Sweet and salty and oh-so-delicious, these browned butter sugar cookies are so good that no frosting is necessary! They’re such a warm, buttery way to take your classic sugar cookies up a few notches.

A white platter full of round browned butter sugar cookies.
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If you haven’t noticed, I’m a fan of sweet and salty! That’s why I gravitate towards those flavors when I bake. You’ve got to try my eternal faves: peanut butter cookies and chocolate chip cookies with browned butter.

I decided to see what happened when I browned butter for my classic reader-fave melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies and the result was more than I could have ever hoped for.

The downside? So was my intake. Oops! This browned butter sugar cookie recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and salty, perfect for fall.

Browned Butter Sugar Cookies on a gold baking sheet.

Why You’ll Love These Cookies

They are perfectly soft, perfectly chewy, and just the right amount of sweet vs salty. And of course, it’s the browned butter that sets them apart from other sugar cookies.

Head to the link above for complete instructions and a video to learn how to brown your butter! It’s become a signature in my baking and even in savory entrees like pasta, veggies and more. Such a distinctive flavor you’re going to love!

BONUS! I topped them off with brown butter frosting for good measure, and while you don’t even need a layer of frosting on these… why not? If some butter and sugar is good… more is probably better.

Incredible Brown Butter Sugar Cookie Recipe

What is Brown Butter?

You might be wondering… “what exactly is browned butter?

Brown butter is the result of cooking butter until the milk solids turn brown and the water evaporates, resulting in a nutty aroma and flavor.

Brown butter (or browned butter) is the magic that happens when you cook out the water in butter and the milk solids turn brown. It enhances the flavor and produces a nutty aroma that is hard to resist.

It’s the perfect way to update my melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies for fall!

A white platter full of round browned butter sugar cookies.

Browned Butter Sugar Cookie Ingredients

  • Butter – softened
  • vegetable oil
  • Sugar – white granulated
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla Extract – it’s so easy to make your own homemade vanilla!
  • Eggs – I tend to have large size eggs on hand and that’s what I use here.
  • Flour – all-purpose flour works beautifully for this recipe.
  • Salt – You gotta have a little salt to balance out the sweet!
  • cream of tartar – another leavening agent that gives a distinctive flavor to baked goods.
  • baking soda – another leavening agent. I use two kinds in this recipe!
A white platter full of round browned butter sugar cookies.

How to Make Browned Butter Sugar Cookies

  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt and brown butter, swirling until it comes to a nutty aroma. Allow to cool 30 minutes.
  2. Combine butter, oil, sugars & vanilla until smooth. Blend in eggs.
  3. Add flour, salt, cream of tarter & baking soda until blended in.
  4. Refrigerate dough 1+ hours.
  5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  6. Roll dough into balls or use a cookie scoop.
  7. Bake 8-9 minutes watching carefully as to not over bake.
  8. Allow to cool on cookie sheet & thoroughly before icing.
A white platter full of round browned butter sugar cookies.

Tips

  • I use a cookie scoop to keep the size and shape consistent.
  • Every oven is different. Check to make sure your cookies aren’t getting too brown at the eight minute mark!
  • Need a substitution? Check out my printable baking substitutions chart.
  • Convert measurements with my Measurement Conversions printable worksheet, too!
A white platter full of round browned butter sugar cookies with brown butter frosting.

Variations

Mix up your frosting for fun new flavors and delicious ways to get creative with these brown butter sugar cookies!

A white platter full of round browned butter sugar cookies topped with white frosting.

More Recipes Using Brown Butter

Add a little more depth to your cookies by browning the butter. | Add a little more depth to your cookies by browning the butter.
5 from 2 votes

Browned Butter Sugar Cookie Recipe

Amazing sugar cookies, with a twist! The rich nutty flavor of brown butter makes these sugar cookies out of this world delicious!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 18 minutes
Servings: 36
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Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • In a saucepan over medium heat, melt and brown butter, swirling until it comes to a nutty aroma. Allow to cool 30 minutes.
  • Combine butter, oil, sugars & vanilla until smooth. Blend in eggs.
  • Add flour, salt, cream of tarter & baking soda until blended in.
  • Refrigerate dough 1+ hours.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Roll dough into balls or use a cookie scoop.
  • Bake 8-9 minutes watching carefully as to not over bake.
  • Allow to cool on cookie sheet & thoroughly before icing.

Julie’s Tips

Optional: Top with brown butter frosting

Tips

  • I use a cookie scoop to keep the size and shape consistent.
  • Every oven is different. Check to make sure your cookies aren’t getting too brown at the eight minute mark!
  • Need a substitution? Check out my printable baking substitutions chart.
  • Convert measurements with my Measurement Conversions printable worksheet, too!
Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

Explore More

Brown Butter Sugar Cookie Recipe
Add a little more depth to your cookies by browning the butter.

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