How to Use Brown Butter

How to Use Brown Butter to Elevate Baking and Cooking

As winter approaches, many of us are turning our kitchens into havens of sweet aromas and festive treats. This year, why not elevate your baking with a simple yet transformative ingredient: brown butter (aka browned butter or beurre noisette). And when it comes to brown butter, starting with the best butter makes all the difference. Nellie's Free Range Butter comes from pasture-raised cows living their best lives, which translates to richer flavor and golden color – perfect for browning to nutty perfection!

What Is Brown Butter?

Brown butter might sound fancy, but it's simply butter (you can use either salted or unsalted butter) that's been cooked just a little longer. When you heat butter past its melting point, the water evaporates, and the milk solids begin to toast. This simple process transforms ordinary butter into a fragrant, nutty, and incredibly flavorful ingredient that can be used virtually any time a recipe calls for butter. Making it is easier than you think and only takes a few extra minutes!

How to Make Brown Butter

1. Grab a Light-Colored Pan: A light-colored pan will help you see the color change as the butter browns.
2. Melt the Butter: Place your desired amount of Nellie's Free Range Butter (we recommend starting with at least half a cup to see and taste the transformation) in the pan over medium-low heat. We wouldn't recommend exceeding medium heat to ensure even the milk solids cook evenly.
3. Watch and Stir: As the butter melts, it will foam and bubble. Stir occasionally with a heat-resistant spatula, scraping the bottom of the pan.
4. Listen for the Sizzle: As the water evaporates, you'll hear the butter start to sizzle.
5. Look for the Color: The butter will turn a beautiful golden brown, and you'll see little brown specks (these show up as milk solids toast) at the bottom of the pan. This usually takes about 5-8 minutes, but keep a close eye on it — browned butter can become burnt butter quickly!
6. Smell the Nutty Aroma: Take a deep breath! Your kitchen will be filled with a warm, nutty, and irresistible aroma.
7. Remove and Cool: Once the butter reaches a light brown color and smells nutty, remove it from the hot pan immediately to prevent burning. Pour the brown butter into a heatproof bowl to cool slightly.

Pro Tip: Be patient! Low and slow heat is key to preventing the butter from burning.

What Does Brown Butter Taste Like?

Brown butter is a one-ingredient wonder that unlocks a world of rich flavor. Imagine the comforting taste of toasted hazelnuts, the caramel sweetness of toffee, and a hint of butterscotch all rolled into one. That's the magic of brown butter! When the milk solids in the butter toast, they undergo a Maillard reaction, creating a symphony of complex flavors and aromas. The texture of brown butter also changes slightly, becoming a bit thicker and silkier than melted butter.

What Does Browning Butter Do For Baked Goods?

Brown butter doesn't just add a unique nutty flavor; it elevates everything around it. It adds a luxurious richness and depth of flavor to cookies, cakes, frostings, and more. Think of it as the secret ingredient that transforms ordinary treats into extraordinary ones.

Here's how brown butter works its magic in baking

• Flavor Enhancer: Brown butter has a natural affinity for warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, making it perfect for holiday baking. It also enhances the flavors of chocolate, vanilla, fruits, and nuts.
• Texture Booster: The slightly thicker consistency of brown butter can contribute to a chewier texture in cookies and a more tender crumb in cakes.
• Aroma Amplifier: As your baked goods warm in the oven, the aroma of brown butter will fill your kitchen, creating an irresistible invitation to indulge.

Sweet Treats Elevated: Best Baked Goods for Brown Butter

Ready to experience the magic of brown butter firsthand? Here are some of our favorite sweet treats that are taken to the next level with this one simple swap:

Cookies

• Chocolate Chip Cookies: The nutty depth of brown butter enhances the richness of the chocolate and creates a cookie that's impossible to resist.
• Shortbread: Brown butter adds a delicate nuttiness and incredible depth of flavor to this classic, buttery cookie.
• Snickerdoodles: The warm spices in snickerdoodles are a match made in heaven for brown butter.

Cakes

• Pound Cake: Brown butter transforms a simple pound cake into a moist, flavorful masterpiece.
• Coffee Cake: The nutty notes of brown butter complement the streusel topping and create a comforting, flavorful cake.
• Spice Cake: The warm spices in spice cake are beautifully enhanced by the complex flavors of brown butter.

Beyond Cookies and Cakes

• Brown Butter Frostings and Fillings: Imagine a brown butter buttercream frosting on your next cake or cupcakes! Brown butter can also serve as a foundation for luxurious fillings for cookies and bars.
• Brownies and Blondies: Brown butter adds a chewy, fudgy texture and incredible depth of flavor to brownies and blondies.

Savory Surprises: Unexpected Brown Butter Delights

While brown butter might be the star of the dessert show, don't relegate this ingredient to the sweets department just yet! Its unique flavor profile can add incredible depth and complexity to savory recipes as well. Here are a few ideas to get those taste buds tingling:

• Roasted Vegetables: Toss root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or Brussels sprouts with brown butter, herbs, and spices before roasting for a caramelized, nutty side dish. Also can confirm that browned butter with mashed potatoes is a taste revelation!
• Pasta Perfection: Brown butter is the perfect base for a rich and flavorful pasta sauce. It pairs beautifully with earthy sage, sweet butternut squash, or nutty Parmesan cheese.
• Pan Sauce Powerhouse: Deglaze your pan with brown butter after cooking fish or chicken to create a luxurious and flavorful pan sauce.

Swapping Secrets: Using Brown Butter in Your Recipes

Ready to add a touch of brown butter magic to your favorite recipes? The good news is that swapping brown butter for regular butter is usually a simple 1:1 substitution. However, keep in mind that brown butter has slightly less moisture due to the evaporation during cooking. This means you might need to make minor adjustments to your recipe, such as:

• Adding a touch more liquid: If your recipe seems dry, try adding a couple tablespoons of milk or cream to compensate for the reduced moisture in brown butter.
• Adjusting baking time: Keep a close eye on your baked goods, as they might bake slightly faster with brown butter. Start checking for doneness a few minutes earlier than the recipe states.

Tips and Tricks for Brown Butter Success

• Light-Colored Pan: As mentioned earlier, a light-colored pan allows you to easily monitor the color change of the butter as it browns.
• Low and Slow: Patience is key! Use medium-low heat and stir frequently to prevent the butter from burning.
• Don't Walk Away: Brown butter can go from perfectly toasted to burnt quickly. Stay close by and keep a watchful eye on the pan.
• Trust Your Nose: The aroma is a great indicator of doneness. When you smell that irresistible nutty fragrance, your brown butter is ready.
• Strain for Extra Smoothness: For exceptionally smooth brown butter, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve after cooking to remove any browned milk solids.
• Experiment and Have Fun: Don't be afraid to get creative with brown butter! Try it in different recipes, pair it with various flavors, and discover your own delicious combinations.

Blissful Bovines = Better Butter

At Nellie's Free Range, we believe that happy animals and healthy land make the most delicious food. That's why our commitment to sustainable, humane practices extends beyond our eggs and reaches all the way to your refrigerator, with our creamy, delicious grass-fed butter.

A grass-fed diet results in incredible depth of flavor — in short, butter that tastes more buttery. It’s butter being its best self, and the benefits to your cooking and baking will be obvious! Whether you’re using it whole, melted, or browned we expect that you’ll be mooved to the core.