How to make Brown Butter

Here is a step-by-step for making brown butter. So, so easy! And the results are fantastic. The result is a butter with a deep nutty vanilla flavor unlike anything else.

What is brown butter?

The short version is what the name implies: butter that is browned.

Also known as the French beurre noisette (translated as hazelnut butter), it is unsalted butter that is heated or cooked long enough for the water (yes, butter has water in it, sometimes a lot) to evaporate.
This leaves behind the solids that start to brown, turning golden or amber in color (image 3 below), and with a wonderful nutty aroma (hence the hazelnut reference).

The result is a butter with a deep nutty vanilla flavor unlike anything else. Truly worth making even though it’s an extra step.

How to make brown butter.

If you’ve never made brown butter (where have you been?!) it’s really simple.

1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan with tall sides (a few inches or so depending on the amount of butter you’re browning) over medium heat (image above).
2. It will foam at first and spurt, so be careful! Don’t stand too close to the saucepan (image below, left).
3. It will melt and will start to bubble and make a furious noise (this will be louder depending on the amount of water the butter has) image below, right.
4. Then, the bubbles will become smaller and it will gradually stop chirping (really, it’s a chirping noise, you’ll see) and will foam quite a bit (images below).
5. Be careful as it will start browning underneath the foam. You will smell a nutty aroma.
6. It’s very important that you split the foam with the spoon or spatula you’re using and see that it doesn’t burn. You want it to be an amber color. Similar to caramel, it goes from amber to burned in a short moment, so be careful.
7. Take it out and put it in a shallow pan so it stops cooking (image below, right).
8. The shade goes from light to dark in seconds, just like that (image below). The flavor deepens as it colors, but be aware that, just like it happens with caramel, it goes from wonderfully dark-colored and deep flavored to burned and useless.
9. Allow to cool and refrigerate until cold. Read the recipe carefully, because usually butter is used at room t°, so it doesn’t need to solidify completely (image below)

So there it is, your fabulous brown butter!

Tips for making brown butter.

• Color: be very careful during the last stage of the recipe, when the butter stops chirping and a thick foam gathers on the top. The butter starts to burn quickly at this point, so make sure you separate the foam with a spatula and check the bottom is not burning. The darker the color the deeper the flavor. Just make sure you don’t get a burned flavor!
• Solids: as the butter browns, the solids burn and deposit in the bottom. You can use it with the solids or without. Your choice. Sometimes the butter is deep-colored and that means the solids are almost burned, so it’s better to leave them behind.
• Bulk browning: I make this recipe 1 pound at a time. Then I refrigerate it until and need it as regular butter. It will have a different consistency of course. But the results in cakes, muffins, and cookies are exceptional.
• Storing: keep refrigerated in tightly closed. It lasts for a week, but always ckeck it before using. Don’t use it if it has a rancid smell or a weird texture. It can also be frozen.

Recipes with brown butter:

Brown Butter Bundt Cake with Coffee Glaze

One of my favorite cakes ever, this is a simple butter cake taken to a whole new level.

Bourbon Pecan Pie

Rich and buttery, I love this recipe as an alternative to more traditional pecan pies.

Pumpkin Ricotta Gnocchi 

If you like homemade gnocchi you will love this super easy recipe. Once you have the ingredients measured, this dish is ready in less than 45 minutes.

Charred Corn Asparagus Brown Butter Pasta

You will want to eat the brown butter breadcrumbs on their own. Addictive!

Glazed Brown Butter Coffee Cake

This glazed coffee cake will make your sunny day better or your cloudy day brighter. A fabulous coffee cake from Handle the Heat.

Let me know if you make this recipe! I’d love to hear what you think about it.
Thank you for being here, I appreciate it! Let’s connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

How to make Brown Butter

• Author: Paula Montenegro
• Prep Time: 2
• Cook Time: 10
• Total Time: 12 minutes
• Yield: 12 ounces (aprox.) 1x
• Category: Basic Recipes
• Method: Cooking
• Cuisine: International

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Description

Step-by-step instructions on how to make this fantastic butter!

The yield depends on the amount of water the butter you use has. I estimate roughly 20-25%

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 pound unsalted butter

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Instructions

1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan with tall sides (a few inches or so depending on the amount of butter you’re browning) over medium heat.
2. It will foam at first and spurt, so be careful! Don’t stand too close to the saucepan.
3. It will melt and will start to bubble and make a furious noise (this will be louder depending on the amount of water the butter has).
4. Then, the bubbles will become smaller and it will gradually stop chirping (really, it’s a chirping noise, you’ll see) and will foam quite a bit (images below).
5. Be careful as it will start browning underneath the foam. You will smell a nutty aroma.
6. It’s very important that you split the foam with the spoon or spatula you’re using and see that it doesn’t burn. You want it to be an amber color. Similar to caramel, it goes from amber to burned in a short moment, so be careful.
7. Take it out and put it in a shallow pan so it stops cooking (image below, right).
8. The shade goes from light to dark in seconds, just like that (image below). The flavor deepens as it colors, but be aware that, just like it happens with caramel, it goes from wonderfully dark-colored and deep flavored to burned and useless.
9. Allow to cool and refrigerate until cold. Read the recipe carefully, because usually butter is used at room t°, so it doesn’t need to solidify completely.

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Notes

Tips for making brown butter.

• Color: be very careful during the last stage of the recipe, when the butter stops chirping and a thick foam gathers on the top. The butter starts to burn quickly at this point, so make sure you separate the foam with a spatula and check the bottom is not burning. The darker the color the deeper the flavor. Just make sure you don’t get a burned flavor!
• Solids: as the butter browns, the solids burn and deposit in the bottom. You can use it with the solids or without. Your choice. Sometimes the butter is deep-colored and that means the solids are almost burned, so it’s better to leave them behind.
• Bulk browning: I make this recipe 1 pound at a time. Then I refrigerate it until and need it as regular butter. It will have a different consistency of course. But the results in cakes, muffins, and cookies are exceptional.
• Storing: keep refrigerated in tightly closed. It lasts for a week, but always ckeck it before using. Don’t use it if it has a rancid smell or a weird texture. It can also be frozen.

Keywords: brown butter

Paula Montenegro

A baker for more than 30 years, I love testing recipes and sharing the best of what I find. I'm mostly self-taught with some time spent in baking school. I believe we can all be bakers and cooks with the right instructions and simple ingredients. If you're craving easy recipes with amazing results, you're in the right place. Let's get into the kitchen!