Brown Butter Pecan Cookies

Christina Marsigliese
40 Comments
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If you love brown butter, then this recipe will become one of your all-time favorites! Often times the flavor of brown butter gets lost in cookie recipes, as it is overpowered by the strong Maillard browning and caramelization reaction flavors. Not these. My Brown Butter Pecan Cookies are thick, chewy and so rich in brown butter flavor which is complemented by buttery, toasty pecans and enhanced by salted butter. These are absolutely addictive. I dip and drizzle them with white chocolate for extra flare, and I promise these will blow you away. If you love brown butter, check out my Chewy Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.

brown butter pecan cookies stacked

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE

  • Thick chewy cookies - these cookies have a wonderful chewy texture and they stay chewy for days without drying out.
  • Brown butter cookies - in this recipe, brown butter is the star ingredient. Browning butter is a technique common in French cooking called "beurre noisette". It translates to "hazelnut butter" since the butter actually takes on nutty flavors once it is browned. It adds incredible depth of flavor to these cookies.
  • Roasted pecans - to get the most flavor from your nuts, be sure to roast them first.
  • White chocolate dip - the creamy flavor of white chocolate contrasts the rich nutty, caramelized, butterscotch notes and I really love this pairing. It is optional.
stack of brown butter pecan cookies

INGREDIENTS

  • Salted butter - I love using salted butter for this recipe to get the most rich brown butter flavor, however you can use unsalted butter also and then double the added salt in the recipe. Browning butter is a process where you cook the butter over the stove until all of the moisture boils away and the milk solids (proteins and sugars) turn golden brown through a reaction called "Maillard browning" to give the butter a nutty, caramelized taste and aroma.
  • All purpose flour - regular unbleached all-purpose flour works just fine in this recipe to make cookies with a chewy texture.
  • Granulated sugar - granulated sugar helps to give the cookies a golden brown top and caramelized edges.
  • Brown sugar - brown sugar adds rich molasses undertones to complement the nuttiness and also helps to create chewy cookies. You can use light or dark brown, but I prefer light brown in this recipe so it doesn't overpower the brown butter.
brown butter pecan cookies ingredients
  • Eggs - one large egg will bind this cookie dough.
  • Pure vanilla extract - vanilla will enhance all cookies. I like this Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla extract.
  • Pecans - roast them first for added flavor. Just place them in a dry frying pan over medium heat and shake the pan frequently until they are fragrant.
  • White chocolate - I love to dip these in melted white chocolate which makes them look festive, but also tastes lovely with the contrast of sweet milkiness against the rich nutty cookies. I recommend this couverture pure white chocolate for dipping. It is so creamy and melts beautifully with great fluidity from a high cocoa butter percentage.
brown butter pecan cookies

HOW TO MAKE BROWN BUTTER

If you've never made brown butter, you MUST try it. It adds amazing complexity and richness in the form of nutty, caramel-like flavors that enhances many recipes. You can follow my full tutorial and video here to learn how to make brown butter.

  • STEP 1). First melt your butter over medium heat in a small sauce pan. Make sure to use a stainless steel saucepan so you can see what's happening. If you use a dark pan it may be difficult to monitor the change in color.
  • STEP 2). Once melted, let the butter come to a simmer. It will crackly as it boils. This is the sound of the water content (approximately 15%) evaporating out. Stir the butter constantly as it melts to ensure it cooks evenly and so the brown bits don't catch at the bottom. Stirring will bring them up to the surface above the foam so you can watch the color change.
  • STEP 3). As the moisture evaporates, the butter will start to foam. This is the point when the browning starts to happen. Keep stirring the butter. Keep a close eye on the butter and DO NOT WALK AWAY.
  • STEP 4). Eventually the crackling will settle down and the foam on the surface will become very dense to the point that you cannot see the clear butterfat beneath it. The foam will turn golden and as you stir you should see little brown flecks coming up into the pan. This is the sign that you are done! The butter will turn a golden color and you'll know it's done by the smell... it will have a toasted, caramelized and nutty aroma.
  • STEP 5). Immediately pour it out into a clean bowl and let it cool before using it in the recipe.
brown butter pecan cookies

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

  • STEP 1). Brown the butter. Follow my steps to brown butter here.
  • STEP 2). Cool the butter. Immediately pour the hot brown butter off into a clean bowl. You should be left with golden yellow liquid butter and lots of nutty brown flecks. Let it cool until for 20-30 minutes until it reaches room temperature. It does not need to be firm (it may still be liquid) but if the butter is hot, the cookie dough will be greasy.
  • STEP 3). Cream butter and sugar. Combine the brown butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar and whisk or beat until combined. It will lighten up as you incorporate air. If the butter is too warm, it will not thicken up.
  • STEP 5). Mix in egg. Add the egg mix until well combined. Mix in vanilla.
  • STEP 6). Add dry ingredients. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to blend evenly. Add this into the bowl with the wet ingredients and it in gently. Fold in pecans.
  • STEP 7). Shape and chill the dough. Turn the dough out onto a large pieces of plastic wrap and shape it into a log. Place it in the fridge for 1 hour.
  • STEP 8). Bake. Slice about ½-inch coins of cookie dough with a sharp knife and place them onto baking sheets. Bake until evenly golden. Let them cool on the trays for 2 minutes before transferring to a rack to finish cooling.
brown butter pecan cookie cookie dough sliced

EXPERT BAKING TIPS

  • Let the brown butter cool. If the brown butter is too hot when you add the sugar and other ingredients, then it will not incorporate evenly the cookie dough will be greasy.
  • Measure flour accurately. Too much flour can make these cookies more hard and crumbly instead of chewy. They will also crumble when you slice the dough if it is too dry. For the best results, weigh your flour using a kitchen scale.
  • Roast the pecans. This adds so much extra flavor and it's easy! To use the oven method, just place the pecans in an even layer on a baking sheet and place them in the oven at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes until fragrant, tossing halfway through.
  • Let the baked cookies cool on the baking sheet. These cookies are delicate while warm, so let them cool on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
stack of brown butter pecan cookies

RECIPE FAQ

Can I make brown butter pecan cookies without nuts?

Yes, you can leave out the pecans from this recipe, but you will have less dough.

Do I need to cool brown butter before baking?

Brown butter can add depth flavor to so many desserts, but not all recipes can receive it equally. In cake batters, it is best to incorporated it while still slightly warm and fluid or let it cool until firm and blend it with softened butter if using the "creaming" method. For cookies, I like to let the browned butter cool to above room temperature so that it is still fluid but not hot. This allows the butter to incorporate evenly with the other ingredients. Very hot brown butter will create a greasy dough and overly greasy cookies, whereas fully chilled brown butter is brittle and can lead to a dry, crumbly cookie dough that is difficult to work with.

What is a substitute for pecans?

I would recommend another soft nut, such as walnuts or macadamia nuts.

How to decorate brown butter pecan cookies?

I've decorated these cookies with white chocolate. I dip some and drizzle some and then add finely chopped pecans while the chocolate is still wet, or top with gold sprinkles for the holidays. This is completely optional but it looks festive.

How do I store brown butter pecan cookies?

You can store these cookies in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Can you freeze brown butter pecan cookies?

Yes! You can freeze these cookies. To freeze them, first place them on a tray lined with parchment and freeze them individually for 2 hours before transferring to a freezer bag for storage.

brown butter pecan cookies

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Video

Brown Butter Pecan Cookies

Christina Marsigliese
brown butter pecan cookies
Rich nutty, caramelized Brown Butter Pecan Cookies showcase brown butter in all its glory with buttery pecans and a drizzle of white chocolate. This recipe is adapted from one in my Scientifically Sweet Cookbook and I make them all the time. They are especially lovely on a holiday cookie tray.
5 from 11 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Servings 18 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • ⅔ cup (150g) salted butter (that's 125g browned butter)
  • ½ cup (110g) packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon 5ml pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 1 ¼ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (130g) cup coarsely chopped pecans
  • 4 oz (113g) melted white chocolate for drizzling
  • finely chopped pecans for decorating

For best results, use a kitchen scale to weigh the ingredients.

Instructions
 

  • Make brown butter. First brown the butter. Follow the instructions in this post here to learn how to brown butter. It's easy! Brown specks and a dense golden foam will form at the surface when it is nearly ready. Pour it out into a clean bowl and let it cool for 10 minutes. This whole process takes around 8-10 minutes. Immediately pour it into a large mixing bowl, then let it cool for 20-30 minutes until it reaches a temperature just warmer than room temperature. If you care to measure, the butter should read 34°C or 93°F on a thermometer.
  • Combine cooled (but still liquid) brown butter with both sugars in a large bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer or using a whisk until smooth, pale, slightly fluffy and creamy-looking. Beat in egg and vanilla until well incorporated.
  • Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to blend evenly. Add it to the butter mixture. Mix gently until incorporated and then fold in chopped pecans with a spatula. Use your hands to bring the dough together and incorporate the pecans evenly since the dough will be stiff. Place it onto a large piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper and roll it into a thick 9 to 10-inch log. Wrap well and refrigerate for about 1 hour or until firm.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • Use a sharp knife to slice the chilled cookie dough log into rounds with just about ½-inch thickness and place them onto prepared baking sheets spacing them about 2 inches apart. If the dough is too hard, let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Transfer baking sheets to a wire rack to cool completely, then dip and drizzle with melted white chocolate if desired. Let chocolate set before storing in an airtight container.

NOTE: Since brown butter has all of its water removed, it essentially becomes pure milk fat and it is no longer an emulsion. As a result, the cookies will feel slightly greasy when warm but will handle just fine once cooled.

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    40 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Made this today and it was really good! So nutty and perfectly sweet and salty at the same time.
      100% recommend!

      Reply

      1. Hi Lauren! Yes, if you choose to freeze the dough, wrap it well and place in an airtight bag or container. Let it come to room temp before portioning and baking.

        Reply

      1. Hi Carol! I think it should work. The dough might feel a bit dry when slicing so make sure to use a sharp knife.

        Reply

        2. Hi Conchi! It is best to make the same day but you can chill overnight if needed. Be sure to wrap the dough well so it doesn't dry out and bring it to room temp before portioning and baking. Please note that the dough will feel a bit dry and crumbly after a long chill, which will make it more difficult to slice.

    6. 5 stars
      These cookies are so delicious and very easy to make. I’m not usually a fan of white chocolate but this really paired nicely with the cookie flavours. Took the advice of roasting the nuts first and also found the video of browning the butter very helpful as I’ve never done that before. Will definitely make again.

      Reply

    7. 5 stars
      I made these BB Pecan Cookies yesterday for the first time and they are PERFECTION!! They were so easy to throw together and Having the ingredients listed in grams makes my amateur baking heart so happy. The cookies themselves are not super sweet, which I really like, so the addition of the white chocolate dip was a great add on that didn't send it over the edge. I made them for my 84 year old step-father who loves pecan anything but, honestly, Even my super picky 16 year old son had one and said, "Bro. That cookie is good. For real". lol. These just found a spot on my Christmas Cookie list. Thank you!

      Reply

      2. Hi! After I added the pecans, the dough wasn’t stiff but more wet and greasy. I followed all the measurements but x4 since I’ll be bringing these to church. Do you think I did something wrong or should the dough still be ok? I’ll be freezing them before I bake in a few days.

        Reply

        1. Hi Cherr! Anything with brown butter tends to feel a little greasy, but it shouldn't be wet. It is possible you needed to let the brown butter cool a little more. They might spread a bit more than usual.

        1. Hi Leigh! Yes you can. Be sure to wrap the dough well so it doesn't dry out and bring it to room temp before portioning and baking. Note - the dough will feel dry and crumbly, which will make it more difficult to slice/portion.

    11. 5 stars
      This was the most beautiful smelling cookie dough I have ever smelt. And the cookies came out delicious! I made these for Christmas Eve and most of my coworkers said it made their day!

      Reply

    14. 5 stars
      Excellent recipe! My husband is not a cookie eater but went looking for them, I’d put them into the freezer 😊

      Reply

    16. 5 stars
      Oh my goodness those cookies came out delicious 🤤 my son that doesn’t like nuts in his cookies said he couldn’t get enough of them 🙏🙏🙏 these are a must make cookie, the flavor is irresistible and so indulgent, I give these cookies 10 stars ⭐️

      Reply