Indulge in Irresistible Brown Butter Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies with Toasted Pecans: Your Ultimate Comfort Treat
Prepare to fall in love with these extraordinary Brown Butter Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies. More than just a simple cookie, they are a symphony of flavors and textures, featuring the rich, nutty depth of browned butter, the warm embrace of cinnamon, and the delightful crunch of pecans, all encased in a captivating, sugary crackle exterior. These aren’t just cookies; they’re an experience, designed to bring comfort and joy with every bite.
For those of us who have cookies perpetually on the brain, searching for that next perfect recipe, look no further. This recipe for brown butter cinnamon crinkle cookies with pecans is an absolute dynamite addition to your baking repertoire. They are incredibly easy to make, remarkably fun to prepare, and utterly impossible to resist once they emerge from the oven. Packed with a medley of beloved ingredients, these cookies embody the very essence of cozy, comforting treats, making them perfect for munching on throughout the entire winter season, long after the holidays have faded into memory.
The Secret Weapon: The Magic of Brown Butter
What truly elevates these cookies from great to extraordinary is the inclusion of brown butter. Often referred to by its French name, “beurre noisette,” brown butter is a simple yet transformative ingredient. It’s made by gently cooking unsalted butter until its milk solids caramelize, turning a beautiful golden brown and releasing an incredibly rich, nutty aroma. This process deepens the butter’s flavor, imbuing it with notes of toasted nuts, caramel, and a subtle sweetness that no ordinary butter can replicate.
The beauty of brown butter is how it enhances the overall profile of a baked good. In these crinkle cookies, it provides an unparalleled depth and warmth that complements the cinnamon and pecans perfectly. It adds a sophisticated, complex undertone that will have everyone wondering what your secret ingredient is. Don’t be intimidated by the browning process; it’s straightforward and yields incredible rewards. Just keep a watchful eye on it, stirring occasionally, until those lovely golden specks appear at the bottom of the pan and your kitchen fills with that irresistible nutty scent.
Achieving that Iconic Crinkle Effect
Beyond the incredible flavor, the visual appeal of crinkle cookies is undeniable. That distinctive, snowy, cracked surface is what gives them their charming character. This signature look is achieved by rolling the chilled cookie dough balls generously in powdered sugar just before baking. As the cookies bake and spread, the exterior layer of powdered sugar remains relatively intact, creating those beautiful cracks as the cookie expands. The contrast between the bright white powdered sugar and the warm, golden-brown cookie beneath is simply mesmerizing.
The crinkle isn’t just for show; it also adds a lovely textural element. The slightly crisp, sugary coating gives way to a wonderfully soft and chewy interior. To ensure the best crinkle, it’s crucial to chill your dough adequately. This helps the cookies maintain their shape and prevents them from spreading too rapidly, allowing the powdered sugar to do its magic. A thick, even coating of powdered sugar is also key – don’t be shy with it!
The Perfect Harmony: Cinnamon and Pecans
While brown butter lays the foundational flavor, the cinnamon and pecans are the stars that truly complete these crinkle cookies. Ground cinnamon infuses the dough with its classic, comforting spice, evoking feelings of warmth and home. It’s the perfect partner to the nutty notes of the brown butter, creating a harmonious blend that is both familiar and exciting.
The chopped pecans add another layer of texture and flavor that is simply divine. Their buttery crunch provides a wonderful counterpoint to the soft chewiness of the cookie dough, and their inherent nuttiness beautifully complements the browned butter. Toasting the pecans lightly before adding them to the dough can further enhance their flavor, bringing out even more of their natural oils and aroma. The combination of these three elements – brown butter, cinnamon, and pecans – creates a cookie that is rich, aromatic, and deeply satisfying.
Inspired by “Quick Shop and Prep 5 Ingredient Baking”
This fantastic cookie recipe comes from the brilliant cookbook, Quick Shop and Prep 5 Ingredient Baking by Jennifer McHenry, the talented blogger behind Bake or Break. The underlying concept of this cookbook is incredibly clever and practical for any home baker. Most kitchens are already stocked with essential baking basics like flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. Jennifer’s ingenious approach categorizes recipes by how many additional ingredients they require, up to a maximum of five. For these delightful cookies, for instance, you only need your pantry staples plus cinnamon and pecans.
Every recipe within the book is designed to be easy, approachable, and made from scratch, proving that you don’t need a lengthy ingredient list or complex techniques to create something truly delicious. Whether you’re a seasoned baking pro looking for quick wins or a novice eager to develop your skills, I wholeheartedly recommend this cookbook! From the moment I first flipped through its pages, these brown butter cinnamon crinkle cookies immediately shot to the top of my “must-bake” list. And they certainly did not disappoint – easy to follow and incredibly scrumptious. What more could a baker ask for?
Tips for Baking Perfect Brown Butter Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies
To ensure your brown butter cinnamon crinkle cookies turn out perfectly every time, here are a few tips and tricks:
- Perfecting Brown Butter: When browning your butter, use a light-colored saucepan so you can easily see the milk solids changing color. Stir constantly over medium-low heat. The butter will melt, then foam, and finally the solids at the bottom will turn golden brown and smell nutty. Remove from heat immediately once this stage is reached to prevent burning. Let it cool slightly before incorporating.
- Chilling is Crucial: Do not skip the chilling step! Chilling the dough for at least an hour (or even overnight) is vital. It allows the flavors to meld, the butter to firm up, and most importantly, it prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring those beautiful, prominent crinkles.
- Generous Powdered Sugar Coating: Roll each dough ball thoroughly in powdered sugar. The more generously coated they are, the more pronounced and appealing the crinkle effect will be. Don’t worry if it seems like a lot – that’s the secret!
- Don’t Overbake: These cookies are best when slightly soft and chewy in the center. Bake them just until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are still a bit soft. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet. A test cookie is always a good idea to fine-tune your baking time.
- Proper Measurement: Especially when it comes to flour, measuring by weight (grams) is always more accurate than by volume (cups). If you don’t have a kitchen scale, make sure to spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off, rather than scooping directly, which can compact the flour and lead to a denser cookie.
Serving and Storage Suggestions
These brown butter cinnamon crinkle cookies are delightful on their own, perhaps with a cup of hot coffee, tea, or a glass of cold milk. They make excellent additions to holiday cookie platters, thoughtful homemade gifts, or simply a well-deserved treat after a long day. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain their freshness and chewy texture. For longer storage, the baked cookies can also be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Brown Butter Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies
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Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (140 grams)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
- ¼ cup packed light or dark brown sugar (53 grams)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (300 grams)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup chopped pecans (56 grams)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (67 grams)
Instructions
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Melt butter in a small saucepan set over medium low heat. Continue to cook butter, stirring occasionally, until butter turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma. Do not burn. Remove from heat and cool for about 15 minutes.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat the brown butter, sugar and brown sugar until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each for about 30 seconds. Mix in the vanilla. Combine the flour, , salt, baking powder and cinnamon in a separate bowl and add to the mixer all at once, mixing until combined. Mix in the pecans.
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Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
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When ready to bake preheat oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
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Put the powdered sugar into a wide shallow bowl. Form dough into rounded tablespoons and roll in the powdered sugar, making sure they are generously coated (this will give the cookies their crackly appearance).
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Place the cookies 2 inches apart of the prepared sheet pan and bake just until bottoms begin to turn brown, about 10-12 minutes. Bake a test cookie if needed to get the timing right for the rest of the batch.
Notes
In conclusion, these Brown Butter Cinnamon Crinkle Cookies are more than just a dessert; they are a delightful journey for your taste buds, combining classic comfort with sophisticated flavor. The ease of preparation, thanks to its smart 5-ingredient-plus-basics philosophy, makes it accessible to everyone. So go ahead, treat yourself, your family, and your friends to a batch of these truly unforgettable cookies. Happy baking!
Disclosure: I received a free copy of Quick Shop and Prep 5 Ingredients Baking to review, however I was not compensated in any way for this post.