Brown Butter Marbled Cookies Recipe
Delight in the rich, nutty flavor of these Brown Butter Marbled Cookies, featuring a beautiful marbled mix of classic chocolate chip and cocoa-infused doughs with both semi-sweet and white chocolate chips. Perfectly chewy with a hint of crisp edges and an optional sea salt finish that elevates these cookies to a gourmet treat.
- Author: Cleo
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Brown Butter Base:
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour, divided (1 1/8 cup + 1 cup)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda, divided (1/2 tsp + 1/2 tsp)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided (1/4 tsp + 1/4 tsp)
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, optional, divided (1/4 tsp + 1/4 tsp)
Mix-Ins:
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Finishing:
- Flakey sea salt (optional)
- Brown the Butter: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the cold unsalted butter. Continue cooking until the butter turns a golden-brown color and emits a nutty aroma, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Once browned, remove from heat and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Mix It Up: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled brown butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar. Stir until smooth and well integrated, exuding a rich, sweet scent. Add the egg, egg yolks, and vanilla extract, then mix until the batter is creamy and uniform.
- Divide and Conquer: Prepare two separate bowls for the dry ingredients. In the first bowl (classic chocolate chip dough), mix together 1 1/8 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch if using. In the second bowl (chocolate dough), combine 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch if using. Evenly divide the wet batter into the two bowls and stir until all dry ingredients are fully incorporated. Fold semi-sweet chocolate chips into the classic dough and white chocolate chips into the chocolate dough.
- Marble Time: Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop dough from each bowl. For each marbled cookie, combine scoops in these proportions: either 1 classic + 2 chocolate or 2 classic + 1 chocolate. Press the scoops together into a ball, then break it in half and recombine to create a striking marbled effect.
- Chill Out: Cover the marbled dough balls and chill them in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours for enhanced flavor and texture. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the Marbled Cookies: Arrange the chilled dough balls onto a lined baking sheet, spacing them to accommodate spreading. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden while the centers remain slightly underbaked, which ensures a soft chewy texture.
- Finish with Flair: Optional but recommended: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, sprinkle flakey sea salt over the warm cookies to enhance their flavor complexity. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Do not let the brown butter burn; watch carefully and remove from heat as soon as it reaches a golden brown color.
- Chilling the dough helps intensify flavors and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
- Cornstarch is optional but helps give the cookies a tender texture.
- Sea salt topping adds a sophisticated contrast to the sweetness, but it can be omitted if preferred.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: brown butter cookies, marbled cookies, chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate cookies, easy cookie recipe, marbled chocolate cookies