Frequently asked questions
As two cookbook authors, we can assure you: brown butter is absolutely worth the effort! Brown butter chocolate chip cookies and brown butter banana bread are transcendental. It makes butter sauces for chicken and fish become liquid gold. It takes just a few minutes for this kitchen magic: here’s our step-by-step guide for exactly what to do! Browned butter tastes like butter with added toffee and caramel notes. It takes under 10 minutes to make and requires no special equipment! Keep in mind the timing varies based on the amount of butter being browned; smaller quantities will take less time. Step 1: Place the butter in a large skillet, cut into pieces. Step 2: Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. First the butter melts, then it starts to foam (around 1 ½ minutes if browning 1 stick of butter). Step 3: Continue to stir occasionally until the foaming stops and the butter starts to bubble, typically around 5 minutes. Step 4: Continue to watch and stir occasionally until the butter becomes brown in color and starts to smell nutty, around 7 minutes. Immediately remove the butter from the heat and pour it into a bowl or container to cool (this is important, or the residual heat will keep cooking the butter). Do not overcook, or you risk burning the butter.
Cookies like brown butter chocolate chip cookies or pumpkin cookies Sweet breads like brown butter banana bread or chocolate chip banana bread Pancakes like brown butter pancakes Pasta sauces like brown butter sage sauce Drizzles for roasted vegetables like roasted acorn squash or roasted sweet potatoes Butter sauces for chicken or fish like garlic butter sauce or lemon garlic butter sauce Other baked goods and breakfast items like muffins, pancakes, waffles, and more!
Avoid substituting brown butter for regular in recipes that rely on room temperature butter to make a specific set texture, like cookies, cakes and icing. If you do substitute brown butter, make sure to cool it to room temperature before using it in recipes. You can place it in the freezer for about 15 minutes to speed up the process.
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5 from 1 review **Some recipes specify a light-colored pan so that you can easily see the browning, but it’s not required here (unless you have one).
