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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Published: Aug 9, 2016 · Modified: Oct 22, 2021 by Modern Honey · This post may contain affiliate links · 50 Comments

    11305 shares
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    The BEST Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookies are made in one saucepan! This perfect chocolate chip cookie has rich buttery toffee flavor. This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe.  www.modernhoney.com #saucepancookie #brownbuttercookie #chocolatechipcookie #chocolatechipcookies #cookie #cookies

    The BEST Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookies are made in one saucepan! This perfect chocolate chip cookie has a rich buttery toffee flavor. This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. 

    The BEST Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookies are made in one saucepan! This perfect chocolate chip cookie has rich buttery toffee flavor. This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe.  www.modernhoney.com #saucepancookie #brownbuttercookie #chocolatechipcookie #chocolatechipcookies #cookie #cookies

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    I may have been blogging here at Modern Honey for months now but that doesn't mean that I still don't have some tricks up my sleeve. If you have been following me, you know very well that I have been baking cookies before I was out of diapers.

    Obsessed.

    The BEST Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookies are made in one saucepan! This perfect chocolate chip cookie has rich buttery toffee flavor. This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe.  www.modernhoney.com #saucepancookie #brownbuttercookie #chocolatechipcookie #chocolatechipcookies #cookie #cookies

    Today I am sharing with you one of my signature cookies that I have been baking up in my kitchen since 2003. When my kids were little, they would beg for cookies every single day (smart kids, I tell you). Obviously, they knew their mama's weakness and I happily obliged.

     

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. The best chocolate chip cookies made in a saucepan. Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. You will LOVE these cookies! www.modernhoney.com #brownbuttercookies #brownbutterchocolatechipcookies #chocolatechipcookies #cookies #chocolatechipcookie #cookierecipes

    There wasn't an ingredient I wouldn't try adding to my cookies or a method that I would rule out. I wanted to try them all so I vividly remember the first time I made these saucepan chocolate chip cookies. Since I didn't own a KitchenAid or Bosch mixer, I had to get creative and that's why I tried using a saucepan.

    I was blown away and to this day, I believe they are the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. The best chocolate chip cookies made in a saucepan. Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. You will LOVE these cookies! www.modernhoney.com #brownbuttercookies #brownbutterchocolatechipcookies #chocolatechipcookies #cookies #chocolatechipcookie #cookierecipes

    Tips and Tricks for making the Best Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies:

    • Everything is mixed in one saucepan. You melt the butter over low heat and that creates a toffee, caramel, browned butter flavor. No mixer required and everything is mixed together by hand. Working those arm muscles, baby!
    • Using Dark Brown Sugar instead of light creates a richer cookie with a chewier texture. Adding white sugar creates those crispy edges.
    • Using 1 Egg + 1 Egg Yolk works magic on the texture of these cookies. Egg whites can dry out baked goods so we focus on the creamy egg yolk. #winning

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. The best chocolate chip cookies made in a saucepan. Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. You will LOVE these cookies! www.modernhoney.com #brownbuttercookies #brownbutterchocolatechipcookies #chocolatechipcookies #cookies #chocolatechipcookie #cookierecipes

    • A mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate chunks keeps you on your toes. The semi-sweet brings a depth of chocolate flavor and the milk chocolate makes the cookie sweet and creamy. Trader Joe's makes killer chocolate bars called Pound Plus Bars and can be easily cut into chunks. It melts so beautifully in these cookies.
    • A touch of sea salt or fleur de sel flakes take these to another level. It's that combination of salty + sweet that keeps you coming back for more. It cuts the sweetness of the chocolate chip cookie just enough to get you hooked.

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. The best chocolate chip cookies made in a saucepan. Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. You will LOVE these cookies! www.modernhoney.com #brownbuttercookies #brownbutterchocolatechipcookies #chocolatechipcookies #cookies #chocolatechipcookie #cookierecipes

    These cookies are going to knock your socks off! I am going to share all of my top secret tips for making the best saucepan chocolate chip cookies!

    MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

    How to make Top Secret Saucepan Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies:

    • Make sure the butter is completely melted. It needs to be melted but don't let it boil or the liquid will start to evaporate.  It's important to get the butter hot and melted before adding the sugars so they can completely dissolve.
    • Add the sugars while the butter is hot and stir for at least 2-3 minutes until it looks glossy and smooth.

     

    • Let the butter-sugar mixture chill for at least 5-7 minutes in the refrigerator before adding the egg and egg yolk or you will end up with cooked eggs! No bueno.
    • Make sure the dough is cool enough (by placing a clean finger into the dough to check temperature) before adding the chocolate or you will end up with brownies. 🙂

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Saucepan Chocolate Chip Cookies. How to make the best brown butter chocolate chip cookies. The perfect saucepan chocolate chip cookie recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    Do you know what makes a cookie even better? Chill the dough.

    Why is it important to chill cookie dough?

    • Chilling the dough for at least 24 hours helps the ingredients to incorporate. The gluten which is developed by mixing the dough, is relaxed while the dough rests, which creates a more tender cookie. The moisture in the dough is absorbed by the dry ingredients, which helps to dissolve the sugar, and causes extra caramelization.

     

    • If you chill the dough for at least 24-36 hours, the flavors have had time to really develop and you end up with a chocolate chip cookie with a caramel, toffee flavor, a chewier texture, and crispier edges.

     

    • If you do chill the cookie dough, keep in mind that you need to wrap the cookie dough tightly so the cold air of the refrigerator doesn't dry it out. After it is done chilling, it will be slightly crumbly because much of the liquid has been incorporated. Using your hands, press the mixture firmly together and roll into balls.

    Your patience will pay off in the end product.

    If you can't wait and want cookies NOW, then go ahead and bake them. MJ's Top Secret Cookies will still be out of this world.

    MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

    The best brown butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. A perfect saucepan chocolate chip cookie!

    I have named this baked goodness the MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies for a number of reasons:

    A. MJ is what my husband loves to call me. It's much shorter than calling me Melissa Janet.

    B. It is top secret for a reason. Most cookies are made with almost the same ingredients so it's the little tweaks here and there that set them apart. These have been one of my go-to recipes for almost 14 years for a reason.

    You are going to fall hook, line, and sinker for these cookies.

    MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

    If you want a sweet and salty cookie, sprinkle with sea salt for extra flavor. I love to use salt because it cuts some of the sweetness and is such a perfect combination.

    MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

    Pin on PINTEREST: 

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. The best chocolate chip cookies made in a saucepan. Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. You will LOVE these cookies! www.modernhoney.com #brownbuttercookies #brownbutterchocolatechipcookies #chocolatechipcookies #cookies #chocolatechipcookie #cookierecipes

    MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. The best chocolate chip cookies made in a saucepan. Homemade browned butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. You will LOVE these cookies! www.modernhoney.com #brownbuttercookies #brownbutterchocolatechipcookies #chocolatechipcookies #cookies #chocolatechipcookie #cookierecipes

    MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey
    Famous Top Secret Cookies with all of the tricks to make perfect chocolate chip cookies every single time....all in one saucepan.
    4.96 from 25 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 27 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup Butter
    • 1 cup + 2 Tablespoons Dark Brown Sugar
    • ½ cup Sugar
    • 1 Egg
    • 1 Egg Yolk
    • 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla
    • 2 cups + 2 Tablespoons Flour
    • ¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ¾ cup Semi-sweet Chocolate Chunks
    • ¾ cup Milk Chocolate Chunks
    • Sea Salt Flakes to sprinkle on top of cookies

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter. Once completely melted, add sugars and turn off heat. Whisk or stir until butter-sugar mixture looks glossy and smooth - about 2 minutes.
    • Let cool to room temperature. May leave out at room temperature until cool or place in refrigerator for 5-7 minutes. You don't want it to be hot when adding the eggs. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and stir well to combine.
    • Fold in flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined. Fold in semi-sweet and milk chocolate chunks.
    • Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. For richer, toffee flavored cookies, let the dough chill for 24-36 hours.
    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
    • Place golf ball size mounds of cookie dough on baking sheets. Bake until cookies are golden brown, 12-14 minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes. Allow cookies to set for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire rack.

    Video

    Keyword browned butter chocolate chip cookies
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Pin on Pinterest:

    MJ's Top Secret Brown Butter Saucepan Chocolate Chip Cookies. How to make the best brown butter chocolate chip cookies. The perfect saucepan chocolate chip cookie recipe. www.modernhoney.com

    If you live in Arizona like me, we have a little monsoon weather going on which means rain in the middle of summer. In my book...Rain = Cookies so start baking MJ's Top Secret Cookies. I can't wait to hear what you think of them!

    Happy Baking! xo

    MJ's Top Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies by Modern Honey l www.modernhoney.com

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. April

      November 03, 2018 at 8:11 am

      Can we stuffed those cookies ? (with nutella or peanut butter)

      thx

      Reply
    2. Justine Almanza

      December 12, 2018 at 12:58 pm

      Hi there,
      My boyfriend likes white chocolate chips. Would this recipe taste good with white chocolate chips instead of milk/semi?

      Thanks! Excited to try this recipe. I'm always looking for a great chocolate chip recipe.

      Reply
    3. Mikaela

      December 31, 2018 at 6:00 pm

      5 stars
      These turned out AMAZING! I used gluten-free all purpose flour, and live at high altitude. Followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect! This will be my new go-to recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Thank you so much 🙂

      Reply
    4. Yvette

      February 07, 2019 at 11:02 pm

      5 stars
      Soooo good!!

      Reply
    5. LaVonda

      February 09, 2019 at 8:35 am

      I live in Arizona, too. Do you currently sell your cookies at any of gen markets near Phoenix? Thanks!

      Reply
    6. Kate

      February 13, 2019 at 9:18 am

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe and your dedication to finding the best cookie recipes! Thank you!!

      Reply
    7. Tamika

      July 23, 2019 at 5:45 am

      5 stars
      I love the flavor of these cookies! I’ve made them several times but they seem to get hard the next day. What am I doing wrong? Does it make a difference if I make them larger or smaller? Help please!

      Reply
    8. Jen

      November 21, 2019 at 9:27 pm

      Do you suggest baking cookies on parchment or silicone baking mats? Thanks.

      Reply
    9. Anthony Harris

      November 24, 2019 at 7:29 am

      5 stars
      The greatest compliment I can give is this: When I wanted to be a blessing to the children of our church and make chocolate chip cookies for them, the first place I thought of was Modern Honey. This cookie recipe did not disappoint. So instead of my smile alone, I submit to you the smiles of 30 children who loved every crumb!

      Reply
    10. Tammy

      March 14, 2020 at 6:25 am

      5 stars
      I make a lot of chocolate chip cookies. This is my go to cookie now. They taste like Panera. Crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle.

      Reply
    11. Sheila

      April 25, 2020 at 8:47 pm

      My, my, my!!! Did I say my?! Lol! I'm actually a oatmeal cookie kinda girl but Omg were these cookies delicious!!!! I wish I could comment on what they're like the next day...but since there weren't any left, I can't. I'll try next time.

      Now, bc of the virus I had to make a substitution and bc I was so anxious to make these I added 2 eggs instead of 1 egg and 1 yoke...I also added 1 c of chopped pecans.

      I only had light brown sugar so I used that plus 2 T of molasses. I was also only able to refrigerate them for 1-1/2hrs. I just couldn't wait any longer. I was out of plastic wrap so I used a ziplock bag instead which was fine. (I was hesitant at first bc I thought the dough would stick to the sides but bc of the butter nothing stuck and it was really easy to work the dough to get it to room temperature.

      All in all, they came out perfectly and I'm actually making another batch now!

      Reply
    12. Tamika

      May 18, 2020 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      Hi MJ; these are by far my favorite BB Choc Chip Cookies & I've made them tons. However lately when I take the dough out the next day they are more crumbly. I’m wrapping them tightly & even put them in Tupperware with the lid on to ensure they don’t dry out. What am I doing wrong? Help please! Thx!

      Reply
    13. Desn

      June 06, 2020 at 2:21 pm

      Hey, MJ. Thanks for the insights. My cookies are not flattening out as in photos. Followed recipe to a T. I did use gluten free flour buts a good, name brand. I’m at sea level so-cal. Thanks for any insights.

      Reply
    14. Linda Bonner

      September 12, 2020 at 7:45 am

      Would love to make these cookies today but I do not have chocolate chunks.. can I add more chocolate chips and if so, how many??
      Thanks
      Saturday, Sept. 12.20

      Reply
    15. J

      October 23, 2020 at 3:58 pm

      4 stars
      Thanks for the recipe. Was craving chocolate chip cookies last night so I made these. They were good. Was hoping for something a bit more unique in flavor (like the toffee flavor referenced) but didnt quite achieve that.

      Reply
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    Melissa Stadler Modern Honey

    Hi, I'm Melissa Stadler! I am an Award-Winning Recipe Creator. Cover of Food Network Magazine. Two-Time Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist. I am passionate about sharing the best recipes so you have success in the kitchen!

    More about me →

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