If you adore warm, chewy treats with a deep caramel sweetness, this Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe is your new best friend. Rich with the buttery goodness and mellow molasses notes of brown sugar, these cookies bake up perfectly soft on the inside with just a hint of crisp along the edges. Whether you’re baking for a cozy night in or impressing friends with a heartfelt homemade gift, this recipe balances simple ingredients and straightforward steps for an irresistibly comforting snack that’s truly hard to resist.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe relies on classic pantry staples that each play a starring role in creating crumbly texture, luscious flavor, and that signature golden-brown color. The combination is simple but magical:
- All-purpose flour: Forms the cookie’s structure and gives it that tender chew.
- Baking soda and baking powder: Provide just enough lift for soft, slightly puffy cookies without spreading too much.
- Salt: Enhances sweetness and balances the overall flavor.
- Unsalted butter: Brings rich flavor and moisture, crucial for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Brown sugar (packed): The star ingredient; its molasses content adds moisture, chewiness, and deep caramel notes.
- Granulated sugar: Contributes to a subtle crisp edge and balances the brown sugar’s moisture.
- Egg and egg yolk: Bind ingredients together and ensure a tender crumb.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth, rounding out all the sweet flavors beautifully.
How to Make Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Dry Ingredients
Start by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick. Then, whisk together your flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Setting these dry ingredients aside keeps everything organized for easy mixing later.
Step 2: Cream the Butters and Sugars
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with both the packed brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and beautifully pale. This step is key to the cookies’ texture—it traps air in the fat, helping the cookies rise just right and gives you that delicate crumb you’re looking for.
Step 3: Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in one whole egg, the additional egg yolk for extra richness, and the vanilla extract until everything is fully combined. This gives your dough body and adds the lovely vanilla fragrance that will fill your kitchen and hint at the cookie magic to come.
Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet, taking care to mix just until everything comes together. Avoid overmixing here to keep the cookies tender and prevent them from becoming tough.
Step 5: Shape and Bake
Use a tablespoon to scoop dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart so they have room to spread slightly without merging. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are starting to turn a soft golden brown, while the centers remain soft and luscious.
Step 6: Cool to Perfection
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes after coming out of the oven. This brief cooling allows them to set gently, making them easier to transfer to a wire rack where they finish cooling completely—ready to be devoured.
How to Serve Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Sprinkle your brown sugar cookies with a pinch of flaky sea salt just after baking to elevate the sweetness with a touch of savory contrast. For a nostalgic twist, roll the dough balls in coarse sugar before baking, creating a sparkling crust that catches the light and adds delightful crunch.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a glass of cold milk, warm chai tea, or a rich cup of coffee to complement their caramel notes. They also make a fantastic partner to a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert or alongside fresh fruit for a lighter balance.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack your freshly baked cookies tied with rustic twine or place them in a pretty tin lined with parchment for gifting. For get-togethers, arrange them on a festive platter garnished with sprigs of fresh mint or edible flowers—simple touches that make serving these treats fun and memorable.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay soft and delicious for up to 5 days, making them an ideal make-ahead treat for the week.
Freezing
You can freeze both the dough and the baked cookies. To freeze dough, shape into balls on a parchment-lined tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Baked cookies freeze well in airtight containers. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Reheating
Warm leftover cookies in a microwave for about 10-15 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5 minutes to refresh their chewy softness and bring back that fresh-baked taste sensation.
FAQs
Can I substitute brown sugar with white sugar in this recipe?
While you can substitute, brown sugar is crucial for the chewy texture and rich molasses flavor unique to this recipe, so using it as directed will give the best results.
Why do these cookies use both baking soda and baking powder?
The combination balances the rise and spread of the cookies, ensuring they puff up just enough without becoming cakey or too flat.
Can I add mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts?
Absolutely! Stir in your favorite extras like chocolate chips, pecans, or walnuts to add bursts of flavor and texture to your cookies.
How do I know when the cookies are done baking?
Look for lightly golden edges with soft centers. They will firm up as they cool, so avoid overbaking to keep that perfect chewiness.
Can I make the dough ahead and bake later?
Yes! Chill the dough in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking to develop deeper flavor and better texture.
Final Thoughts
This Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe is more than just a cookie—it’s a warm hug in dessert form. Every bite offers buttery, caramel-y comfort that feels instantaneously familiar and homemade. I’m confident once you try baking these, they’ll become a beloved staple in your cookie repertoire, ready to brighten any occasion or everyday moment.
Print
Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Brown Sugar Cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with rich caramel flavor from the brown sugar. Perfectly balanced with a hint of vanilla, these classic cookies bake up golden around the edges with a tender center, making them an irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This helps to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt for consistent cookie texture and flavor.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process incorporates air, giving the cookies a soft texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until fully combined, ensuring a smooth, cohesive batter.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated to avoid overmixing, which can lead to tougher cookies.
- Portion the Dough: Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookie edges are lightly golden while the centers remain soft, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them onto a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring optimal texture.
Notes
- For chewier cookies, slightly underbake them by taking them out at 10 minutes.
- Ensure butter is softened (not melted) for proper creaming with sugars.
- Use packed brown sugar to maintain moisture and flavor balance.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg can add warm spice notes to the cookies.
