Brown Butter Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies

You know that part in Amazing Graze where it says “I once was lost, but now am am found, was blind, but now I see” – that is how I feel today. About brown butter. I have tasted brown butter and hallelujah I have seen the light. I have seen recipes with brown butter before and one of my friends has been singing its praise for a while, but I just never felt adventurous enough to try it. Last night my brother sent me a recipe for brown butter chocolate chip cookies and said I absolutely had to make these. I can’t really nail down what makes the brown butter flavor so mind-blowing, but once you try it you will understand.

Last night was the first snowstorm of the season. Which means Southie parking wars have begun. Which meant, there was no chance I was leaving the house today after shoveling. So it was a perfect day to bust out the mixer and try some new recipes. After I made these brown butter chocolate chip cookies, I was so excited I made some brown butter vanilla bean sugar cookies, which are equally as mind blowing. Tomorrow is the Holiday Bake Sale I organized at work to benefit Cookies for Kids Cancer, so I will be bringing all these cookies to work tomorrow.

If you want to donate to our bake sale virtually, you can do so at the following link: http://cookiesforkidscancer.kintera.org/sapientbostonbakesale

photo 2

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1¼ tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. coarse sea salt
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon plain yogurt (I used Greek yogurt)
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the butter into pieces and place in a saucepan over medium heat. You need to use a saucepan, not a pot. Whisk frequently to allow the butter to brown. You’ll be able to tell when it’s ready because after it gets wicked foamy you will see it turn to an amber color Remove from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.

IMG_0660

Step 2: Sift together the flour, baking soda and sea salt in a separate bowl and set aside.

Step 3: In the mixer, combine sugars and brown butter until smooth. Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla and yogurt.

Step 4: Mix in the dry ingredients. Add the chocolate chips and mix just until they are evenly incorporated.

IMG_0663

Step 5: Using a medium cookie scoop, place even-size balls of dough on a sil-pat or parchment-lined baking sheet. Top with a dash of coarse sea salt and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

IMG_0669 4

 

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof that brown butter is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to baking.  Seriously. Such an amazing flavor. IMG_0678

I was feeling adventurous and artsy today, so decided to up the ante on my photos. I mean, if Santa saw this I think he’d put me on the nice-list for life.

IMG_0705

IMG_0681

This is the scene outside today. I have no intention of leaving the house ever again. Or at least until tomorrow.

IMG_0675 2

These are my other two baking adventures today that I will try to get the recipes out for soon.

Brown Butter Vanilla Bean sugar cookies

IMG_0710

Chocolate Dipped Orange Cranberry Shortbread

 

IMG_0691