Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1

Melt1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butterin a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often with a heatproof rubber spatula to prevent burning, until butter turns a light amber color, smells nutty, and foam has started to settle, 5–7 minutes. Immediately pour butter into a large heatproof bowl and scrape in any browned bits stuck to bottom of pan.

Step 2

Add1¼ cups (250 g; packed) light brown sugar, ⅓cup (67 g) granulated sugar, and1 Tbsp. vanilla extractto butter and whisk until combined and sugar starts to dissolve. Add2 large eggs, room temperature, and1 large egg yolk, room temperature, one at a time, whisking after each addition until incorporated before adding more. Add2¾ cups (344 g) all-purpose flour,2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt,1 tsp. baking powder, and1 tsp. baking sodaand stir with rubber spatula until a soft dough forms and there are no pockets of unincorporated flour. Add2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (about 12 oz.)and mix just until distributed throughout. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill dough at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours. (Alternatively, if you want to speed up the process, transfer dough to a large resealable plastic bag and flatten dough to all 4 corners. Close bag and place in a large bowl of ice water; make sure bag is submerged. Let sit 20 minutes.)

Step 3

Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°. Line 3 baking sheets (or what you have) with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. Using a #16 cookie scoop or ¼-cup measure, portion out dough and roll into smooth balls. (Or, if using the ice water technique, cut dough into 66 g portions and roll into smooth balls.) Place balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2" apart (6–7 per baking sheet).

Step 4

Bake 2 baking sheets of cookies, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until tops are cracked and lightly browned, 14–16 minutes. Gently bang baking sheets on counter a few times to deflate cookies slightly, then let cool on baking sheets. Repeat with remaining baking sheet of cookies, baking them on either rack.