Brown butter is an easy way to make any recipe taste rich and decadent!
Learning how to make brown butter is easy and results in incredible flavor. It can be added to anything from steamed vegetables to pasta or even cookies for an extra boost of flavor.
What is Brown Butter?
Brown butter is a simple technique of heating butter and allowing the milk solids to separate and become golden. Once it reaches a golden color, the solids are strained out and the remaining liquid is the browned butter.
It will have a lovely golden color and a nutty aroma and flavor.
There’s only one ingredient in brown butter, but its toasty and buttery flavor is unmistakable!
How to Make Brown Butter
It’s super easy to make this one ingredient sauce, but it does take a little bit of patience!
- Heat unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat until butter is melted (per the printable recipe below).
- Continue cooking while stirring until the solids separate and the butter begins to turn golden brown.
- Once it browns, quickly remove the butter from heat and strain into a bowl jar
What is Brown Butter Used For?
Brown butter has a mildly nutty flavor that complements nearly everything from meats, vegetables, pasta, and even baked goods like banana bread! It’s easy to make, so explore with brown butter! It is delicious poured over a head of steamed cauliflower, or even as a dip for steak bites or scallops.
Brown Butter Tips
- For faster more even melting, cut butter into small cubes before cooking.
- Constant stirring will keep the brown butter from burning, which can happen easily. Remove from heat just when it starts turning golden brown because it will continue to cook once removed.
- If the brown butter appears a little clumpy, pour it through a strainer or layers of cheesecloth until the mixture is smooth.
- Brown butter can also be frozen in an ice cube tray and then the cubes can be stored in a zippered bag and then popped out whenever a quick and easy sauce is needed!
How to Make Brown Butter
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter cut into cubes
Instructions
- Heat butter in a skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
- Continue stirring until butter turns a light brown color and has a nutty fragrance.
- Immediately remove from the heat (so it doesn't burn) and strain into a bowl. Discard the solids in the strainer.
- Store in the refrigerator up to two weeks.
Notes
- For faster more even melting, cut butter into small cubes before cooking.
- Constant stirring will keep the brown butter from burning, which can happen easily. Remove from heat just when it starts turning golden brown because it will continue to cook once removed.
- If the brown butter appears a little clumpy, pour it through a strainer or layers of cheesecloth until the mixture is smooth.
- Brown butter can also be frozen in an ice cube tray and then the cubes can be stored in a zippered bag and then popped out whenever a quick and easy sauce is needed!
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dip, Sauce
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Hi Holly, I make Brown Butter for a chocolate chip recipe I have,
and it gives the cookies a amazing flavor!
Thank you for the tips on freezing the butter.
You have great recipes, and I use them all the time!
Thank you, from another Holly
What a delicious addition to chocolate chip cookies!