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Home » Christmas Cookies

Brown Butter Spice Cutout Cookies

Published: Nov 26, 2016 · Modified: Mar 22, 2024 by Lizet Flores de Bowen

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These cookies have a lot going on. Brown butter, caramel, and a hint of coffee flavor in every bite. 

I recently discovered this technique of browning butter before using it in cakes or cookies, and the truth is that I fell in love with the taste it gives baked goods.

The taste is like caramel, and when you start to brown the butter, the whole house is filled with its aroma.

I used brown sugar, which for me already has a bit of caramel flavor, and I like it that it gives an unexpected crunch to these brown butter spice cutout cookies. Caramel, cinnamon and coffee, a perfect combination.

Brown Butter Spice Cutout Cookies dough ready to be refrigerate it.
Keep dough in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
Brown Butter Spice Cutout Cookies star cookies on a cookie sheet.

For these cookies, I recommend that you roll the dough between two pieces of wax paper, it makes this work much easier.

You do not need to add so much flour, and the dough doesn't come apart as easily as when you do it on the counter. Less flour in the dough means tender cookies.

star shape cookies on a cooling rack.
iced star shape cookies on a cooling rack.

Actually, these cookies do not need any icing, they are so delicious by themselves, but if you want something cute, just add some icing.

What are you baking for these holidays? Have you started yet?

Brown Butter Spice Cutout Cookies

If you liked the recipe above, please consider rating the recipe and leaving a comment below! and share your picture on Instagram with the hashtag #chipabythedozen

More recipes with Brown Butter:

  • Brown Butter Banana Coffeecake
  • Brown Butter Pumpkin Coffeecake

Recipe

Brown Butter Spice Cutout Cookies
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Brown Butter Spice Cutout Cookies

These cookies have a lot going on. Brown butter, caramel, and a hint of coffee flavor in every bite. 
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Resting Time5 hours hrs
Total Time25 minutes mins
Course: Christmas cookies
Cuisine: South America
Servings: 26
Calories: 145kcal
Author: Lizet Bowen

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup butter (170g)
  • 2 teaspoons instant coffee that is what I had, you can replace it with 1 teaspoon strong coffee or coffee extract and add it with the vanilla extract
  • 1 cup brown sugar (200g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 2-⅓ cup all-purpose flour (291.6g)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Brown butter icing:

  • 4 tablespoons butter (56.7g)
  • 1 cup icing sugar (125g)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 8 to 10 teaspoons hot water

Instructions

  • Melt ¾ cup of butter over low heat in a medium saucepan. Continue cooking, until butter foams and just turns golden (3 to 5 minutes). Immediately remove from heat (If using instant coffee, add it to the butter); refrigerate 1 hour.
  • In a mixing bowl combine browned butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until well mixed. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon and beat until well mixed. Divide the dough in half. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. 
  • Using 2 pieces of wax paper lightly floured, roll half of the dough at a time until ¼ inch thick. Using a 3-inch cookie cutter, cut out the dough. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely. 

Brown Butter Icing:

  • In a small saucepan melt butter over low heat until melted. Continue heating until golden brown; let it cool for 5 minutes and stir in the icing sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and water. Add more water if necessary to achieve a spreading consistency. Frost cooled cookies.

Notes

Use icing immediately. If icing starts to set, stir in a few more drops of boiling water.
To store: Place unfrosted cookies in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Before serving, thaw cookies, if frozen and spread with icing.

Nutrition

Calories: 145kcal

More Christmas Cookie Recipes:

  • Almond Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
  • Mint-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

I'm sharing this recipe at Fiesta Friday, hosted by Angie and this week co-host are Antonia @ Zoale.com and Kat @ Kat’s 9 Lives

Brown Butter Spice Cutout Cookies

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Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Ange

    December 16, 2024 at 2:46 am

    Help! I love these cookies and have made them for the last 4 years no issue. I’ve attempted to make the glaze 3 times now and thought the first 2 times maybe the icing sugar amt was wrong or I put it all in too fast but this 3rd time I slowyly started w/ a spoonful or two and it’s doing the same. It gets very globby and then splits. It never comes together as a sauce. I don’t remember having this issue at all. Any thoughts? Is the butter too hot? I’m really confused as I’ve never had an issue and always followed the directions to a T. I’ll be crushed if they have to stay plain. The glaze really makes them. Thx!

    Reply
    • Lizet

      December 26, 2024 at 5:17 pm

      I'm so sorry the icing wasn't coming together for you this time.
      Were you using butter substitute? was the water hot, or cold? It can be because the butter is either too warm or too cold.
      Where you able to make it work?

      Reply
  2. Delaine

    May 02, 2019 at 11:17 am

    Christmas cookies are my all time favorite treats to make and eat! I can't wait to try this recipe. The cookies are gorgeous and love the simplicity of the flavors. Will definitely be adding them to my cookie exchange this year.

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      May 02, 2019 at 5:37 pm

      Thanks Delaine! Very happy to have my cookie added to your cookie exchange this year 🙂

      Reply
  3. Julianna

    December 22, 2018 at 6:13 am

    Oh yum! These cookies sound wonderful and would make a beautiful contribution to my cookie gift boxes this year! 😀

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      December 25, 2018 at 9:40 pm

      Yes! they pretty enough and so delicious to go in any gift box!

      Reply
  4. Angie | Fiesta Friday

    December 21, 2018 at 4:06 am

    Wonderful recipe, Lizet!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      December 25, 2018 at 9:41 pm

      Thanks Angie!

      Reply
  5. Antonia

    December 16, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    Brown butter rocks! I love these cookies, they look so rich and flavorful. Thank you for sharing your beautiful cookies with us over at Fiesta Friday!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      December 17, 2018 at 2:03 pm

      Thanks for coming by!

      Reply
  6. TurksWhoEat

    December 14, 2018 at 6:01 pm

    I love the sound of these cookies! I think I've only ever browned butter to use as pasta sauce, but what a wonderful idea to add it to baked goods!

    Reply
    • Lizet Flores de Bowen

      December 15, 2018 at 8:43 pm

      Oh! I've never done that for pasta sauce! I'll try it next time.

      Reply
  7. Lizet Flores de Bowen

    November 28, 2016 at 4:27 pm

    Aw. Gracias Marijose! Estas salieron muy ricas. Espero que puedas hacerlas! Gracias por seguirme 😘

    Reply
  8. marijose

    November 28, 2016 at 3:44 pm

    Hola Lizet, que galletitas mas ricas has echo, solo verlas ya dan ganas de meter la mano en la pantalla, me quedo siguiendote para no perderme nada de lo que hagas, un beso

    Reply

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Lizet's photo, creator of Chipa by the Dozen.

Hello! I am Lizet.

Welcome to my blog. This is a collection of the most beloved recipes between my family and friends. Some are my own creations and some are copycat from the many found on the internet, but with a twist using ingredients I can find in Paraguay. I hope you enjoy them!

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