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On Brown Butter

September 19, 2013 by Joy the Baker 69 Comments

On Brown Butter

Thank you for indulging me while I wax on about butter this week.  It’s like that time I wouldn’t shut up about toast.

While we’re here with butter on the brain, can we brown it and stir it into flour and sugar?  I mean… might as well.

Now… Brown Butter (which I indiscriminately call Browned Butter sometimes) is this:  butter that is melted in a small pan over low heat until the butterfat and milk solids separate and the milk solids sink to the bottom of the pan and begin to brown to a nutty color, flavor, and fragrance, at which point the butter (brown bits and all) are transferred to a small bow, honored, appreciated, and then stirred into batter.

Try to say that sentence three times fast.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I’m not just adding more dish and extra stress to your baking process.  Brown butter really is the secret sparkle to so many baked goods.  Brown butter adds a depth, richness, and irresistible nutty flavor to cookies, cakes, and breads.  It’s a simple pleasure that feels like a luxury.  I love when that happens.

Let’s start with a classic:  Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Bring these cookies to a party and I swear you’ll leave with three new friends, like it or not.

Brown Butter Banana Bread with Rum and Coconut

Brown butter and light rum happen to be the same color. Coincidence?  I think not.  

Brown Butter Banana Bread with Rum and Coconut 

Brown Butter Strawberry Banana Bread

Put strawberries in the mix before they go out of season.  I love the sweetness of this bread.  Slice it too thick, and then go back for seconds:  Brown Butter Strawberry Banana Bread.  

Brown Butter Baked Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze

You already know what’s up with Brown Butter Baked Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze.  

This recipe is like making cartoon doughnuts in your own kitchen.  It’s like Homer Simpson is in the next room waiting for a plate piled high.

Brown Butter Rosemary Orange Cornbread

Savory, sweet, buttery and delicious.  Some things are just right. Brown Butter Rosemary Orange Cornbread.  Please note aggressive use of honey.  Cool, thanks.

Brownies Two Ways

Butter in a brownie incarnation.  Not browned, but still delicious: Ginger Walnut Chocolate Chip Blondies + Triple Chocolate Black Bean

Put some butter in your weekend.  Also consider sleeping in, holding someone’s hand, two cups of coffee, and one of those 3:30 to 4:45 ugly naps.

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Filed Under: Beyond the Kitchen

Previous Post: « Baking 101: Why We Use Unsalted Butter
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bob Brooks

    September 22, 2013 at 7:21 am

    Hi Joy,

    I just added your site to my favorite blogs list. A message came up saying there was no RSS feed available. Also, a favicon did not appear.

    I love cooking and baking and am pleased I found your site.

    Bob Brooks

    Reply
  2. Becca from Cookie Jar Treats

    September 21, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    I’ve worked with browned butter on a couple of occasions and boy oh boy does it taste amazing! I’m looking forward to those donuts ;)

    Reply
  3. Ann

    September 21, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    Joy, brown butter is just the tip of the iceberg on of milk solids love. So many recipes say discard the milk solids of melted butter. ALL YOU’RE DOING IS THROWING AWAY THE ESSENCE OF BUTTER FLAVOR! If you’ve ever dip your lobster in clarified butter and then tried it dipped in unfiltered melted butter you’ll know the flavor difference. Michael Ruhlman (of cookbook Ratio), Chef Susan Feniger, among others in the food industry have discussed this flavor enhancement. I also read of one adding milk solids to butter to amp up the butter flavor. Save those milk solids (maybe this should be on a bumper sticker or on a pin!) stick on rice, pasta, or veggies or just leave it with the butter. Sorry for the caps and the soapbox rant.

    Reply
  4. Lucy @ Bake Play Smile

    September 21, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    How delicious all of these recipes sound! I will definitely be trying the banana bread with strawberries! Thanks :-)

    Reply
  5. ATasteOfMadness

    September 21, 2013 at 10:42 am

    I have only just discovered browned butter, and I, like most people, am in love with it.

    Reply
  6. Alexandra

    September 21, 2013 at 4:23 am

    Thanks for sharing!All looks delicious!You are true inspiration…

    Reply
  7. Miss Kim @ behgopa

    September 21, 2013 at 2:12 am

    I love brown butter! I actually tried your recipe for the brown butter strawberry banana bread. It was fabulous! Love the flavor that brown butter brings to dishes.

    Reply
  8. Julie

    September 21, 2013 at 12:31 am

    This is happening this weekend.

    Reply
  9. Aneirys

    September 20, 2013 at 9:01 pm

    I have never try it, but can’t wait to do so.
    And the homer simpson quote kill me lol

    Awkward Heart?

    Reply
  10. Maggie @Maggiecooks

    September 20, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    I love brown butter, it makes everything more delicious!

    Reply
  11. Susan

    September 20, 2013 at 4:53 pm

    My first introduction to brown butter was in the late 60s when my first quacamole recipe had you mix the ingredients and pour browned butter carefully over the top. let it stay just that way until you stir it in before serving. I never thought much of the butter part. It was just a fabulous guac! I’ll get busy on your suggestions for sure.

    Reply
  12. Megan K

    September 20, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    Question from a brown butter novice: if you want to brown the butter for a recipe, do you measure the butter then brown it, or brown it then measure it, or does it not matter?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  13. Raquel Somatra

    September 20, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    I made your browned butter choco chip cookies and added in coarsely chopped Twix bars instead of chips– everyone flipped out over them (in a good way). Browning butter is a magical and dare I say, sexy process.

    Reply
  14. Kristin

    September 20, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    May I just say … the ugly late afternoon weekend nap is equally a bane and a joy of my life. I have been fully done in by one many a time. Just last Friday, I slept from 5:45-8 pm. Wow. Raise your hand if you like waking up when it’s dark … in the evening … before you go to bed. (No hands are raised.) Sleeping habits aside, I love baking and have never browned butter (eeek!), so I think this post calls for giving it a try. Now, which recipe to choose …. ;)

    Reply
  15. Tracy | Peanut Butter and Onion

    September 20, 2013 at 10:47 am

    I recently discovered browned butter and I loooove it, use it every chance I get

    Reply
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