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These are the cookies I make when I want people to pause mid-bite and do that quiet little nod like, “Yep. That’s the one.” Brown butter brings the toasted, hazelnut vibe. Homemade toffee adds crisp caramel crunch. And the chocolate pockets? Non-negotiable.

Why You’ll Love these Brown Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

• • Brown butter does the most: it makes the cookie taste like you added caramel… without adding caramel. (see my How to Brown Butter Guide for step-by-step photos).
  • Homemade toffee crunch stays bold and buttery (and tastes less “processed” than some store-bought bits).
  • Chewy center, crisp edges: the yolk + cornstarch combo is the texture cheat code.

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Why I Enjoy This Recipe 🤎

These cookies are quite delicious and very buttery. I made these brown butter chocolate chip toffee cookies during that week between Christmas and New Years and when friends and family were rotating into town they enjoyed these cookies a well. Also, they stay nice and chewy for days.

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Ingredients highlight

Brown butter (unsalted): deep, toasty flavor. Let it cool so it doesn’t melt your sugar into oily soup.
Milk powder: boosts that “toasted dairy” flavor it's like browned butters bestie.
Cornstarch: keeps centers tender and thick.
Espresso powder (optional): doesn’t make it mocha, just makes chocolate louder. But just a heads up the batter will have that coffee taste, but will disappear once the cookies bake.
Homemade toffee: buttery crunch. Bigger chunks = better bite.

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Homemade Toffee (make one batch, use half for cookies)

Homemade Toffee Ingredients:

• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• ¼ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Equipment to make Homemade Toffee (highly recommended):

• Heavy-bottom saucepan (2–3 qt)
• Candy thermometer
• Silicone mat (Silpat) or parchment
• Heatproof spatula

Step-by-step Homemade Toffee Recipe

1. Prep your pan first.
   Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment. Keep it right next to the stove.
2. Start the cook (medium-low).
   Add butter, sugar, and salt to the saucepan. Heat on medium-low, stirring gently as the butter melts and the sugar looks like wet sand.
3. Once it’s bubbling, stir less.
   When the mixture becomes fully liquid and starts to bubble consistently, stop stirring constantly (stirring can encourage crystallization).
   If you see sugar crystals on the side of the pot, wipe them down with a slightly damp pastry brush.
4. Clip on the thermometer and go “low and slow.”
   Let it cook steadily, watching it climb. This can take 10–20 minutes depending on heat and pan.
   You’re aiming for 300°F (hard crack).
5. Color check (important).
   Near the end, it should look like a deep golden amber and smell like caramel, not burnt toast. If it starts darkening too fast, reduce heat.
6. Finish + vanilla.
   Remove from heat at 300°F. Immediately stir in vanilla (it may sputter a little).
7. Pour and cool.
   Pour onto your lined baking sheet and spread thin-ish (don’t overwork it). Cool completely.
8. Break into chunks.
   Once hard, break into pieces with your hands or something hard like a rolling pin. Measure 3/4 cup about 120g for cookies.

Homemade Toffee Recipe Troubleshooting

It has taken me several tries to make homemade toffee and if this is your first time, there is a strong chance that you your first batch didn't come out quite as you hoped. Below are some troubleshooting tips that may help you.

• Gritty/grainy: sugar crystallization.
  Fix next time: lower heat, less stirring after it liquifies, wipe pot sides with a brush, don’t scrape the sides into the syrup.
• Soft/chewy toffee: didn’t reach hard crack.
  Fix: cook closer to 300°F.
• Burnt taste: heat too high near the end.
  Fix: reduce heat once it passes ~280°F and let it coast to 300°F more gently.

Store-bought toffee option (and how it changes the cookie)

If you’re short on time, store-bought toffee works.

Best options

• HEATH Bits O’ Brickle (classic crunchy bits; commonly used for baking). I do enjoy using this brand I've used it in my brown butter toffee blondies and brown butter toffee pretzel cookies.
• SKOR Toffee Bits (similar idea, buttery toffee crunch).

Adjusting flour when using store bought toffee bits:
I would remove 2 TBSP of flour.

Step-by-step cookie instructions to make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Toffee Cookies

1. Brown the butter + bloom

Add ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter to a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the butter foams, the milk solids turn golden brown, and it smells nutty.

Remove from heat and immediately stir in:

• 1 tbsp milk powder
• 1 tsp espresso powder (optional)

Let the mixture sit for 1–2 minutes, stirring gently, to bloom and toast the milk solids.

Pour into a heatproof bowl and let cool 10–15 minutes, until warm but not hot.

2. Mix the wet ingredients

Whisk the cooled brown butter mixture with:

• ¾ cup (160g) packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar

Whisk until glossy and cohesive. Add:

• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Whisk until smooth.

3. Combine dry ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together:

• 1¾ cups + 2 tbsp (225g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp baking powder

Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and fold gently just until combined.

4. Fold in mix-ins

Fold in:

• ¾ cup (170g) chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips
• ¾ cup (120g) homemade toffee chunks

Do not overmix.

5. Chill

Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours (overnight preferred for thicker cookies and deeper flavor).

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6. Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.

Scoop 2 tbsp portions (45–55g) and space 2½ inches apart.

Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are set and centers look slightly underbaked.

Immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

Cool on the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

Because homemade toffee releases butter as it melts, these cookies may spread slightly while baking. If needed, gently nudge the edges toward the center with a spatula while the cookies are still hot, or swirl a biscuit cutter or small bowl around each cookie to reshape into perfect circles.

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FAQ

Can I use only half the toffee recipe?
Yes. Your cookies need about 120g. Half a batch usually covers it.

Why chill the dough?
It firms the butter, hydrates the flour, and makes cookies thicker with better flavor.

Can I skip the milk powder?
Yes. The cookies still work. Milk powder just adds that “bakery depth.” If skipping it, consider adding 1 tbsp milk for chew.

Do I have to use espresso powder?
No, but it makes chocolate taste richer without screaming “coffee.”

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