Butter Pecan Cookies Brown Butter (Printable)

Nutty cookies with toasted pecans, deep brown butter, and a delicate sea salt finish.

# Ingredient list:

→ Brown Butter

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter

→ Cookies

02 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs, at room temperature
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 1/2 cups pecan halves, toasted and coarsely chopped

→ Finishing

10 - Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue cooking, swirling often, until the butter foams, turns golden brown, and has a nutty aroma for about 5 to 7 minutes. Pour into a large mixing bowl and cool for 10 minutes.
02 - While the butter cools, preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread pecan halves on a baking sheet and toast for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring halfway through. Cool completely, then chop coarsely.
03 - To the cooled brown butter, add brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Fold in toasted pecans.
05 - Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop dough using approximately 2 tablespoons per cookie onto the sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Sprinkle each cookie with a pinch of flaky sea salt.
06 - Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until edges are golden and centers look just set. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Brown butter does the heavy lifting flavor-wise, so you get restaurant-quality depth from your own stovetop.
  • They're ready in under an hour start to finish, making them perfect for impressing someone or just treating yourself on a random Thursday.
  • That sprinkle of flaky sea salt creates this addictive sweet-salty balance that keeps people coming back for one more.
02 -
  • Brown butter continues to cook even after you pour it out, so pull it off heat just before it looks completely done—darker doesn't always mean better here.
  • Room temperature eggs make a real difference; cold eggs will cause the batter to look broken or grainy, and no amount of mixing fixes that.
03 -
  • Don't walk away from the brown butter—those few minutes go fast, and watching the transformation helps you nail the perfect golden-brown stage every time.
  • The flaky sea salt on top is non-negotiable; it's what transforms these from good cookies into ones people remember and ask you to make again.
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