brown butter apple cookies Recipe

Scale

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups finely diced apples (about 2 medium apples, such as Honeycrisp or Gala)
½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 tablespoon milk (if needed for dough consistency)

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Melt the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking, swirling occasionally, until the butter turns a deep golden brown and smells nutty. This should take about 5-8 minutes. Immediately pour the brown butter into a heatproof bowl to stop the cooking process. Let it cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the slightly cooled brown butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until well combined.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. The dough will be thick.
Gently fold in the diced apples and chopped nuts (if using). If the dough seems too stiff, you can add 1 tablespoon of milk to achieve a more workable consistency.
Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour to allow the flavors to meld and the dough to firm up.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of ground ginger to the spice mix.
Ensure your apples are finely diced so they bake evenly within the cookies.
These cookies are delicious on their own, but can also be served with a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of caramel sauce.