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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Cookies

    Brown Butter Toffee Cookies

    Updated: Nov 11, 2024 โ€ข Published: Nov 11, 2024 by Sam Merritt โ€ข 286 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    collage of brown butter toffee cookies, top image of four cookies stacked, top cookie bite taken out. Bottom image of multiple cookies cooling on wire rack.

    My soft and chewy brown butter toffee cookies are packed with toffee pieces and flavored with vanilla, brown butter, and sprinkling of sea salt. Never browned butter before? I’ll show you how! Recipe includes a how-to video!

    Cookie made with brown butter and toffee missing a bite.

    The BEST Toffee Cookies

    I first shared these brown butter toffee cookies over 7 years ago. Since then, they’ve remained one of my favorites, a guaranteed-to-please go-to that everyone, without fail, asks me for the recipe for.

    The inspiration for these cookies came to me via the cafeteria of the hospital where Zach and I used to work. The original was quite a bit underwhelming–too artificial, dry, and not enough butter flavor–but it provided me with some good starting points for my own creation.

    My version is anything but underwhelming; we’re talking slightly crisped exteriors, crunchy milk chocolate toffee bits, and a nutty, buttery flavor in every bite (especially in those soft centers!). These cookies are so good!

    Stack of brown butter toffee cookies with the top cookie missing a bite.

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Makes a fantastic fall cookie that’s both pumpkin and pumpkin spice free (if you’re not into that kinda thing). Something about the warm, buttery flavor just makes me think of fall in all the best ways. Feel free to make them year-round though–I certainly do!
    • Brown butter provides the best, butteriest flavor that complements the toffee add-ins so well. If making brown butter seems intimidating to you, just know that it’s a simple process. I’ll walk you through every step below!
    • No chilling or mixer required! Though you can always cover and chill the dough if you would like; this would likely give the cookies an even richer, more buttery flavor. Keep in mind that that the dough gets a bit crumbly when chilled and will need to come to room temperature before you can scoop and bake.
    • Soft and chewy texture that lasts for days, thanks to my tried-and-true baking technique. On the other hand, if you like crunchy cookies, try my butter crunch cookies!

    What You Need

    Overhead view of ingredients including toffee bits, butter, brown sugar, and more.
    • Brown sugar. I recommend a blend of dark and light brown sugar, though you can use all light brown sugar if that’s all you have on hand.
    • Toffee bits. Use the crushed milk chocolate toffee bits (Heath bar bits). You can usually find these near chocolate chips in the baking aisle of your grocery store.
    • Vanilla. A hefty pour of vanilla (half a tablespoon!) adds SO much flavor to these cookies. I love using homemade vanilla extract in this recipe; if you haven’t made your own yet, you need to!
    • Salt. While we are using regular table salt in the dough, I recommend sprinkling flaky sea salt on the cookies just after removing them from the oven. This really intensifies all of the already robust flavors of these brown butter toffee cookies.
    • Butter. We’re using a full cup (two sticks) of butter today. We’ll brown this and let it cool completely before adding it to the dough. Note that unless otherwise indicated, you should measure your butter before browning it.

    SAM’S TIP: Since we are using room temperature butter, it’s best if you use room temperature eggs as well. I have a trick to quickly bring eggs to room temperature if you forget to set yours out ahead of time.

    This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    How to Make Brown Butter Toffee Cookies

    Overhead view of a pan of brown butter.

    Brown the butter

    Browning the butter is the key to adding truly incredible, jaw-dropping flavor to this recipe. It’s a key ingredient in my brown butter frosting, brown butter chocolate chip cookies, and pistachio cake and it’s every bit as important here, too.

    To make it, add the butter to a light-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, increase the heat to medium and stir constantly as the butter bubbles, foams, and pops. Pay close attention, and once you notice a toasty aroma and see brown bits forming on the bottom of the pan, remove from the heat and pour into a heat-proof bowl. You’ve just made brown butter!

    Make sure to let the butter cool for 25-30 minutes before adding your other ingredients, otherwise you run the risk of melting your sugars and creating a seriously runny, unusable dough.

    Overhead view of a bowl of cookie dough made with brown butter and toffee.

    Make the dough

    The dough comes together like most standard doughs. Once the butter has cooled (completely! Make sure the bottom of the bowl that it’s cooling in doesn’t feel even a little warm), you can add the sugars then the egg and vanilla.

    Whisk the dry ingredients together separately then gradually fold it into the wet ingredients. This is a stiff dough, so I do this in 3-4 parts for the easiest combining.

    Fold in your toffee bits until evenly incorporated, then you’re ready to scoop! No more chilling needed, you waited long enough for the browned butter to cool so you’re ready to go now!

    Overhead view of cookie dough balls on a baking sheet.

    Bake the cookies

    Scoop and roll the dough into 1 ½ tablespoon balls, then place on parchment lined baking sheets.

    Bake until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown (the centers will still look a bit underdone, then remove and sprinkle with sea salt (you need to do this while the cookies are still warm, so it sticks). The cookies will continue baking outside the oven on the hot cookie sheets. This is my favorite trick for soft and chewy cookies that stay soft for days!

    SAM’S TIP: The toffee bits tend to stick to the baking sheets as the cookies cool, so I like to gently wiggle the cookies with a spatula after they’ve been out of the oven for a few minutes.

    Overhead view of brown butter toffee cookies on a cooling rack.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make the dough ahead?

    It’s not ideal with this recipe as the dough doesn’t spread as much after a prolonged period of time in the refrigerator and can even become crumbly. However, if you absolutely must save the dough, you can cover and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. Note that you will likely need to let it completely come back to room temperature before attempting to scoop and roll it, and the dough might be a bit crumbly even with thawing. You may be better off chilling the dough in pre-portioned balls instead.

    Do I have to add the cornstarch?

    You don’t have to, but your cookies won’t be quite as soft and tender or thick if you skip it. I recommend substituting flour for the cornstarch if you must leave it out.

    Why are my toffee cookies flat?

    The most likely cause is adding the sugars to the butter while it is still just a bit too warm. The butter melts the sugars and creates a super greasy dough which unfortunately cannot be remedied (even chilling won’t help).

    This can also happen if you put your cookie dough on hot baking sheets–never do that!

    Two brown butter toffee cookies stacked on top of each other with the top cookie missing a bite.

    I highly recommend that you re-heat your toffee cookies briefly in the microwave before enjoying (about 9-seconds per cookie, in my microwave). Warm cookies are the best cookies!

    Let’s bake together! Subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of all the newest recipes, and find my free recipe tutorials on YouTube 💜

    Stack of brown butter toffee cookies with the top cookie missing a bite.

    Brown Butter Toffee Cookies

    My soft and chewy brown butter toffee cookies are packed with toffee pieces and flavored with vanilla, brown butter, and sprinkling of sea salt. Never browned butter before? I'll show you how!
    Recipe includes a how-to video!
    4.97 from 161 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24 cookies
    Calories: 157kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsalted butter
    • 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar (light or dark is fine, I like to use a blend of the two)
    • ⅔ cup (135 g) white sugar
    • 2 eggs room temperature preferred
    • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 ¾ cups (350 g) all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon cornstarch cornflour in UK
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup (170 g) milk chocolate toffee pieces (Like Heath Milk Chocolate Toffee Pieces)
    • sea salt for sprinkling on top of the cookies (fine or coarse, your preference)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350F (177C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.  Set aside.
    • Cut your butter into Tablespoon-sized pieces and place in a medium-sized saucepan. Melt over medium-low heat.
      1 cup unsalted butter

    To Brown the Butter (It’s easy, I promise!)

    • Once butter has melted, increase heat to just above medium heat.
    • Swirl and scrape the sides of the pan frequently with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula – the butter will bubble and pop. Once the bubbling/popping slows, the butter will begin to turn brown, it will look like this once it’s finished: 
      Overhead of browned butter in sauce pan
    • Watch the butter very carefully at this point, and once it begins to brown and you smell the nutty aroma of browned butter, remove from heat quickly and pour into a large, heatproof bowl.  
    • Allow butter to cool for 25-30 minutes before proceeding with the recipe.

    Cookie Dough

    • Add sugars into cooled browned butter, stir well.
      1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, ⅔ cup (135 g) white sugar
    • Stir in eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.
      2 eggs
    • Add vanilla extract and stir.
      1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
      2 ¾ cups (350 g) all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon salt
    • Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, stirring until ingredients are nearly completely combined.
    • Add milk chocolate toffee bits and stir until ingredients are well-incorporated.
      1 cup (170 g) milk chocolate toffee pieces
    • Drop by heaping, rounded 1 ½ Tbsp (45g) scoops onto prepared cookie sheets, placing at least 2" apart.
    • Bake on 350F (177C) for 9-10 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden brown (cookies should still be quite soft when you remove them from the oven, and may even appear slightly underbaked in center).
    • Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
      sea salt
    • Allow cookies to cool on baking pan for about 3 minutes and then use a spatula to gently scoop beneath them and carefully wiggle them free from the parchment paper, as the toffee tends to stick.  
    • Allow to cool several more minutes and then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    Storing

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 108mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janice

      March 01, 2020 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      These were lovely. I doubled the amount of chocolate toffee and refrigerated them 2 days before I baked them. The outside was crispy and the insides were chewy. They also had a nice flavor. I’m thinking of using the cookie base for different add-ins like caramel chips, nuts, etc. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        March 01, 2020 at 12:18 pm

        I am so glad that the cookies went over well and that they were enjoyed, Janice! This would be a great cookie base for additional add-ins you’d like to try! Thanks for commenting. Enjoy! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Pam

      January 27, 2020 at 1:02 am

      5 stars
      Oh my!!! These cookies were wonderful!!!! They were chewy and the salty/sweet was so fun in our mouths๐Ÿฅฐ I didnโ€™t have unsalted butter on hand so I used salted and just added 1/4 tsp. of the salt. Didnโ€™t hurt a thing! They were still great. Youโ€™re soooo right about the brown butter๐Ÿ‘ Thank you for the recipe, itโ€™s a keeper for sure.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        January 27, 2020 at 8:41 am

        I am so glad that you enjoyed the brown butter toffee cookies, Pam! Thank you for commenting. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    3. Rebecca

      January 03, 2020 at 7:25 pm

      5 stars
      I am a huge fan of Toffee and have found something to be grateful for thanks to your recipe! I used half chocolate covered toffee bits and half plain toffee bits for a little chocolate, but more toffee. I substituted the baking powder with cream of tartar because I like the texture the cream of tartar gives the cookies. My new favorite., thank you for sharing. These will be in my forever recipe book ๐Ÿ˜Š

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        January 03, 2020 at 8:29 pm

        Thank you so much, Rebecca! I am so glad that you enjoyed the brown butter toffee cookies. I hope that you enjoy this recipe for years to come. Thanks so much for commenting. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Alex Enayat

      December 28, 2019 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      Hands down one of the best cookies Iโ€™ve ever made. These are divine!!!!

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 28, 2019 at 8:41 pm

        So glad to hear they were such a success, Alex! Thank you for commenting, I appreciate it ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5. Joe

      December 23, 2019 at 9:06 am

      Is there a substitute for corn starch? I’ve never made a cookie using corn starch and I don’t have it on hand. Thank You.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        December 23, 2019 at 9:57 am

        Hi, Joe! Cornstarch, when paired with flour, helps soften the cookie. You can omit the corn starch but they will not be as soft and tender. I hope that you enjoy the brown butter toffee cookies. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    6. John

      December 23, 2019 at 4:55 am

      Reading how you brown the butter sounds a lot like burning the butter.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        December 23, 2019 at 7:43 am

        Hi, John! Yes, you need to be careful when browning butter for sure. The results are worth it! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    7. Dawn

      December 15, 2019 at 7:18 pm

      I used this recipe last week and entered them into a baking contest at our SNF and won, even got my picture in our local newspaper! They are incredible! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        December 15, 2019 at 8:05 pm

        That is amazing, Dawn! Congrats on your win! Thanks for using my recipe and for sharing. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    8. Patrick Mains

      December 14, 2019 at 10:14 am

      5 stars
      My new favorite cookie recipe. My son says it’s the best cookie he’s ever had. Made them for work and had to share the recipe with them. The sea salt really takes this cookie over the top. Do you have another recipe that you would recommend that I try?

      Thanks

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 14, 2019 at 10:52 am

        I’m so glad you and your son enjoyed, Patrick!! I would definitely check out my other cookie recipes, my “worst” chocolate chip cookies are a big favorite around here.

        Reply
    9. Cindy

      December 14, 2019 at 4:27 am

      5 stars
      These were amazing! Thanks for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        December 14, 2019 at 7:11 am

        I am so glad that you enjoyed the toffee cookies, Cindy! Thanks for trying my recipe. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    10. Austin

      October 31, 2019 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      Hi! Iโ€™m gonna try to make these. Was curious if youโ€™ve played around with how much toffee bits to put in? Is 1 cup plenty?

      Reply
      • Sam

        October 31, 2019 at 10:51 am

        Hi Austin! One cup is my preference but feel free to play around if you like a bit more (or less) toffee!

        Reply
    11. Jen Black

      October 20, 2019 at 11:07 pm

      5 stars
      I made these cookies tonight for my 3 year old and husband. They both LOVED them. You absolutely HAVE to brown the butter. It makes a world of difference. The only thing I didn’t like was it took over and hour to make, chilling to brown butter takes much longer than you said and I did it in my freezer to hurry up the process. But delicious. Followed exactly.

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        October 21, 2019 at 9:58 am

        Thank you so much, Jen! I am so glad that everyone enjoyed the Brown Butter Toffee Cookies. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    12. Kimberle

      September 22, 2019 at 1:09 pm

      Do you usually use light brown or dark brown sugar

      Reply
      • Sam

        September 22, 2019 at 1:49 pm

        Either will work fine and I usually use whichever I have on hand, which is usually light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar will make the cookies ever so slightly more moist and a bit darker.

        Reply
    13. Naima

      August 26, 2019 at 9:22 pm

      5 stars
      Tried them ..they turned out delicious ! Didnt add the sea salt though cause I didnt have any ..Can I use regular salt or pink salt on top instead of sea salt ?

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        August 27, 2019 at 9:59 am

        Naima, I am so glad that you enjoyed the toffee cookies! If you have pink salt on hand, I have had others use that and have had success. Enjoy! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    14. Mary Ann

      August 24, 2019 at 12:13 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is beyond delicious! The texture, soft and chewy, accented by a little sprinkle of sea salt – yum! And the buttery/sweet/salty taste lingers on your lips. The only change I made was to add 1/4 cup more flour so they didn’t spread as much as they did in my oven. Friends who sampled said “best cookie ever” and I have to agree. I refrigerated some of the dough overnight, let it come to room temp the next day and they were perfect. Thanks Sam!!!

      Reply
      • Sugar Spun Run

        August 24, 2019 at 1:19 pm

        Mary Ann, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the toffee cookies! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    15. Julie

      August 02, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      Can you freeze the dough to bake later

      Reply
      • Sam

        August 04, 2019 at 9:26 pm

        Hi Julie! That should work great. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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