Brown Butter Hojicha Earl Grey Cookies (Printable Version)

Sophisticated cookies with nutty brown butter, roasted hojicha, and fragrant Earl Grey for a uniquely aromatic treat.

# What You Need:

→ Brown Butter

01 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter

→ Dry Ingredients

02 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1 tablespoon hojicha powder
06 - 2 teaspoons Earl Grey tea leaves, finely ground

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
08 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1 large egg yolk
11 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Add-ins

12 - 2/3 cup white chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the butter foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, hojicha powder, and ground Earl Grey tea leaves until evenly combined.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled brown butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat until well combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract; mix until smooth.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. If using, fold in white chocolate chips.
05 - Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, for optimal flavor and texture development.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop dough into 2-tablespoon mounds, spacing 2 inches apart.
07 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers remain slightly soft.
08 - Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The brown butter brings a toasty depth that makes these cookies feel like they've been loved for generations.
  • Hojicha and Earl Grey create an oddly comforting flavor that surprises people who expect just sweetness.
  • They're sophisticated enough to impress but casual enough to eat three in a row without guilt.
02 -
  • Brown butter can go from golden to burnt in seconds, so stay close and listen for the sizzle to quiet down as your signal that it's done.
  • Chilling the dough isn't optional if you want cookies that hold their shape—warm dough spreads faster than you'd expect, especially with brown butter's lower melting point.
03 -
  • If your kitchen is warm, chill the dough in smaller batches so you're only working with what you can shape before it softens.
  • Grind your Earl Grey tea leaves fresh from the bags instead of using pre-ground tea—it tastes noticeably brighter and more alive.
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