How To: Brown Butter Malted Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Crinkly, Wrinkly, and oh so delicious...these Brown Butter Malted Chocolate Chunk Cookies will have you hooked after just one bite. Made with browned butter and malted milk powder, then lightly sweetened for a cookie that's rich in flavor and heavy on the chocolate. Every bite is slightly crisp on the edges, but soft and chewy in the center...so DELICIOUS! Absolutely nothing not to love about these crinkly, wrinkly, sweet malted cookies. Bonus? These cookies are easy to make and so yummy to eat!

Like most cookies, these are EASY. Brown the butter, let that cool, then simply mix everything together, bake, eat, and enjoy.

As I do with almost all my cookies, these need a tap on the counter to create that crinkly type of cookie.

Just tap the baking sheet on your counter midway through baking, then finish cooking. When the cookies have completely finished baking, remove them from the oven and tap the baking sheet once more. This step is KEY. It will ensure you have the least cakey chocolate chunk cookie. You'll get a cookie with crisp edges and a gooey center. Tapping the baking pan on the counter deflates the center of the cookie, pushing the edges out.

I like to do this with almost all of my cookies because it really does create that perfect crinkly, wrinkly cookie. It's a method I learned from the New York Times and it's genius.

Aside from browning the butter and tapping the baking sheet, the rest is is easy. When the cookies come out of the oven, the puddles of melted chocolate will be bubbling up and the kitchen will smell, nutty, buttery, and oh so delicious. I of course love to eat these warm, right off the pan. But first, I let them set up for five or so minutes. Then I serve them up while still warm with a sprinkle of sea salt atop. And oh my gosh, every last bite is delicious. It's truly hard to beat a good chocolate chip cookie, but these certainly give the others some stiff competition. It's the crinkly edges, deep vanilla flavor, and pockets of melted chocolate. Pretty hard to beat. I'm looking forward to making these cookies tonight. They make for the perfect Friday night cookie, but honestly, they're great anytime. Oh but a quick question? Are you a milk and cookies person or do you just like the cookies? Me...I am a milk and cookies girl all the way!

Author: Tieghan Gerard

Ingredients

• 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup malted milk powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups chopped chocolate chunks or chips
• Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Two secrets to these cookies... browned butter and malter milk powder. I feel like the browned butter is obvious, it's key within these cookies. I like to brown half of the butter, but leave the other half at room temp. This gives you the flavor of browned butter but leaves you with a cookie that has a great texture too. It also highlights the malted flavors. I know it's an extra step, but the browned butter really does add so much to these cookies. In my view, it's the extra step worth taking.

Now, the malted milk powder. It's not a usual cookie ingredient but it's what really sets these cookies apart. For those of you unfamiliar with malted milk powder, it's the best kept secret ingredient in the baking world. Malted milk is what is typically used to make malted milkshakes, among other things. It's made from barley wheat and gives off a nutty flavor with a natural sweetness. It reminds me of the flavors in a toasted caramel sauce with undertones of browned butter and vanilla.

It's very subtle but DELICIOUS. It adds a layer of flavor that keeps everyone wanting more. Asher described it so perfectly, the cookies taste like death by chocolate, with notes of vanilla and an almost boozy flavor.

Instructions

1. Add 1 stick of butter to a small saucepan set over medium heat. Cook until the butter begins to brown, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a heatproof bowl. Stick in the freezer to chill, 10-15 minutes, but no longer.
2. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the remaining stick of butter, the cooled browned butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until combined. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until combined. Add the vanilla, beating until creamy. Add the flour, malted milk powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold in the chocolate chunks.
4. Roll the dough into rounded 1 tablespoon size balls and place 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Transfer to the oven and bake for 7 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and tap the baking sheet on the counter 2 times to flatten them down. Return to the oven and bake another 1-3 minutes or until the cookies are just beginning to set on the edges, but still doughy in the center. Remove from the oven and tap the baking sheet on the counter 1-2 times to flatten them down again. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet. They will continue to cook slightly as they sit on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with flaky salt (if desired). Eat warm (highly recommended) or let cool and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Lastly, if you make these Brown Butter Malted Chocolate Chunk Cookies be sure to leave a comment
and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond
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Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Source: Half Baked Harvest