Browned Butter Snickerdoodles
Browned butter is one of those magical ingredients. It’s like liquid gold. It just makes everything better. I have yet to meet a recipe using browned butter that I don’t like.
If you haven’t ever browned butter, it’s quite simple, although it does take some patience. Just melt the butter on low. Once the butter starts to foam, I start whisking. From here things can be tricky, although I’ve never had any issues. My secret? Using my nose. I stir the butter constantly until it smells nutty and almost caramely. That’s it.
I only have dark bottomed pans, so I can’t follow the instructions about when you see flecks vs when you don’t. But my nose has yet to fail me. Believe me, you’ll know when it’s ready. Once cooled to room temperature, browned butter can be used in just about anything.
Since my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe has browned butter in it, I was not at all surprised that I loved these snickerdoodles. Don’t get me wrong, I like regular snickerdoodles enough (in cookie or bar format), but with browned butter, they were downright addictive!
One Year Ago: Roasted Blueberry Cupcakes and Two-Berry Coconut Macaroons
Two Years Ago: Hummingbird Cupcakes with Pineapple Flowers
Three Years Ago: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Meal Idea for New Parents (or Anyone else you want to take a meal to)
Four Years Ago: Roasted Red Pepper Dip and Samoas Bars
Browned Butter Snickerdoodles
Yield: 3 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
5 tsp cinnamon, divided
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp whole milk
1 cup plus 3 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
Directions:
Add the butter to a medium skillet set over medium heat and let it start melting. Continue cooking, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter becomes golden brown and smells nutty (be patient and watch carefully, it can go from brown to burnt quickly). Pour the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed for 5-7 minutes to cool the butter to room temperature (or alternatively, you could just let it sit until it cools down - it'll just take longer).
Meanwhile, whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon and the salt together in a medium bowl. Whisk the eggs and milk in a medium measuring cup until combined.
When the butter has cooled, add 1 cup of the granulated sugar and the brown sugar to the bowl. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. With the mixer on low, slowly add the egg mixture beating until well combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, beating just until the dough comes together. Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to 24 (I chilled mine for close to 24).
When you're ready to bake, preheat oven to 400 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar and the remaining 4 teaspoons of cinnamon to a wide, shallow bowl and stir to combine.
Using a small cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons), portion the dough into balls. Roll the balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture then transfer to the prepared baking sheets spacing the cookies about 1 1/2-2 inches apart. Bake for about 10 minutes (rotating the pans halfway through) until the tops of the cookies are cracked and the edges are just set (just a minute or two of extra baking will take these from chewy to more crisp so keep an eye on them). Transfer the pans to wire racks and cool the cookies for a few minutes then remove to the racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Recipe seen on Tracey's Culinary Adventures, originally from Baked Elements
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I NEED to make these. I might just start on them tonight!
These look amazing! I would go into a sugar coma because I would probably want to eat at least three of these gems…haha.
Oh wow these are my dream dessert! I hope you bring these ones to Cupcake Camp!!
I too have been meaning to make these cupcakes since I first saw them on the internet. I love that you combined several recipes from different bloggers. Awesome recipes, unite!
Like I said, it’s a multi-step process, so starting part of it tonight might be a good idea. If you make them, I definitely want one. These were so good.
Oh that’s a thought… I still haven’t decided what I’m baking for Cupcake Camp…
Definitely give it a shot. They take some time, but it’s SO worth it.
I’ve been wanting to make these for quite a while as well. My mother-in-law LOVES cookie dough and her birthday is coming up. From all the versions I’ve seen floating around on the internet, I really like yours since you have the LOTS of cookie dough in the middle of your cupcakes. So, you baked the cupcakes with the frozen cookie dough inside? No problems with it baking up? I’m definitely trying this!
Yep, just dropped the dough into the cupcake batter before baking it. The cupcakes did rise up quite a bit and then sank back down as they cooled. I was a little concerned I had underbaked them, but they were delicious. Definitely let me know how they turn out for you if you make them.
oh my Lord these look amazing! I’m having a girls night next weekend and I’m def going to try these! Thanks!
Once again Jen, you impress me with your creativity!
I want, no NEED, to make these. Does it matter what size your cookie scoop is? Mine is a medium size with about 1.5 tbsp volume. Want to make sure it won’t be too much that it prevents the cupcake from baking up (because honestly, it’s not possible for it to be too much cookie dough).
I’m honestly not sure what size my cookie scoop is. It doesn’t have any markings on it to give an indication! I think it’s the standard cookie scoop you’d get at the grocery store if that helps at all… I think 1.5 Tbsp sounds about right though.
I’m already trying to decide what occasion to make them for.
I’m still waiting to try these. Just sayin’. 😉
WOW! Talk about decadent!
Well I *might* be making these for Cupcake Camp. So, if you make the trip into Boston for that, you might be able to have one! Too bad they’re not appropriate for Passover.
Who needs dessert at 8am???
I’ll give you one hint.
Me.
😉
Bookmarking this! I’ve been meaning to make these cupcakes for a while now!
Will be making these soon. What a great twist.. the cookie is actually a cookie in the baking process. Yum!
OH. EM. GEE. I’m SO making these for euchre night on Saturday, just to have an excuse.
I found this recipeast summer and have made it several times for my oldest child, who has requested it again-for her sweet sixteen birthday. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
beantownbaker — April 16th, 2014 @ 6:01 pm
So glad you enjoy it! This is one of our favorite cupcake recipes of all time.