How to Brown Butter – Shugary Sweets

Everyone should know how to brown butter. This easy guide takes you through the process of warming butter on the stove to bring out a fragrant, nutty taste that enhances the flavor of any dish!

Why Make Browned Butter

Browning butter is the process of gently heating butter on the stove top to alter its color and accentuate its flavor. It takes just a few minutes to brown butter and the time is well spent.

Butter is already delicious, but the browning process brings out a slightly toasted, nutty flavor that you have to taste to fully understand. The bold aroma and richness are ideal for sweet and savory dishes alike.

Best of all, you don’t need any special equipment or culinary skills to make it.

Once you know how to brown butter, you’ll be ready to try it in everything from sauces to cookies!

Ingredient Notes

Butter is the only ingredient in browned butter! You can use salted or unsalted butter, depending on what your recipe calls for.

This recipe uses a half cup of butter as a starting point. While you can use more or less, I don’t recommend adding more than one cup of butter to the pan at once.

Tips and Tricks

• Use a pan with a light colored bottom. It is easier to monitor the color against a light surface which is helpful for preventing burning.
• Melt butter on low heat first. Then increase the heat a bit and use a rubber spatula to stir the butter as it sizzles and foams.
• Keep an eye on the brown flecks at the bottom of the pan to prevent burning. When the butter is a light golden brown color and smells pleasantly nutty, remove it from heat.
• Immediately pour browned butter into a bowl and let cool.
• Measure the butter both before browning and after. The cooking process may cause some of the liquids in the butter to evaporate so you end up with a tablespoon or two less than you need. If this happens, just brown more butter to give you the amount you need.

How to Use Browned Butter

Now you can use your browned butter right away or store it for later. Here are a few of my favorite ways to cook and bake with browned butter.

• Baking: I love using browned butter in desserts. It’s the perfect addition to these chewy Butterscotch Cookies and any recipe that calls for melted butter like these Peanut Butter Brownies recipe.
• Sauces: Tossing brown butter with garlic, herbs and other seasonings creates a simple sauce you’ll love on meats, pastas and vegetables. Or whisk it with flour to create a roux for cream sauces and gravies.
• Topping: A drizzle of brown butter makes a stack of pancakes or waffles even more irresistible. It’s also great on other starches like baked potatoes and rolls.
• Cooking: Give any stove cooked dish more flavor when you use brown butter instead of oil or regular butter. Use it to saute your greens, pan fry chicken, or make a quick grilled cheese sandwich.
• Rice Krispie Treat Recipes Use browned butter in our famous rice krispie treats for a depth of flavor that is irresistible.

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