Gooey Brown Butter Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Sea Salt! These cookies are a powerhouse of FLAVOR. So thick and chewy!
Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
Happy Saturday!!! It’s the weekend, so I’m going to get straight to the point: you NEED these Gooey Brown Butter Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Sea Salt in your life!!!
Need more convincing? Here ya go! These cookies are:
- thick and chewy
- perfectly crispy at the edges
- loaded with gooey chocolate chunks
- made with brown butter (!!!)
- full of crunchy walnuts
- sprinkled with flaky sea salt
- perfect with a cup of milk… or coffee
- THE MOST DELICIOUS COOKIES I’VE BAKED ALL MONTH
True story: I brought a dozen of these cookies to some of my friends that work at our local deli and they all said they were the BEST cookies they’ve ever had. And I bake them A LOT of cookies 😉
Tips and Tricks for Recipe Success:
- If you’ve never browned butter before, don’t fret! It’s easy. You’ll need a saute pan, butter, and a touch of patience – that’s it! You’ll start off melting the butter; once the butter has completely melted, you’ll continue to cook the butter, on medium heat (or medium-low if your stove top runs hot), until it’s turned a golden brown and smells slightly nutty. Just be sure you stay stove side once the butter has melted; brown butter can turn into burnt butter very fast.
- You will need to bring your browned butter back to room temperature before incorporating it into the recipe. To do this, simply pour the butter into a heatproof bowl and place it in the fridge for about 45 minutes. You want it solid, but soft enough that when you gently press it with your finger it leaves an indentation.
- Don’t over bake! Your cookies should be set at the edges but still soft in the center.
- Be sure to allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a full 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. They need the 10 minutes to firm up so they don’t fall apart as your transfer them.
- If you’d like your cookies to look like the ones you see in my photos, press a few chocolate chunks and walnuts on top of each cookie right after they come out of the oven. Then sprinkle them with flaky sea salt!
Sweet, salty, crunchy and gooey… who says you can’t have it all!?
More Cookie Recipes:
If you try this recipe for Gooey Brown Butter Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Sea Salt, let me know what you think! Leave a comment below, and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #bakerbynature on instagram! Seeing your creations makes my day ♥
Gooey Brown Butter Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Sea Salt
Ingredients
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted until browned and brought back to room temperature (see post for more on this)
- 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more ONLY if the dough seems to need it; adding one tablespoon at a time)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks
- 3/4 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
For the Brown Butter:
- Place the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook for about 3 minutes – stirring almost constantly – until the butter has browned. Pour the brown butter into a heatproof bowl, being sure to scrape all of the "toasted" bits into the bowl as well. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 45 minutes, or until the butter is at room temperature. You’ll know the butter is at room temperature when you press a finger into the top and it makes a slight indentation. It should not be liquid at all.
- Once the butter is at room temperature, you're ready to get baking!
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees (F).
For the Gooey Brown Butter Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Sea Salt:
- In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
- In a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine both sugars, vanilla, and browned butter; cream on medium-speed until light and fluffy; about 2 minutes. Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating for 15 seconds after each addition. Turn mixer off. Using a wooden spoon or sturdy rubber spatula, gently fold in the flour, stirring only until the flour begins to disappear. Fold in the chocolate chunks and walnuts.
- Roll 3 tablespoon sized scoops of dough between your palms to form a ball (they should be big; almost a 1/4 cup), then place on prepared sheet (make sure to leave enough room in between each cookie for inevitable spreading). Continue this process until all the dough has been rolled.
- Place baking sheets in preheated oven, one at a time, and bake for 9 to 10 minutes, or until golden at the edges but still soft in the middle. Repeat with all cookie dough.
- Sprinkle cookies with sea salt right when they come out of the oven. Let cookies cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cheryl says
Most delicious chocolate chip cookie ever. Browned butter is the key. So rich and yummy! Always get raved reviews. Don’t cook over 10 min. Trust the recipe!
Vero Panilinan says
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I just made this and my kids love it.
If I may ask, why is there a need to solidify the butter? What is that step for?
What is the effect on the cookies? Thanks.
Caroline says
I just made these today. They are fantastic!!! I added toffee bits too!!
Lisa says
I love these cookies. This recipe is a keeper
Christa Collins says
Hello Ashley! Can I make pre-make the cookie dough and bake the cookies a day later? My plan is to make the
Dough On Wednesday before Thanksgiving and bake them thanksgiving day. Thanks!!
sophia says
I just made these cookies and I’ve had multiple people tell me they’re the best chocolate chip cookies they’ve ever had! definitely keeping this recipe around!
Yudy says
Is there a specific way to toast the walnuts?
Sam S. says
First time making these and the recipe was easy to follow. They came out exactly as I imagined from all the gorgeous photos. One of my favorites for sure. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
Emma says
I’ve made these cookies twice now. They are so delicious and easy to make. They’ve sure been a hit in my college house full of girls!
Brizzle says
These were a ridiculous hit at the office. People were moaning so much in the cube farm that I thought I was on an adult movie set