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Brown Butter Sugar Cookies – The Ultimate Cozy Cookie Treat

There’s something magical about brown butter — the moment it melts, foams, and turns golden, the aroma becomes warm, nutty, and deeply comforting. When that magical ingredient is mixed into a soft, chewy sugar cookie dough, the result is one of the most irresistible cookies you will ever bake. These Brown Butter Sugar Cookies are cozy, buttery, rich, and filled with subtle caramel notes that make every bite feel like a warm hug. Unlike regular sugar cookies, this recipe uses a full cup of brown butter, giving the cookies a deep, toasty flavor and incredible sweetness without being overwhelming. The blend of granulated sugar and light brown sugar creates the perfect texture — crisp edges with soft, chewy centers. A dusting of sparkling sugar brings sparkle, crunch, and bakery-style beauty to every cookie. These cookies are perfect for: Holiday dessert boxes Christmas cookie trays Fall and winter baking Pinterest dessert boards Bake sales Cozy evenings with hot chocolate Quick and delicious family treats Let’s make the softest, warmest, most luxurious brown butter sugar cookies ever — your new comfort cookie.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 14 cookies
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes
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Ingredients
  

  • Your exact ingredient list, beautifully organized.
Fresh Ingredients
  • 2 Large eggs
Dry Ingredients
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
  • ¾ cup Light brown sugar
  • ¾ cup Granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Sparkling sugar for rolling / topping
Flavoring
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
Dairy
  • 1 cup Unsalted brown butter cooled to warm temperature
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Equipment

  • Small saucepan (for browning butter)
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Silicone spatula
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Baking trays
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack
  • Cookie scoop

Method
 

Step 1: Brown the Butter
  1. Place 1 cup unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Allow butter to:
  3. Melt
  4. Foam
  5. Turn golden brown
  6. Release nutty aroma
  7. This takes 5–7 minutes.
  8. Immediately remove from heat and pour into a bowl.
  9. Let cool 15 minutes, until just slightly warm.
Step 2: Mix Sugars & Brown Butter
  1. In a large bowl combine:
  2. Brown butter
  3. Brown sugar
  4. Granulated sugar
  5. Whisk vigorously until glossy and smooth.
  6. The warm brown butter dissolves sugars and boosts caramel flavor.
Step 3: Add Eggs & Vanilla
  1. Add:
  2. 2 eggs
  3. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  4. Whisk until the mixture becomes thick, shiny, and slightly lighter in color.
Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients
  1. In another bowl whisk:
  2. Flour
  3. Baking soda
  4. Kosher salt
  5. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and fold gently with a spatula.
  6. The dough will be soft, slightly sticky, fragrant, and golden.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
  1. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
  2. This helps:
  3. Prevent spreading
  4. Improve texture
  5. Deepen the brown butter flavor
Step 6: Shape the Cookies
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Line trays with parchment.
  3. Scoop dough into 1 ½ tablespoon balls.
  4. Roll the dough balls in sparkling sugar for crunch + shine.
  5. Place 2 inches apart on the tray.
Step 7: Bake
  1. Bake 10–12 minutes, or until:
  2. Edges are set
  3. Tops are slightly crackled
  4. Centers appear soft
  5. Cookies continue baking as they cool — remove slightly underbaked for soft, chewy texture.
Step 8: Cool
  1. Let cookies rest 5 minutes on the tray, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  2. Their flavor intensifies as they cool.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Room Temperature
Stores 5–6 days in a sealed container.
Fridge
Keeps 7–8 days — stays soft.
Freezer
Freeze dough or baked cookies for 2 months.
Reheat
Microwave 5 seconds for soft, warm centers.
🥄 Variations
1. Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Cookies
Roll dough in cinnamon sugar.
2. Brown Butter Lemon Sugar Cookies
Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest.
3. Brown Butter Maple Cookies
Add ½ teaspoon maple extract.
4. Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
Fold in ¾ cup chocolate chips.
5. Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Cookies
Add seeds from 1 vanilla bean for rich flavor.
6. Extra Chewy Brown Butter Cookies
Add 1 tablespoon cornstarch.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Why brown the butter?
It adds nutty, toasted, caramel-like flavor impossible to get any other way.
2. Why did my cookies spread too much?
Dough wasn’t chilled long enough.
3. Can I use salted butter?
Yes — reduce added salt slightly.
4. Can I use dark brown sugar?
Yes, but cookies will be richer and darker.
5. Why are my cookies dry?
They were overbaked — remove when centers look soft.
6. Can I add mix-ins?
Yes — nuts, chocolate, caramel bits, etc.
7. Do I need sparkling sugar?
Optional, but adds bakery-style crunch and shine.
8. Can I freeze the dough?
Yes — scoop into balls and freeze.
9. Why is my dough sticky?
Brown butter dough is softer — chilling solves this.
10. Are these good for gifting?
Yes — they stay soft for days and taste even better the next day.
🏁 Conclusion
These Brown Butter Sugar Cookies are the definition of cozy, comforting baking. With a buttery, nutty aroma, soft centers, and crackled tops coated in sparkling sugar, these cookies feel like a warm dessert hug. Every bite is rich, comforting, and filled with deep brown butter flavor that elevates a classic sugar cookie into a gourmet treat.
Perfect for holiday baking, Thanksgiving dessert tables, Christmas cookie boxes, and high-engagement social media posts, these cookies check every box: soft, chewy, beautiful, and incredibly delicious. Once you bake them, they’ll become one of your signature recipes — simple yet unforgettable.
This is the cookie you’ll bake again and again.