Name: Brown Sugar Butter Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 28 cookies

Chewy Brown Sugar Butter Cookies – Caramel Shortbread

Brown sugar butter cookies deliver ultimate caramel chewiness with crisp golden edges and tender centers everyone craves during holiday baking. Dark brown sugar provides deep molasses richness while high butter ratio creates melt-in-mouth shortbread texture. Chilled dough ensures thick bakery-style results perfect cookie exchanges, tea time, or Santa’s platter transforming ordinary afternoons into buttery caramel bliss from first dough scoop to final sugar sparkle.

Why Brown Sugar Butter Works Perfectly

Dark brown sugar moisture creates signature chew while high butter percentage delivers shortbread tenderness. Cornstarch tenderizes without chew loss. Chilling firms dough preventing spread for thick centers. Pearl sugar sprinkle adds crunch contrast. Vanilla bean paste elevates caramel complexity beyond extract.

Perfect Brown Sugar Butter Cookies

Prep Time: 15 Minutes + 1 Hour Chill Bake Time: 10 Minutes Makes: 28 Medium Cookies

Chewy caramel butter cookies with crisp edges and soft centers.

Dry Ingredients:

2¼ cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
1 tsp cornstarch
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp kosher salt

Wet Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
1½ cups dark brown sugar, packed
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste)
1 tsp molasses (optional, deepens flavor)

Topping:

¼ cup pearl sugar or turbinado sugar

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Cream Butter Perfectly:

Beat softened butter and dark brown sugar 4 minutes until light caramel color.
Add egg, egg yolk, vanilla, molasses. Beat 1 minute until smooth and glossy.

Combine Dry Ingredients:

Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt in separate bowl.
Add dry to wet ingredients, mix just until combined (dough thick).

Chill Essential:

Shape into 1½ Tbsp balls (medium cookie scoop). Roll in pearl sugar.
Place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined sheets. Chill 1 hour minimum.

Bake to Perfection:

Preheat oven 350°F. Bake 9-11 minutes until edges golden, centers soft.
Cool sheets 5 minutes, transfer racks. Sprinkle extra pearl sugar.

Holiday Tip: Dark brown sugar essential caramel flavor. 4-minute creaming develops structure. Pearl sugar crunch perfection.

Mastering Caramel Chewiness

Brown Sugar Selection Critical

Dark brown sugar delivers deep molasses caramel. Light brown milder flavor. Pack firmly measuring cup. Freshness essential moisture content.

Butter Ratio Perfect

1 cup butter creates shortbread richness. European butter higher fat superior. Soft but cool (65°F) prevents greasy cookies.

Cornstarch Magic

1 tsp tenderizes gluten maintaining chew. Creates bakery-style soft centers. Arrowroot powder alternative equal measure.

Texture Perfection Technique

Chilling Duration Essential

1 hour firms butter preventing spread. Overnight chilling intensifies flavor. Freeze dough balls 3 months bake fresh.

Creaming Precision

4 minutes develops air structure. Scrape bowl frequently. Caramel ribbon stage indicates perfection. Under-creaming flat cookies.

Pearl Sugar Crunch

Swedish pearl sugar resists melting. Turbinado crunchy alternative. Demerara coarse sugar works. Press gently into dough.

Expert Baking Tips

Butter temperature perfect:

Soft but cool to touch (65°F). Poke test holds shape slightly. Microwave 5-second bursts maximum. Room temp eggs prevent curdling.

Don’t overbake:

Edges golden brown, centers pale perfect. 9 min convection, 11 conventional. Carryover cooking firms centers. Cool sheets completely between batches.

Storage perfection:

Airtight tin 2 weeks room temp. Layer parchment prevents sticking. Freeze baked 3 months or dough balls 6 months. Thaw overnight.

Baking sheet rotation:

3 sheets staggered racks. Rotate halfway even browning. Parchment essential non-stick. Cool completely temperature consistency.

Scaling strategy:

Double batch perfect. Same chilling time. Half sheet pans 12 cookies maximum. Production line efficiency holiday baking.

Delicious Variations

Chocolate Chip Brown Sugar

Fold ¾ cup dark chocolate chunks. Reduce sugar sprinkle 2 Tbsp. Bakery perfection.

Salted Caramel Butter Cookies

Flaky sea salt post-bake. Dulce de leche center sandwich variation. Gourmet upgrade.

Brown Butter Version

Brown butter cooled completely. Nutty depth sophistication. Extra 2 Tbsp for loss.

Lemon Brown Sugar Cookies

1 Tbsp lemon zest + 1 tsp juice. Coarse sugar rolling. Bright contrast.

Spice Brown Sugar Cookies

1 tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp cardamom dough. Chai spice perfection.

Holiday Presentation Guide

Cookie Tin Perfection

Metal tins layered parchment. Ribbon tie professional. Label ingredients allergies.

Tea Time Arrangement

Pyramid stacks dramatic height. White platter caramel contrast. Fresh rosemary accent.

Make-Ahead Strategy

Quadruple batches fill freezer. Holiday production perfected. Gift assembly Christmas Eve. Fresh appearance guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Light brown sugar substitute?

Works but milder flavor. Add 1 tsp molasses compensation. Dark superior caramel depth.

Cookies too soft/spreading?

Insufficient chill time. Butter too warm remake. Oven too hot reduce 25°F. Scoop size consistent.

Crispier texture desired?

Slice thin ¼ inch. Bake 12-14 minutes. Cool completely racks. Cornstarch omit.

No pearl sugar available?

Turbinado, demerara, coarse sanding sugar. Granulated sugar minimal crunch. Skip rolling soft texture.

Gluten-free adaptation?

1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Add ½ tsp xanthan gum. Almond flour ¼ cup enhancement.