Children and me have been on a cookie test lately. These brown butter chocolate chip cookies are topped with chopped pistachios. They are sweet and savory with layers of flavor in every bite. A fresh batch here won’t last long!
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are thick and chewy with crunchy edges and a soft center. I made a few ingredient swaps to make this dessert a little healthier, but they’re still a treat we enjoy in moderation.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy… you get all the flavors and textures in one bite. Here I used coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. It has a similar taste, however coconut sugar is a less processed option and has unique caramel undertones that really add to the cookie. I also added a collagen powder for a subtle protein boost.
Dark chocolate chips offer a bittersweet bite in every mouthful and add healthy polyphenol antioxidants, magnesium and trace minerals. They’re made with sea salt, which provides electrolytes and a nice contrast to the sweet cookies. And the pistachio pieces are just the icing on top. They are also salty, but give it a unique flavor.
One of the biggest differences you’ll notice is that they use brown butter instead of regular. It offers such a rich depth of flavor, almost like caramel. Brown butter is easy enough to make, but you’ll want to pay attention to it when cooking. You want to cook it (keep stirring!) until you start seeing brown bits and it starts to smell delicious. Take it off the stove at this point or you’ll have burnt oil that doesn’t taste very good!
Tips for making salted chocolate pistachio cookies
I recommend cutting chocolate bars because it is easier to find varieties with 70% or more cocoa. Blocked chocolate chips also work. The taste of good chocolate chip cookies depends on having good quality chocolate!
When you mix the dough, be sure not to overmix the flour, as this can overwork the gluten proteins and make tough, tough cookies. If the dough is too soft after mixing, chill it for 15-20 minutes before baking to prevent over-spreading. For even thicker cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling.
Brown Butter Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies
These delicious chocolate chip cookies have extra depth of flavor thanks to the crunchy pistachios and flavored brown butter.
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Melt butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until foamy and golden brown (about 4-5 minutes), then remove from heat and let cool for 20-30 minutes.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Combine the cooled brown butter, coconut sugar and maple syrup, then add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
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Stir in the flour (all-purpose or 1:1 gluten-free), collagen, if using, baking soda, and salt until combined, then fold in the chopped pistachios and dark chocolate.
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Scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet (about 2 tablespoons each) and chill for 15-20 minutes first if the dough is soft.
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Bake for 10-13 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers are slightly reduced. Sprinkle with sea salt and cool on a rack before serving.
Food facts
Brown Butter Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies
Amount per serving (1 cookie)
Calories 217
Calories from fat 117
% Daily Value*
fat 13g20%
Saturated fat 7 g44%
Trans fat 0.3 g
Saturated fats 1 g
Single fat 4 g
Cholesterol 31 mg10%
sodium 394 mg17%
Potassium 139 mg4%
Carbohydrates 21 g7%
fiber 2 g8%
Sugar 8 g9%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 244IU5%
Vitamin C 0.2 mg0%
calcium 20 mg2%
Iron 2 mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
For thicker cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling.
Storage and storage period
I made a double batch of these to save some for later. The dough freezes well. Form into balls and freeze, then bake straight from frozen to add 1-2 minutes to baking time.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
More cookie recipes
Looking for some healthier cookie recipes? Here are some of our favorites!
What are your favorite cookies to make or eat? Leave a comment and let us know!
