Description

These Crispy Brown Butter Coffee Toffee Cookies with Sea Salt Topping combine the rich, nutty flavor of browned butter with the boldness of coffee and the sweetness of buttery toffee bits. Finished with a sprinkle of sea salt, these cookies offer a perfect balance of sweet and savory with a crisp texture and chewy center, making them an irresistible treat for coffee lovers and cookie fans alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Butter Mixture

1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Wet Ingredients

2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup brewed coffee
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules

Dry Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Add-ins and Topping

1 1/2 cups toffee bits
Sea salt, for topping

Instructions

Brown the Butter: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it turns golden brown and emits a nutty aroma. Remove from heat and allow it to cool completely.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Set this mixture aside.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the cooled browned butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring proper incorporation of air for texture.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract to enhance flavor.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough. Then fold in the brewed coffee, instant coffee granules, and toffee bits evenly.
Chill Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days. Chilling helps develop flavor and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and facilitate even baking.
Form Cookies: Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading. Sprinkle the tops with additional sea salt if desired for a salty contrast.
Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set but still soft. This achieves the ideal crispy outside and soft inside texture.
Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to slightly firm up. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.

Notes

Be sure to monitor the butter closely when browning to prevent burning; it should be golden brown and fragrant.
Chilling the dough is essential to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking and helps the flavors develop.
Adjust the amount of sea salt topping to your taste preference; it adds a lovely balance to the sweetness.
Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
Using freshly brewed coffee and instant coffee granules intensifies the coffee flavor, but you can omit the instant granules if you prefer a milder taste.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: brown butter cookies, coffee cookies, toffee cookies, crispy cookies, sea salt cookies, dessert, homemade cookies