Browned Butter Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

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4.9 from 30 votes

SALTY-AND-SWEET, soft, and chewy chocolate chip cookies that are PERFECT!! An EASY, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe that's just the BEST!!

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Chill Time

4 hrs

Total Time

4 hrs 20 mins

Servings: 15 large cookies

Calories: 226 kcal

Course: Baked Goods

Cuisine: American

Ingredients

½ cup butter browned, unsalted
1 egg large
¾ cup light brown sugar packed
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
1 cup chocolate chips plus more for topping each cookie, semi-sweet
sea salt to taste, flaky

Instructions

Cup of Yum

Brown the butter (<—click for a detailed tutorial) by cooking butter over medium heat in a medium saucepan until it’s amber to brown in color, about 5 minutes depending on pan size. I swirl the pan in the last minute or so to make sure I can really see the color changes. Butter will go through stages of hissing, sputtering, and making noise until the water cooks off at which point the browning occurs. Butter will smell nutty and aromatic.
Pour butter into a large mixing bowl, making sure to scrape the bottom of the saucepan with a spatula and transfer any browned bits (they have wonderful flavor) from the bottom of pan into the mixing bowl. Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don’t scramble it.
Add the egg, sugars, vanilla, and whisk to combine.
Add flour, cornstarch (keeps cookies soft) baking soda, kosher salt, and stir to combine. Dough may seem crumbly yet oily, this is okay.
Add the chocolate chips and stir to combine.
Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, or your hands, form approximately 16 equal-sized mounds of dough, roll into balls, and flatten about halfway. Tip – Strategically place a few chocolate chips and pecans on top for a visual pop.
Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to 5 days. Do not bake with unchilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.
Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray. Place dough mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I use a half-sheet pan and bake 8 cookies per sheet), and evenly sprinkle each with a generous pinch of sea salt, or to taste.
Bake for about 10 to 11 minutes (if your cookies are smaller than mine, reduce baking time) or until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center; don’t overbake. Cookies firm up as they cool.
Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving. I let them cool on the baking sheet and don’t use a rack.

Notes

Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired. If baking straight from freezer with frozen dough, you don’t have to thaw it. Bake straight from freezer, possibly adding 1 to 2 minutes to baking time if necessary.
Recipe adapted from Halloween M&M's Chocolate Chip Cookies and Sea Salt Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 Calories 226kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 32g (11%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g (24%) Cholesterol 29mg (10%) Sodium 174mg (7%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 19g (38%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 15 large cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 226

% Daily Value*

Serving	1
Calories	226kcal	11%
Carbohydrates	32g	11%
Protein	3g	6%
Fat	11g	17%
Saturated Fat	6g	30%
Polyunsaturated Fat	4g	24%
Cholesterol	29mg	10%
Sodium	174mg	7%
Fiber	1g	4%
Sugar	19g	38%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.