessive spreading during baking, which helps achieve that perfect texture contrast of crisp edges and chewy centres.

What does caramelizing white chocolate do to its flavour?

Slow-roasting white chocolate transforms its flavour profile from sweet and one-dimensional to complex and deeply caramelized with notes of toffee, butterscotch and toasted milk. The process alters the sugar crystals and milk proteins, creating a richer, nuttier taste that pairs beautifully with brown butter.

How can I tell when my butter is properly browned?

Properly browned butter has a rich amber colour and nutty aroma. Watch as it melts, foams (water evaporating), then as milk solids drop to the bottom and turn from golden to medium brown. Use a light-coloured pan to monitor colour changes accurately, and remove from heat immediately once achieved.

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