Brown Butter for Baking

Plus the best, nutty tasting, Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe ever!

Brown Butter - what is it? How do you make it? And why use Brown Butter in Baking?

Brown Butter is exactly what it says it is, butter that is brown. But how and why do you make it brown?

Brown butter is butter that has been melted and cooked until the water has evaporated and the milk solids have toasted and caramelised and become nutty and delicious. It's not a difficult process, and it surprises me that as simple as it is, why do not more people do it? I guess it might have something to do with it taking a little extra time. Time that a lot of people may think they don't have.

However, if you're thinking you can't be bothered to take a few minutes to brown butter you are seriously missing out. The extra nutty notes it brings to many bakes is well worth the extra effort.

What actually happens to butter when you brown it?

As you melt the butter the milk solids will be heavier and naturally fall to the bottom of the pan. The heat from the pan will then start to toast the solids giving them a distinct nutty flavour. The process of toasting the solids is the same as when you sear meat (or brown it). It gives it a great caramel, toasty taste.

How to Brown Butter

Browning your butter is a really simple process.