These brown butter sugar cookies are soft, rich, and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Browning the butter adds a deep, nutty flavor to this classic cookie recipe.
Brown butter sugar cookies are a simple twist on the traditional sugar cookie. The browned butter adds extra depth and warmth, while the cinnamon sugar coating gives the cookies lightly crisp edges and soft centers.
They're easy to make and perfect for holiday baking, cookie trays, or whenever you want a homemade sugar cookie with a little more flavor.
Why These Brown Butter Sugar Cookies Work
Browning the butter changes the flavor of the cookies in the best way. As the butter cooks, the milk solids caramelize and develop a rich, nutty taste that regular butter doesn't have.
Using both browned butter and shortening keeps the cookies soft while still giving them structure. Rolling the dough in cinnamon sugar before baking adds a lightly crisp coating and warm spice flavor that pairs perfectly with the nutty butter.
The result is a soft sugar cookie that's simple to make but tastes a little more special.
Ingredients for Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
- ⅔ cup butter, browned - Browning the butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that makes these sugar cookies stand out.
- ⅔ cup shortening - Helps keep the cookies soft and prevents them from spreading too much while baking.
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar - Sweetens the cookies and helps create lightly crisp edges.
- 2 eggs - Adds structure and helps bind the cookie dough together.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract - Enhances the flavor of the browned butter and adds warmth to the cookies.
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour - Provides the structure for the cookie dough.
- 2 teaspoons baking powder - Helps the cookies rise slightly and keeps them soft.
- 1 teaspoon salt - Balances the sweetness and brings out the other flavors.
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cinnamon
This mixture is used to roll the cookie dough before baking, giving the cookies a lightly crisp cinnamon sugar coating.
How to Brown Butter
Browning butter only takes a few minutes and adds a lot of flavor.
- Place butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Allow the butter to melt completely.
- Stir occasionally as the butter begins to foam.
- Continue cooking until small brown bits form on the bottom of the pan and the butter smells nutty.
- Remove from heat immediately and pour into a heat-safe bowl.
- Refrigerate until the butter becomes solid again but is still soft enough to mix
How to Make Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the browned butter and shortening.
- Add eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Add sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Slowly mix in flour until a dough forms.
- Roll dough into small balls.
- Roll each dough ball in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Place cookies on an ungreased baking sheet or silicone baking mat.
- Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden.
- Remove from oven and gently press the center of each cookie with the back of a spoon to flatten slightly.
- Sprinkle with additional cinnamon sugar if desired.
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Tips for Perfect Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
Do not burn the butter
Once the butter starts to brown it can burn quickly. Remove it from heat as soon as brown bits form.
Let the butter solidify again
The butter should be solid but soft before mixing so the cookie dough forms properly.
Do not overbake
Remove the cookies when the bottoms are lightly golden. They will continue to set as they cool.
Use a silicone baking mat
This helps cookies bake evenly and prevents sticking.
If you enjoy classic sugar cookies, you might also like these soft cut-out sugar cookies with buttercream or these snickerdoodle cookies.
How to Store Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
For longer storage, place cookies in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow cookies to thaw at room temperature before serving.
Looking for more cookie ideas? Browse our Favorite Cookie Recipes collection for more homemade favorites.
These brown butter sugar cookies bake up soft with lightly crisp edges and a warm cinnamon sugar coating. They're a simple upgrade to classic sugar cookies and perfect for holiday baking or everyday treats.
📖 Recipe
Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup butter - browned and cooled
- ⅔ cup shortening
- 1 ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ¾ cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup sugar - for cinnamon sugar mixture
- ¼ cup cinnamon - for cinnamon sugar mixture
Instructions
Brown Butter
- To make the brown butter for these brown butter sugar cookies, heat a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter.
- Stir occasionally and allow butter to start to foam.
- Keep stirring until little bits of brown start to develop in skillet. Roughly 8 minutes (adjust accordingly)
- Stir and remove from heat immediately and pour into heat proof bowl.
- Cover and place in refrigerator and allow for butter to turn back into solid state. Roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Just enough to make the butter solidify but still workable.
Brown Butter Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Mix butter and shortening together in large bowl.
- Add one egg at a time and blend well.
- Add in vanilla.
- Pour in sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Slowly add in flour making sure to blend well.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls.
- Roll balls of dough into the cinnamon sugar mixture and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for about 10 minutes or until bottom of cookies are golden brown.
- After removing from oven, take back of spoon and lightly push down on center of cookies to help flatten them.
- If desired, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of cookie.
Notes
- Browning the butter adds a deeper flavor to traditional sugar cookies.
- Allow the butter to cool and solidify before mixing so the dough forms correctly
- For thicker cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Cookies are done when the bottoms are lightly golden but the centers still look soft.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
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Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
OMG I just did a recipe this weekend that involved brown butter. It was the first time I made them. WOW that brown butter makes a HUGE difference in taste. All the more addictive...just what I need.
OMG I just did a recipe this weekend that involved brown butter. It was the first time I made them. WOW that brown butter makes a HUGE difference in taste. All the more addictive...just what I need.
The addition of cinnamon sugar makes this cookies my kids favorite- they love chewy and soft treats!
You certainly know how to up the sugar cookie game!! Brown butter?!?! Yes please! I'll bet that gives the cookies a perfect flavor!!
The addition of cinnamon sugar makes this cookies my kids favorite- they love chewy and soft treats!
You certainly know how to up the sugar cookie game!! Brown butter?!?! Yes please! I'll bet that gives the cookies a perfect flavor!!
I’ve heard how amazing brown butter is but I haven’t tried making it yet. This is the perfect reason to start I think! These cookies looks delicious and perfect to bring to our post-christmas celebration.
I’ve heard how amazing brown butter is but I haven’t tried making it yet. This is the perfect reason to start I think! These cookies looks delicious and perfect to bring to our post-christmas celebration.
Wow these cookies look so yummy! This is perfect for the holidays. Pinned!
Wow these look incredible! The brown butter will make these cookies Devine! They almost look like snickerdoodles! Yum! I am going to try these for my holiday baking!
Browned butter is so overlooked in baking, it gives such an amazing flavor!
Wow these look incredible! The brown butter will make these cookies Devine! They almost look like snickerdoodles! Yum! I am going to try these for my holiday baking!
These chewy cookies sound so delicious, the brown butter adds that unique taste. Simply irresistible!
These chewy cookies sound so delicious, the brown butter adds that unique taste. Simply irresistible!