Brown Sugar Crackle Cookies

If you've never had brown butter, you need to make some...IMMEDIATELY. What is it you ask? It's butter, cooked on the stove until golden brown with a nutty aroma. Oh my lanta, it is sinful. Brown butter adds such a rich and unique flavor to anything it's added to, including these delectable cookies.

I saw these cookies from The Farm Girl Recipes on Pinterest and made them 48 hours later. These cookies were one of those recipes that just screamed "MUST EAT NOW!" at me. I am so pleased I listened to the call.

I love brown sugar, and this cookie is chalk full of the good stuff. It is a simple cookie, but it is packed with flavor. The brown sugar and brown butter are a divine combo, and when rolled in brown sugar before baking, they develop a crispy little coating.

Listen to the call, and make (and eat!) these cookies ASAP! Enjoy!

Brown Sugar Crackle Cookies
Recipe from The Farm Girl Recipes

• 14 tbsp. butter, divided
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups packed dark brown sugar, divided
• 2 cups plus 2 tbsp. unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. table salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in a stainless steel (do not use nonstick) skillet or small uncoated saucepan over medium heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue to cook butter, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes (browned butter can burn easily and quickly so keep a close eye on it). Remove the skillet or pot from the heat and transfer the browned butter to a large heatproof bowl. Stir in the remaining 4 tablespoons butter into the hot butter to melt. Set aside for 15 minutes.
2. While butter is cooling, adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper, silpat liners or lightly coat them with non-stick cooking spray. Whisk flour, baking soda and baking powder together in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. Add 1 3/4 cups brown sugar and salt to the bowl with the cooled butter and mix until no sugar lumps remain, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the egg, egg yolk and vanilla, and mix until fully incorporated, about 30 more seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined, about 1 minute. Give the dough a final stir with a rubber spatula to ensure that no flour pockets remain and the ingredients are evenly distributed (the dough will not look exactly like regular cookie dough, but no worries it is right).
4. In a shallow baking dish, pie plate or small mixing bowl, mix the granulated sugar and the remaining 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, rubbing the sugars between your fingers until well combined; set aside. Divide the dough into 24 portions (Note: I made 36 portions), each about 2 tablespoons. Working in batches, toss the balls in the sugar mixture to coat, and set them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart and 12 dough balls per sheet.
5. Bake one sheet at a time until cookies are browned and still puffy and edges have begun to set but the centers are still soft (cookies will look raw between cracks and seem underdone, but don't overbake), about 11-13 minutes. Cool the cookies for 1-2 minutes on the baking sheets and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

***I shared this link at: Time to Sparkle Tuesday, Buns In My Oven, Semi Homemade Mom, ZentMrs & The Mr.