Brown Butter Toffee Cookies

Brown Butter Toffee Cookies are next level delish! Start with some browned butter and end with crushed up Heath toffee bars for the best cookies in the universe. These freeze well too!

Closeup on some toffee cookies.

Toffee Cookies

I’m obsessed with these cookies, friends, and I honestly think they are my new favorite. There are SO MANY reasons to love these.

  • Soft and chewy in the inside.
  • Crispy on the edges.
  • Nutty, sweet, and a little bit salty.
  • Impressive looking because BIG cookies are just everything.

This cookie is the first I’ve made with browned butter, and I’m now thinking I need to use this method with every single cookie I make.

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Love that toffee flavor? Then try our delicious Coffee Toffee Ice Cream! SO good and we’re all about those flavors.

Overhead shot of a plate of brown butter toffee cookies.

Ingredients needed for Brown Butter Toffee Cookies:

  • Butter – You’ll need one cup of unsalted butter. See below for how I brown the butter.
  • Eggs – Two eggs, at room temperature.
  • Sugar – A combo of brown sugar and granulated sugar.
  • Vanilla – I love the Watkin’s Vanilla brand.
  • Flour – You’ll need 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour PLUS two tablespoons.
  • Salt – I use kosher salt.
  • Baking Soda & Baking Powder – The leavening agents for these cookies.
  • Corn Starch – A couple of teaspoons helps make these cookies soft inside.
  • Heath Bars – The star of the show, crushed up Heath bars!

How to make brown butter:

This process is very easy. You just have to be patient while browning, and watch it very closely. You want browned butter – NOT burnt butter.

  1. Place the butter in a pan on the stove, over medium heat.
  2. Let the butter melt, and when it starts sizzling, start stirring with a spatula.
  3. Keep the heat at medium, and stir gently, keeping the butter moving in the pan.
  4. After about 15 minutes, you should see some brown bits starting to form on the bottom. When you see this, stir for a few seconds longer, and then remove the pan from the heat.
  5. Pour the butter immediately into a bowl.
  6. Let the butter cool. I like to leave it sit for about two hours, after it’s solidified and completely cooled.
  7. Now you are ready to use it in your cookies!

How to make Brown Butter Toffee Cookies:

Step 1
Brown the butter. (See above for complete instructions.)

A bowl of brown butter with a spatula.

Step 2
Chop the Heath Bars. Use a sharp knife to coarsely chop 8 ounces of Heath bars.

A white bowl of chopped toffee candy.

Step 3
Make the dough. After the butter is cooled completely, make the dough. Combine the wet ingredients in a large bowl – the butter, eggs, both sugars, and vanilla. Mix well. Then add in the dry ingredients – the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and corn starch. Mix until just combined.

Step 4
Add the Heath pieces. Then add in the chopped toffee bars, and gently mix it in to the cookie dough.

Step 5
Form balls. Use your hands to form about 16 equal shaped cookie balls. (These are on the larger size, so if you want, feel free to make smaller cookies.)

Step 6
Chill. Place the cookie balls in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. Chill the cookie dough balls for at least two hours prior to baking. You can also chill overnight.

Step 7
Bake. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for about 14-16 minutes, or until browned to your liking. If you make large cookies, make sure you only bake 5-6 at a time so they don’t bake together.

A rack of toffee brown butter cookies.

What does brown butter do for cookies?

Brown butter takes a regular cookie and makes it gourmet. It creates a nutty aroma and flavor profile that is like no other, especially in a cookie.

What happens when butter is browned?

When the butter melts, water evaporates out of the butter and the butterfat and milk solids separate. The solids sink to the bottom of the pan and eventually begin to brown. The butter then turns into a heavenly rich fat that will transform your cookies.

Side shot of a stack of toffee cookies.

Kitchen Tools used for this recipe: (Affiliate Links)

xoxo ~Sue

A closeup on toffee cookies.

Brown Butter Toffee Cookies

Brown Butter Toffee Cookies are next level delish! Start with some browned butter and end with crushed up Heath toffee bars for the best cookies in the universe. These freeze well too!
5 from 7 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Total Time: 34 minutes
Servings: 16 large cookies
Calories: 330kcal
Author: Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter – melted and browned, and cooled
  • 2 large eggs – at room temperature
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 8 oz. Heath bars – chopped
  • extra sprinkle of salt – after baking

Instructions

How to brown butter: (Do this step two hours before making cookies.)

  • Place the butter in a pan on the stove, over medium heat. Let the butter melt, and when it starts to sizzle, start stirring with a spatula. Keep the butter on medium heat, and stir gently to keep the butter moving around in the pan.
  • After about 15 minutes (or so), you should start seeing some brown bits forming on the bottom of the pan. Stir for a few more seconds and remove the pan from the heat. Pour the butter into a separate bowl so it stops cooking.
  • Let the butter cool completely at room temperature (or refrigerate for about 15 min, in a pinch). You'll see it start to solidify. (See pictures on blog.) I prefer to let it sit for about two hours before using. Now you are ready to make cookies!

Making the cookies:

  • Combine the wet ingredients in a large bowl – the cooled brown butter, eggs, vanilla, and both sugars. Whisk until well mixed.
  • Add in the dry ingredients – the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and corn starch. Mix until just combined.
  • Add the chopped Heath bar pieces to the bowl (I like to reserve a few pieces for the top of the cookies.) and gently stir in. Form approximately 16 large cookie balls and place in an airtight container.
  • Chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. You can also chill overnight.
  • Bake the cookies in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 14-16 minutes, or until browned to your liking. Make sure you avoid crowding the baking sheet because these cookies are large.

Video

Notes

What does brown butter do for cookies?
Brown butter takes a regular cookie and makes it gourmet. It creates a nutty aroma and flavor profile that is like no other, especially in a cookie
What happens when butter is browned?
When the butter melts, water evaporates out of the butter and the butterfat and milk solids separate. The solids sink to the bottom of the pan and eventually begin to brown. The butter then turns into a heavenly rich fat that will transform your cookies.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 388IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Suebeehomemaker or tag #suebeehomemaker!
Brown Butter Toffee Cookies on a cooling rack.

Cookie Monster Alert!!

15 Comments

  1. Marsha Peters says:

    The recipe reads like you used more than 1 Heath bar but the ingredients just says “8 oz Heath Bars”. Does that mean ever how any it takes to make 8 oz?

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Yes, 8 oz. total – it depends on the size of the bars that you use.

  2. I made these today following the recipe exactly and they turned out very thick like a cake. Didn’t look anything like the picture here.
    What did I do wrong?

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      I’m guessing you added too much flour. Make sure you spoon the flour into the measuring cup instead of scooping it.

  3. Can this dough be frozen?

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Yes, the dough can be frozen.

  4. Beyond delicious. I’m spoiled by the rich taste now! Love this!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thanks for your feedback, Angela!

  5. Made these cookies for Thanksgiving yesterday, Sue!! Everyone loved them- so darn delicious!!! Will definitely be making these often! ❤️ Btw: first time I’ve ever “browned butter”… it definitely makes a difference in taste! 😋

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Hi Diane! Thanks for trying these cookies out. They’re definitely one of our favs!

  6. These are undeniable delicious!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thanks Claire!

  7. Tiffany Ringsdorf says:

    These are my absolute favorite cookies! You killed it with these ones!

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thank you Tiffany! 🙂

5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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