BROWN BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS RECIPES

Steps:

• Cook butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, until it foams, then browns, 5–8 minutes. Scrape into a large bowl and let cool slightly, until cool enough to touch (like the temperature of a warm bath), about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk flour, baking soda, and kosher salt in a medium bowl.
• Add brown sugar and granulated sugar to browned butter. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until incorporated, about 1 minute. Add eggs and vanilla, increase mixer speed to medium-high, and beat until mixture lightens and begins to thicken, about 1 minute. Reduce mixer speed to low; add dry ingredients and beat just to combine. Mix in toffee pieces and chocolate wafers with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Let dough sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes to allow flour to hydrate. Dough will look very loose at first, but will thicken as it sits.
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 375°. Using a 1-oz. ice cream scoop, portion out balls of dough and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing about 3" apart (you can also form dough into ping pong–sized balls with your hands). Do not flatten; cookies will spread as they bake. Sprinkle with sea salt.
• Bake cookies until edges are golden brown and firm but centers are still soft, 9–11 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough and a fresh parchment-lined cooled baking sheet. Do Ahead: Cookie dough can be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill. Let dough come to room temperature before baking.

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until butter starts to foam and turn brown, about 10 minutes. Immediately pour into a heatproof glass bowl; cover and chill until solidified, about 1 hour. (For quicker cooling, place in a freezer-proof bowl, and freeze about 30 minutes.)
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside. Sift together flour, baking powder, kosher salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl, and set aside.
• Beat chilled browned butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer (if working with a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment) on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute. With mixer running on low speed, gradually add flour mixture, beating just until combined, about 1 minute. Fold in chocolate. Using a 3-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop dough, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheets (do not flatten). Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
• Place 2 of the baking sheets on separate racks in preheated oven, and bake until edges of cookies are lightly golden and set, 12 to 14 minutes, rotating pans (top to bottom) halfway through bake time. Let cookies cool on pans 10 minutes; transfer to wire racks. Bake remaining baking sheet of cookies until edges are lightly golden and set, 12 to 14 minutes, repeating cooling process. Serve cookies warm, or let cool completely, about 15 minutes.