The browned butter in these cookies adds an irresistibly nutty, caramelized depth, perfectly balanced with a rich blend of dark and semi-sweet chopped chocolate. Their soft, gooey centers contrast with lightly crisped edges for a bakery-style finish in every bite.
Whether you’re baking for guests, gifting friends, or satisfying your own sweet cravings, these cookies deliver warmth, indulgence, and nostalgia. The best part? They’re simple to make with pantry staples, require no mixer, and reward patience with heavenly flavor.
Full Recipe:
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170g browned unsalted butter (from 211g or 15 tbsp pre-browned)
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150g (3/4 cup) light brown sugar
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50g (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
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1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
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1 large egg, room temperature
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20g (1 heaping tbsp) sour cream, room temperature
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1 tsp baking soda
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1 tsp baking powder
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1 tsp cornstarch
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1 tsp fine sea salt
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225g (1 3/4 cups + 1 tbsp) all-purpose flour
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100g semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
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100g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
Directions:
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Brown the butter over medium heat until golden and fragrant. Cool in the fridge for 15–20 minutes until slightly firmed.
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Whisk in both sugars and vanilla until smooth. Add egg and sour cream, mixing until fully incorporated.
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Whisk in baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt.
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Fold in flour until just combined. Add chopped chocolate and mix until no flour streaks remain.
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Chill the dough, covered, for 3 hours.
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop dough (approx. 3 tbsp per cookie) onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
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Bake 10–11 minutes, until edges are set and centers look slightly underdone. Cool on tray for 10 minutes before serving or transferring.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Chill Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Kcal: ~265 per cookie | Servings: 18 cookies
The Art of Chewy Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy chocolate chip cookies have been a beloved staple in American baking for generations, but what sets this particular recipe apart is its clever use of brown butter, carefully selected chocolate, and a few key ingredient upgrades. The result is a treat that marries a classic nostalgic flavor with an elevated gourmet touch.
What Makes Brown Butter a Game-Changer
One of the standout elements in this cookie recipe is the brown butter. When butter is browned, the milk solids toast in the fat, creating a deep, nutty aroma and flavor that’s reminiscent of toffee or caramel. This process adds a remarkable complexity and depth to baked goods that regular melted butter simply can’t provide.
In this recipe, the butter is melted and browned over medium heat until golden and aromatic, then chilled slightly before being mixed into the dough. This step alone transforms an otherwise ordinary cookie into something indulgent and layered. The brown butter’s natural richness means the cookies have an almost butterscotch undertone, making them incredibly addictive.
Why Texture Matters in a Cookie
These cookies aren’t just about flavor—they’re about texture, too. Achieving that perfect balance between chewy center and slightly crisp edge is often a matter of precision, and this recipe nails it. The chewiness comes from the use of brown sugar, cornstarch, and a unique touch of sour cream. Brown sugar contains more moisture than granulated sugar, which helps keep the interior soft and chewy. The cornstarch contributes to a tender crumb, while the sour cream ensures moisture retention even after baking.
What makes this texture truly stand out is the contrast between the chewy center and the thin, crisp edges. This combination delivers a delightful bite that keeps people coming back for more. It’s also why these cookies taste best slightly warm—the gooey center paired with melty chocolate pockets is pure comfort.
Chocolate: Chopped, Not Chipped
Another unique feature of this recipe is the use of chopped chocolate bars instead of traditional chocolate chips. This decision may seem minor at first, but it dramatically affects the texture and visual appeal of the cookies. Chopped chocolate melts into irregular pools and ribbons throughout the cookie, giving each bite a different experience. This approach also results in those photogenic chocolate “puddles” that melt beautifully into the dough.
Choosing a combination of semi-sweet and dark chocolate brings a balanced sweetness and a deep cocoa flavor that complements the richness of the brown butter. Unlike standard chips, which often contain stabilizers to help them maintain shape, chopped chocolate becomes molten and glossy in the oven—just as a bakery-style cookie should.
Sour Cream: The Secret Moisture Boost
Perhaps the most surprising ingredient in this cookie dough is sour cream. This small addition replaces some of the moisture lost during the browning of the butter, ensuring that the final product remains soft and rich rather than dry or crumbly. Sour cream’s acidity also helps tenderize the dough, enhancing that characteristic chewiness without making the cookie greasy.
Many home bakers overlook this trick, but once it’s experienced, it’s hard to go back. This subtle upgrade not only balances out the browning process but also contributes to a rounder, fuller flavor profile.
Why Chilling the Dough Is Non-Negotiable
If you’ve ever rushed a cookie dough into the oven without chilling, you’ve likely ended up with a flat, spread-out cookie. That’s because room-temperature dough often contains soft fats that melt too quickly in the oven. Chilling the dough, especially for recipes with melted or browned butter, gives the flour time to hydrate, the fats to solidify, and the flavors to develop more fully.
In this recipe, the dough is chilled for at least three hours, but overnight chilling is even better. Not only does this step prevent the cookies from over-spreading, but it also intensifies the flavors. When baked, the cookies come out thicker, chewier, and with more defined edges—visually and texturally satisfying.
Smart Baking Techniques for Consistent Results
Beyond the ingredients, this recipe emphasizes key baking techniques that ensure consistent, bakery-level results. One of those is the use of a kitchen scale. Accurate measurements by weight reduce variability and help replicate the perfect cookie every time. A cookie scoop is also recommended for uniform sizing, which ensures even baking and a professional presentation.
Another noteworthy technique is the “cookie scoot,” where the baker uses a circular object (like a cookie cutter or mug) to nudge the freshly baked cookies into a perfect round shape. This gives the cookies that sought-after Instagrammable look, with beautifully even edges and a soft, gooey middle.
Versatility and Customization Options
Though the base recipe is near perfection, it’s also highly adaptable. You can swap the chocolate for other mix-ins like white chocolate, nuts, or dried fruit. Some bakers have even experimented with stuffing the dough with caramel or using browned butter in combination with nut flours for a gluten-free twist.
The dough itself freezes beautifully, allowing you to bake small batches on demand. Once portioned and frozen, the cookie dough balls can go straight from the freezer to the oven, with just a couple of extra minutes added to the bake time.
Who This Recipe Is Perfect For
Whether you’re a seasoned baker looking to impress with nuanced flavor, or a casual home cook wanting a dependable go-to cookie recipe, this one checks all the boxes. It requires no mixer, uses pantry staples, and produces results worthy of a boutique bakery. It’s equally suitable for holiday baking, gifting, or everyday indulgence.
Kids and adults alike will fall in love with the soft, chewy interior and deep, caramel-like flavor. The balance of salt, butter, and chocolate also makes this cookie appealing even to those who don’t have a super sweet tooth.
Conclusion: A Cookie Worth the Hype
These Chewy Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are more than just another cookie recipe—they’re a masterclass in thoughtful baking. From the caramelized richness of browned butter to the textural nuance added by sour cream and cornstarch, every detail has been considered and fine-tuned for the ultimate cookie experience.
By elevating familiar ingredients with smart techniques and precise methods, this recipe delivers a treat that’s as comforting as it is impressive. Whether you’re baking them for a special occasion or just a quiet night in, these cookies will satisfy your cravings, win over friends and family, and likely become your new go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe.