Brown Sugar Cookies, made with brown butter and topped with a yummy, caramel-like brown sugar frosting, are absolutely droolworthy. These golden-brown sugar cookies are perfectly chewy, and the sweet buttercream frosting on top is an exquisite finishing touch.
Can’t get enough sugar cookies? Try my Cut Out Sugar Cookies and Soft Sugar Cookies too!
What Makes These Brown Sugar Cookies the Best?
The Brown Butter.
Just kidding, there are a few other reasons that I love making these brown sugar cookies so much.
- Quick and Easy: There’s just 25 minutes of prep work to do and 10 minutes of staring at the oven in an attempt to make the cookies bake faster… all in all, not too bad!
- Simple But Strong Flavors: They might not have add-ins, but don’t let that fool you. These sugar cookies are PACKED with sweet, caramel flavor. They’re addictive, to say the least.
- Versatile: You can make brown sugar cookies for any occasion: parties, barbecues, bake sales, just because, etcetera. They’re perfect for Christmas too, of course.
Recipe Ingredients
Most of these ingredients are probably already in your pantry or fridge (another great part about these cookies!). Make sure to take a look at the specific amounts in the recipe card below before starting.
For the Cookies:
- Butter: I like to use salted butter in these cookies, but feel free to use unsalted if you prefer.
- Sugar: This recipe requires both packed light brown sugar and granulated sugar.
- Flour: All purpose flour works best for these cookies.
- Baking Soda and Baking Powder: To ensure that the cookies have some lift and don’t turn out too flat.
- Salt: I like to use kosher salt, but table salt is fine too.
- Egg: To bind the cookie dough together – note that this recipe requires a whole egg and an egg yolk.
- Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract offers the best flavor.
For the Frosting:
- Sugar: Light brown sugar will add caramel notes to your frosting.
- Butter: Again, either salted butter or unsalted butter will work.
- Milk: I generally use 1 or 2% milk.
- Powdered Sugar: Make sure to sift your powdered sugar before adding it in.
How to Make Brown Sugar Cookies
Alright, let’s get into how to make these sugary brown butter cookies! Here’s the step-by-step process for both the cookies and the frosting:
- Make the brown butter. Melt the butter over medium heat. Slowly swirl the pan and cook until it becomes a brown/caramel color. Cool for 15 minutes.
- Make the dough. Whisk the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the brown sugar into the browned butter, then add in the egg and vanilla. Slowly add in the flour mixture until incorporated.
- Roll in sugar. Combine the remaining brown sugar and granulated sugar. Form balls of dough then roll them in the mixture before placing 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
- Bake. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges begin to brown.
- Make the frosting. Combine the brown sugar and butter over medium heat. Bring to a boil then remove from heat to cool. Beat in the milk then slowly add the powdered sugar.
- Frost the cookies. Spread a teaspoon or so of frosting on each of the brown sugar cookies. Enjoy!
Tips for Success
Here are some extra tips that will help you tackle these sweet cookies:
- Swirl the Pan While Browning the Butter: Keep swirling the pan so the little solid bits don’t burn.
- Don’t Over-Mix the Batter: Over-mixing the batter can lead to dense, flat cookies.
- Don’t Over-Bake the Cookies: If you can see that the cookies are golden around the edges, but the centers don’t look quite done, still take them out. They will firm up as they cool on the warm baking sheet.
- Can I Use Dark Brown Sugar? Sure! Using dark brown sugar will result in cookies with more of a molasses flavor. (It will also slightly change the texture of the cookies – they should be a bit chewier.)
Proper Storage
- Room temperature. These sugar cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 5-6 days.
- Fridge. They can also be kept in the fridge, if you prefer. They will still last for 5-6 days. This is ideal if your house is warm and may melt the frosting.
Can I Freeze Brown Sugar Cookies?
Definitely! You can freeze brown sugar cookies in an airtight container for 2-3 months.
It’s also possible to make the dough ahead of time, freeze it for a month or so, and then make the cookies later. Just defrost the dough in the fridge about a day ahead of time, and then you’re all set!
More Sugar Cookie Recipes
There’s no such thing as too many sugar cookies, so give some of these other recipes a try, too!
- Brown Sugar Cut Out Cookies
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Fruity Pebbles Sugar Cookies
- Easy Soft Sugar Cookies
- Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookies
Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
Brown Sugar Cookies, made with brown butter and topped with a yummy, caramel-like brown sugar frosting, are absolutely droolworthy. These golden-brown sugar cookies are perfectly chewy, and the sweet buttercream frosting on top is an exquisite finishing touch.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 14 tablespoons salted butter (1 3/4 sticks)
- 1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
Frosting
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
Instructions
Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350° and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Heat butter in medium skillet over medium heat until melted. When butter melts slowly swirl the pan and continue to cook the butter until it becomes a nice, brown-caramel color. The swirling helps it from burning. Let cool for 15 minutes.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl and set aside.
- When butter is cooled mix 1 3/4 cup light brown sugar and browned butter with electric mixer until no lumps remain, about 30 seconds.
- Add egg, yolk and vanilla and mix for another 30 seconds, until smooth.
- Slowly add in your flour mixture and mix on medium-low until incorporated.
- Combine remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl.
- Roll cookie dough into balls and then roll in sugar mixture.
- Place on lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Bake approx 10-12 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Do not over-bake.
- Transfer to wire rack to cool.
Frosting
- Combine brown sugar and butter in small saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil and continue cooking 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes. Mixture will slightly thicken.
- With hand mixer beat in milk until smooth. Slowly add in powdered sugar until spreadable consistency. ( I used all 2 cups).
- Spread approx 1 teaspoon on each cookie.
Notes
- To Store: These sugar cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 5-6 days. They can also be kept in the fridge, if you prefer.
- To Freeze: You can freeze brown sugar cookies in an airtight container for 2-3 months. It’s also possible to make the dough ahead of time, freeze it for a month or so, and then make the cookies later. Just defrost the dough in the fridge about a day ahead of time, and then you’re all set!
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 251
- Sugar: 33.6 g
- Sodium: 84.6 mg
- Fat: 8.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42.8 g
- Protein: 1.7 g
- Cholesterol: 29.4 mg
Brown sugar is THE best….lovin’ the cookies. Pinning and making real soon 🙂
LOVE!
I would like to conquer that cookie tower with my mouth! Brown sugar is by far the best sugar in all the land. I am not lying when I say I eat it on ev.er.y.thing. I must make these gorgeous cookies, Shelly!
omg, i want to eat that entire TOWER.
Wow, this looks fantastic!
Yum!
These look great! Question- what is the recipe source for these? You don’t have it listed (as you seem to often not list your recipe source) and I would be surprised if you came up with the exact proportions of the ingredients on your own. Just wondering! Thank you.
Umm, well these cookies are actually made from a recipe that I made earlier in the year that I did indeed post the link to. And why would you “be surprised” that I was capable of developing recipes? When I adapt a recipe from a source I always make a point to credit the source.
I think you misunderstood what I said. I actually checked the link to the other cookie, and read the entire post, and maybe I’m just not reading carefully enough, but I did not see a link listed. Could you tell me where to find it? And also, who sits around thinking, “Hmm…2 cups of flour plus 2 eggs and a cup of sugar would require what amount of baking powder?” I didn’t mean this as an insult, I was genuinely interested in seeing the original source and you have developed many great recipes on your own.
Well, as a baking blogger who bakes as a job almost everyday of the week I actually do sit around thinking about cookie recipes, and how much sugar, flour baking soda etc. This original cookie recipe is one that I came up with while wanting to include browned butter in a sugar cookie…honestly, most cookie recipes are very similar, mixing butter, sugar and flour in different ways is where you have to get creative. I hope this answers your question.
I can say that I too sit around and think about how much flour to butter to baking soda.. I mean, that’s how recipes get created. All the recipes in the world haven’t yet been invented, but when it comes to baking, it’s chemistry, and there are specific formulas that have been worked out and should be followed. Like you said, Shelly, the creativity comes from what you do beyond the formulas.
If sitting around thinking about butter, sugar, flour, and baking soda all day makes me weird and abnormal, well, I’m okay with that.
I have just tried these for the first time! They are delicious!! I will try them again because I think I made a mistake somewhere… However, even with the mess up, they are still fabulous!!! Thank you for your creative mind!! 🙂
I just tried to make these – cookies taste awsome (they will only crisper when you take them OUT of the oven thats whymyourn overcooking them guys !! ) but my attempt at the icing was awful – I followed the recipe EXACTLY and I’ve added about 1/2 the sugar so far maybe a but more but it’s all sugar ?? What am I doing wrong it’s doesn’t look frosty ?? It’s dark and horrible 🙁
Before I left on our trip, I wanted sooo much to make brown sugar cookies but never got around to it. Will be ziplisting these babies so I can make them when I get home. I love the brown sugar frosting, too. Brown sugar, browned butter, lots of vanilla, chewy cookies – I am all about these, Shelly!
Oh my…what was it I was supposed to be doing today?
Never mind…chewy brown sugar cookies seem to take priority now 🙂
It’s definitely cookie season. I love chewy cookies!