Brown Butter Espresso Toffee Cookies Recipe

If you’re craving a cookie that perfectly balances rich, nutty depth with a lively espresso kick, the Brown Butter Espresso Toffee Cookies Recipe is your new best friend in the kitchen. These cookies boast a caramelized brown butter flavor enhanced by fragrant espresso powder and studded with crunchy toffee bits, creating a delightful texture and unforgettable bite. They are a wonderful treat to impress friends or simply enjoy a cozy moment with a cup of coffee or tea at home.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Brown Butter Espresso Toffee Cookies Recipe lies in its simple but carefully chosen ingredients. Each one plays a crucial role in achieving that classic chewy texture, rich flavor, and appealing color that makes these cookies irresistible.

• All-purpose flour (2 ½ cups / 312g): This provides the essential structure of the cookie, ensuring the perfect chewy base.
• Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise just enough as they bake, giving them a tender crumb.
• Cornstarch (2 teaspoons): Enhances softness by lightening the dough’s texture, making these cookies tender yet sturdy.
• Instant espresso powder (4 teaspoons): Infuses a bold, slightly bitter coffee flavor that complements the sweetness beautifully.
• Kosher salt (½ teaspoon): Balances the rich flavors and enhances the sweetness.
• Unsalted butter (¾ cup / 170g), browned and cooled: The star of the recipe, browned butter adds a deep, nutty complexity that elevates the cookie.
• Dark brown sugar (1 cup / 200g): Adds moisture and a caramel note, enriching the cookie’s flavor.
• Granulated sugar (½ cup / 100g): Provides sweetness and contributes to a satisfying crisp edge.
• Large eggs (2), room temperature: Bind ingredients together and give the cookie the proper structure.
• Pure vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Adds warmth and rounds out the cookie’s flavor profile.
• Toffee bits (½ cup / 85g): Offer sweet crunch and a buttery caramel surprise in every bite.
• Flaky sea salt (optional): For sprinkling on top to add a gourmet touch and deepen the flavor contrast.

How to Make Brown Butter Espresso Toffee Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Brown the Butter

Start by melting the unsalted butter over low heat in a saucepan, swirling frequently to prevent burning. Watch closely as it foams, then starts to turn a beautiful amber color with a warm, nutty aroma—that’s your cue it’s perfectly browned. Transfer it to a heatproof bowl and let it cool and solidify at room temperature, which will take about an hour. This step transforms the butter’s flavor and is key to this Brown Butter Espresso Toffee Cookies Recipe.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

While the butter cools, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, instant espresso powder, and kosher salt in a medium bowl. This mixture brings the coffee undertone and the right texture to the cookies, so having these ingredients well combined upfront makes the next steps much smoother.

Step 3: Cream Browned Butter and Sugars

With a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cooled browned butter with both the dark brown sugar and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creaming step aerates the dough, contributing to the cookie’s tender yet chewy texture.

Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract. The eggs add moisture and help bind the dough together, while the vanilla boosts the aromatic complexity of your cookies.

Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients

Gradually add your dry ingredient mix to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. Overmixing here would develop gluten and lead to tougher cookies, so mixing gently is essential to preserve softness.

Step 6: Fold in Toffee Bits

Using a spatula, gently fold the toffee bits into the dough until evenly distributed. These little bursts of caramel will add delightful crunch and sweetness, making every bite extra special.

Step 7: Chill the Dough

Cover the dough and pop it into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Chilling not only makes the dough easier to work with but also enhances the toffee flavor and improves the cookie’s texture.

Step 8: Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop the dough into roughly 2-tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn golden while the center remains slightly underbaked. This ensures a chewy center with a crisp edge that’s utterly satisfying.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy

Allow your cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set perfectly so you can enjoy the full experience of your Brown Butter Espresso Toffee Cookies Recipe.

How to Serve Brown Butter Espresso Toffee Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

A light sprinkle of flaky sea salt just after baking adds a sophisticated contrast to the cookie’s sweet and nutty flavors. You can also add a dusting of finely ground espresso powder if you want that coffee aroma to pack an even bigger punch.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with rich, creamy drinks like a latte, cappuccino, or even a glass of cold milk. Their espresso flavor complements coffee so well, making them the perfect afternoon treat alongside your favorite brew.

Creative Ways to Present

For a fun twist, serve these cookies stacked with small scoops of vanilla or coffee ice cream in between for a delightful sandwich cookie. Alternatively, crumble them over ice cream or pudding as a crunchy topping to add some texture and complexity.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftover cookies stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Storing them this way helps maintain their chewy texture and keeps the toffee bits crunchy and delicious.

Freezing

You can freeze the raw cookie dough or the baked cookies themselves. For dough, shape into balls and freeze on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag; bake straight from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the bake time. Baked cookies freeze best in airtight containers separated by parchment paper and thaw quickly at room temperature.

Reheating

To bring a little warmth and freshness back to your cookies, simply microwave them for about 10-15 seconds or warm them in a low oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5 minutes. This helps the toffee soften slightly and releases the aroma of the brown butter and espresso.

FAQs

Can I use regular butter instead of browning it first?

While you can use regular softened butter, browning the butter adds a deep, nutty complexity that truly makes these cookies special. It’s worth the extra effort for a richer flavor.

Is instant espresso powder necessary?

Instant espresso powder delivers concentrated coffee flavor without adding moisture, unlike brewed espresso. It’s the best choice for infusing cookies with espresso taste, but you could substitute with finely ground coffee if needed—just be mindful of texture changes.

What if I don’t have toffee bits?

If toffee bits aren’t available, chopped caramel candies or even chopped toasted nuts with a sprinkle of brown sugar can be good substitutes to maintain that sweet crunch.

Why do I need to chill the dough?

Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to scoop and preventing excessive spreading during baking. It also deepens the flavor and improves the texture, resulting in a perfect cookie bite.

Can these cookies be made gluten-free?

With a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend replacing the regular flour, you can adapt this recipe. Make sure the blend contains xanthan gum to help with texture, and be cautious about the toffee bits’ ingredients.

Final Thoughts

I’m thrilled you took the time to explore the Brown Butter Espresso Toffee Cookies Recipe because once you make these, they’ll quickly become your go-to cookie for any occasion. The way the browned butter and espresso elevate the toffee’s crunch is simply unforgettable. Treat yourself and anyone lucky enough to share—these cookies are pure comfort wrapped in a flavor-packed bite.

Print