Learn how to brown butter with this simple step-by-step guide! Brown butter, with its rich, nutty flavor and golden hue, will bring a deep caramel-like taste to sweet and savory recipes. I’m sharing all my tips to answer your questions and help you master this technique.
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Brown butter is one of the easiest ways to level up your baking. It's butter that's cooked just long enough to develop a rich golden color and deep, nutty flavor. I still remember the first time I made it in pastry school—it completely changed how I approached flavor in desserts.
In this post, I'll walk you through exactly how to brown butter, providing step-by-step instructions, photos, tips to avoid burning, and answers to common questions. Once you learn this simple technique, you'll want to use it in everything—from cookies to cakes to savory dishes.
If you love baking with brown butter, be sure to check out my chewy toffee cookies, soft and chewy snickerdoodle cookies, and no-chill lemon white chocolate cookies.
What Is Brown Butter?
Brown butter starts with solid, cold butter that is gently heated in a saucepan until it turns a beautiful golden brown. As it cooks, the butter sizzles and foams, releasing a rich, nutty aroma. The milk solids separate and brown on the bottom of the pan while the water evaporates.
Here’s the best part, it takes less than 10 minutes, and you don’t need any fancy tools. Just grab a saucepan, and you’re ready to go. It’s one of those little kitchen tricks that makes you feel like a pro–even though it’s so simple.
How To Make Brown Butter (Step-By-Step)
Step 1 - Add the butter to a light-colored saucepan. If using sticks of butter, I just add them whole to the pan. You can add them straight from the refrigerator.
Step 2 - Melt the butter over medium heat. Stir the butter as it melts. I love using a rubber spatula.
Step 3 - Stir as the butter sizzles. It will begin to foam and sizzle. Keep stirring. You’ll see the butter will start to turn a golden color. This part goes quickly, so it’s important to keep a close eye and to continue stirring. Once you see dark brown speckles throughout the bottom of the saucepan, your butter is ready.
Step 4 - Pour the butter into a bowl. You’ll want to transfer the brown butter into a heat-proof bowl immediately to prevent it from continuing to cook. Have one ready for easy transfer.
Tips For Perfect Brown Butter
- Use a light-colored pan. If you have a light-colored saucepan or skillet, use it. You’ll want to be able to watch the color transform into a deep golden brown, and you’ll be able to see it much better.
- Cook over medium heat. If the heat is too high, the butter can go from brown to burnt quickly. You’ll want to stick with slow and steady.
- Stir the butter. You’ll want to keep stirring the butter once it starts to sizzle. It’ll help the butter cook evenly and prevent the milk solids from sticking to one spot and burning. Plus, you can get a better peek as the color deepens.
How To Substitute Brown Butter In A Recipe
You can swap browned butter whenever a recipe calls for plain butter! Just remember to start with a bit more–about 10% more. This little trick compensates for the moisture that cooks off as the butter browns, ensuring you end up with the right amount.
If your recipe needs solid butter, pop the brown butter in the fridge overnight, and it’ll firm up perfectly. But if the recipe calls for melted butter, warm the brown butter over low heat until it becomes smooth again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Salted butter has a higher water content so you will see a bit more foaming as it browns, and the salt will concentrate as the water evaporates. This can be great for savory dishes, but if you’re using it for baking, you might have to adjust the salt in your recipe.
Yes, you can! This can happen quite quickly if you don’t keep an eye on it. Once the butter starts to change colors, don’t leave the stove!
Let your brown butter cool to room temperature, and store it in an airtight container. You can refrigerate it for up to 5 days. It will firm up but you can scoop it out as needed.
Recipe With Brown Butter
How to Brown Butter (Easy Step-By-Step Tutorial)
- Total Time: 11 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup 1x
Description
Learn how to brown butter with this simple step-by-step guide! Brown butter, with its rich, nutty flavor and golden hue, will bring a deep caramel-like taste to sweet and savory recipes.
Ingredients
- 113 g (½ cup) unsalted butter
Instructions
- Add the butter to a medium light-colored saucepan and melt over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula.
- As the butter foams and sizzles, keep stirring to evenly brown the butter. You'll see the butter turn a golden brown. Once you see dark brown speckles throughout the bottom of the saucepan, remove from the heat.
- Immediately pour the butter in a medium heat-proof bowl to prevent it from continuing to cook.
Notes
Make-Ahead: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can melt or bring it to room temperature for any recipe.
Medium heat: Do not rush the process, cook over medium heat for an slow and even browning.
Light-colored pan: You'll be able to see the color of the butter transform colors better in a light-colored pan than a metal one.
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Guides
Lindsey says
Thank you for this amazing guide for how to make brown butter! So many others out there don't show clear enough photos of the process, so it's hard to tell if it's actually browned enough! Your pics make it SO EASY TO SEE the color you're looking for when making browned butter! I am making a cake from your site and swapping the butter with brown butter, so I appreciate all your tips for using the browned butter in other recipes, too!!
Maria Pagiotas says
Hi Lindsey! I'm so happy you enjoyed this post especially the pictures. I always think it's easiest to learn through visuals for baking! Swapping with brown butter is always delicious! Let me know how the cake turns out 🙂