How to Brown Butter
Posted Nov 24, 2023
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Brown Butter is made by slowly cooking butter on the stove until it turns golden brown. The rich, caramelized flavor adds depth and boldness to both baked goods and savory dishes. Learn how to brown butter with our detailed step-by-step photos and a video!
Browned butter is literally liquid gold. It tastes amazing and adds depth, flavor and richness to both baked goods (especially brown butter chocolate chip cookies) and savory dishes.
In this post, I will walk you through how to brown butter step-by-step. I’ve included photos of every step of the process so you can be certain you are doing it correctly.
Use it to make chocolate chip cookies, rice crispy treats, tortellini sauce, etc.
Browned Butter Ingredients & Equipment
- Salted butter. You can use unsalted butter if desired, although salted is best.
- Heavy-Bottomed Pan. I suggest a thick pot like this one, it’s 2.5 mm thick on the bottom for even heating. You can also use a heavy bottomed dutch oven.
- Heatproof Spatula. The brown butter needs to be stirred often, so you need a heat-proof utensil to make this recipe. I suggest a high-heat silicone spatula.
How to Make Brown Butter
Making brown butter is fairly simple, but it can be easy to second guess yourself and wonder if you’re doing it correctly.
That’s why I have included photos of every step of the process for you – to take the guesswork out of the method so you can feel confident you are making browned butter correctly. Don’t forget to watch the video as well to see the process in action.
Begin by cutting the butter into ½ “ cubes. This helps it melt evenly and avoids burning.
Then, put the butter in an even layer into the bottom of a thick-bottomed pan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. First, the butter will melt.
Do not turn the heat to high to speed up the process. It’s important to cook it over medium heat.
Then, it will begin to foam on top and start bubbling.
Next, it will start turning light brown with light brown flecks.
Then, it will become a darker brown, amber color.
At this point the butter is browned and cooking is complete.
As soon as butter is done cooking, transfer it to a bowl or glass jar to cool and stop cooking.
It should be amber in color with nice dark amber flecks throughout.
Use in your favorite recipes
You can use this liquid gold (browned butter) to make so many delicious recipes. Here are some suggestions:
- Brown butter chocolate chip cookies (our famous chocolate chip cookies but with browned butter)
- Use it in this rice crispy recipe to make brown butter rice crispy treats.
- Make brown butter chocolate chip cookie bars or blondies.
Store
Store browned butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 2 months. Use it in your favorite recipes. I often make it the day before I want to bake with it.
Brown Butter Recipe FAQS & Troubleshooting
The entire process takes anywhere from 5-10 minutes.
Yes, browned butter requires your undivided attention (thankfully it doesn’t take too long). You need to stir often to prevent burning.
It’s likely because you are cooking the butter on too low heat. You need to cook it on medium heat so some of the water cooks off and it can begin to brown.
Yes. Butter goes from perfectly browned to burnt fairly quickly. This is why it’s important to watch it closely.
First, this is a normal and necessary part of the process. The foam is the water content of the butter evaporating out of the mixture. Since water has a boiling point of 212°F, it has to be cooked off before the fat in the butter can get hot enough to brown.
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How to Brown Butter
Equipment
- thick-bottomed pan (preferably light colored)
- Heatproof spatula
- Glass jar or bowl with lid
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (salted or unsalted)
Instructions
- Cut butter into ½ “ cubes.
- Put butter in a thick-bottomed pan (preferably in an even layer).
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally,
- First, the butter will melt.
- Then, it will begin to foam on top and start bubbling.
- Next, it will start turning light brown with light brown flecks.
- Then, it will start turning a darker brown, amber color. At this point the butter is browned and cooking is complete.
- As soon as the butter is done cooking, transfer it to a bowl or glass jar to cool and stop cooking. It should be amber in color with nice dark amber flecks throughout.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If the recipe calls for one cup of butter but I want to use brown butter do I need to melt more?
No!
I am asked for these cookies regularly! No more tollhouse in our house! I will be trying the recipe with brown butter next…