Brown Butter Hojicha Earl Grey Cookies (Print)

Nutty brown butter meets roasted hojicha and Earl Grey in these aromatic, sophisticated cookies with white chocolate.

# Components:

→ 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 ground Earl Grey tea leaves

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
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

# Directions:

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.
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 preferably 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 Advice:

01 -
  • That brown butter smell filling your kitchen is honestly half the reason to make these.
  • The hojicha and Earl Grey create this sophisticated flavor that tastes complicated but feels effortless to pull off.
  • They're chewy enough to feel indulgent but light enough that you won't feel guilty eating three in a row.
02 -
  • Brown butter can burn in seconds, so watch it constantly and keep the heat at medium or lower, pulling it off the moment it turns amber and smells like toast.
  • If your oven runs hot, start checking the cookies at 10 minutes because the difference between chewy and overdone is honestly just 60 seconds.
03 -
  • Grinding your own Earl Grey tea leaves gives you a more vibrant flavor than pre-ground options, and it only takes 10 seconds with a mortar and pestle.
  • If you want these more intensely tea-forward, increase the hojicha and Earl Grey by 1/2 teaspoon each, but start here and adjust to your taste preference.
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