These brown butter chocolate chip cookie bars are dense, soft, chewy, and loaded with melty chocolate chips! The brown butter gives them a rich toffee-like flavor and a sprinkle of sea salt on top helps bring out the chocolate even more.
WHAT YOU NEED unsalted butter dark brown sugar granulated sugar large egg vanilla extract all purpose flour baking powder kosher salt semisweet chocolate chips flaky sea salt
1. Add 1/2 cup of the unsalted butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Melt down and continue to stir until it goes from load and bubbly to quiet and frothy. 2. When the butter is a golden amber color and gives off a nutty aroma, remove from heat and pour into a measuring glass. Drop in the additional 1 tablespoon of butter to make it an even 1/2 cup.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. 4. In a large mixing bowl, add the dark brown sugar, sugar, and browned butter. It’s ok if the butter is still a bit warm, but not hot. Whisk to combine. 5. Whisk in the vanilla and egg.
6. Switch to a rubber spatula and pour in the dry ingredients. Gently mix to combine and toss in the chocolate chips. 7. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with a couple handfuls of chocolate chips and press them into the surface. 8. Bake for 25-30 minutes. When the bars are fresh from the oven, sprinkle with a couple pinches of sea salt. Allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 45 minutes at room temp.