Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies (2024)

Last Updated on: February 22, 2024

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These brown sugar cookies are perfectly sweet, outrageously soft, and oh-so-chewy!

Think of them as the love child of brown sugar cookies and crinkle cookies. What a magnificent mash-up, amirite?

For a super soft and chewy cookie that melts in your mouth, this is my go-to.

Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies (1)

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Brown Sugar Cookies

These brown sugar cookies are my top choice when I’m looking for a classic, nostalgic treat.

With just a handful of simple ingredients like butter, eggs, flour, and, of course, brown sugar, you can whip up a batch of these soft-baked cookies in no time.

The use of brown sugar gives these cookies a rich, caramel-like flavor that’s to die for.

Crisp around the edges but soft and chewy on the inside, these homemade brown sugar cookies are extremely addictive.

I think they’re ideal as Christmas cookies, thanks to the deep flavor. But they’re so tasty, you’ll want them all year.

Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies (2)

Ingredients

These ingredients make the brown sugar cookies super soft and chewy!

  • Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work well. But dark brown sugar contains more molasses, so it will yield chewier cookies. You can also use a 50/50 split.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour is perfect for these cookies.
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda: The leavening agents that make the cookies rise.
  • Salt: To enhance the sweetness and balance the flavors.
  • Butter: For richness. Use softened, not melted butter so they don’t spread too much.
  • Eggs: Also for richness and binding the ingredients.
  • Vanilla Extract: This enhances the flavor of the cookies.
  • Granulated Sugar: For coating the dough balls in. This adds a delightful crunch and a nice contrast in sweetness and texture.

How to Make Brown Sugar Cookies

If you’re a dessert lover, chances are you’ve made cookies once or twice. So this will be super easy for you!

And luckily, they’re a cinch to whip up, so even novice bakers can master them

1. Combine the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Beat in the Eggs: Add eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract.

3. Add the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a soft dough forms.

4. Chill the Dough: Cover and chill dough for 1-2 hours. Essential for chewy cookies with crispier edges. It also creates a deeper, richer flavor because chilling allows the natural sugars in the brown sugar to caramelize.

5. Coat in Sugar: Roll the dough into 2-inch balls. Then coat each in granulated sugar. Place dough balls on baking sheets spaced 3 inches apart.

6. Bake and Enjoy: Bake for 11-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Tips for the Best Cookies

As with any cookie recipe, my main tip is to be gentle with the dough. When adding the flour, it’s best to either use a spatula or a paddle attachment on low.

Other than that, here’s a few tips and tricks for making the best brown sugar cookies:

  • Chill the dough: Chill the dough for at least 1 hour for a thicker, chewier cookie and a richer flavor.
  • Line your baking sheets: Parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
  • Don’t overbake: Cookies may look slightly underdone when you take them out, but they will continue to firm up as they cool. Overbaking leads to dry, crumbly cookies. Aim for golden brown edges.
  • Cool on the baking sheet: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set and prevents them from breaking.
  • Room temperature ingredients: Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature for even creaming and a smooth dough.
  • Leave space between cookies: Allow space for the cookies to spread without touching each other.
  • Chewy vs. Crispy: Use dark brown sugar for chewier cookies and light brown sugar for crispier ones.
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How to Store

Whether you have leftovers or simply want to make them ahead, you have a few storage options.

And yes, they freeze well! So I highly suggest you double or triple the recipe so you have plenty on hand.

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To Store Leftover Cookies: Place cooled cookies in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 5 days.

To Freeze Baked Cookies: Flash freeze cooled cookies on a baking tray until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag and store for up to three months.

To Freeze Cookie Dough: Portion the dough onto a baking tray and freeze until solid. Transfer the dough balls to a freezer bag and store for up to three months.

When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen cookies, simply let them thaw on the counter for about 20-30 minutes. Or microwave them for a few seconds.

For the frozen cookie dough, bake those babies right out of the freezer! Just add about 2 minutes to the total cooking time.

More Crinkle Cookies To Try

Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
Fudge Crinkle Cookies with Cake Mix

Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies (5)

Brown Sugar Cookies

Course: DessertCuisine: American

Servings

25

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

13

minutes

These brown sugar cookies are perfectly sweet, outrageously soft, and oh-so-chewy! If you’re a fan of sweets that melt in your mouth, you have to try them.

Ingredients

  • Cookie Dough
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 1/4 cups light or dark brown sugar, packed

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • For Rolling
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Use a hand or stand mixer. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.
  • Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Place the 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll the dough into balls, about 2 tablespoons each. Then, roll them in the sugar to coat completely.
  • Place the sugared dough balls 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 11-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
  • Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool for 5 to 10 minutes on the baking sheet. Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Cover and chill the dough for at least 1 hour. This creates chewier cookies with a richer flavor.

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Kim - InsanelyGood

Hey there! I'm Kim. I love running, cooking, and curling up with a good book! I share recipes for people who LOVE good food, but want to keep things simple :)

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Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret for chewy cookies? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

What happens if you only use brown sugar in cookies? ›

Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more. With less moisture escaping via steam, they also stay moist and chewy.

What gives a chewy cookie is chewy texture? ›

Cookies that are dense and chewy incorporate more moisture into the batter. This can be achieved by making substitutions with wet and dry ingredients, or even just changing the way you incorporate certain ingredients. Plus, your particular baking technique and your method of storing cookies can also play a role.

What keeps cookies soft and chewy? ›

Putting a slice of fresh white bread in the container with the cookies will help the cookies stay soft: fresh bread is moist, and that slice will give up its moisture for the greater good: keeping the cookies from drying out. We recommend white bread so that no flavor is transferred to the cookies.

What makes cookies chewy vs hard? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

What does too much brown sugar do to cookies? ›

Brown sugar adds a beautiful color as well as a more complex flavor. They'll also make cookies chewier, softer, and thicker than white sugar. Adding too much can result in dark brown cookies. Adding too little results in paler cookies.

Why does brown sugar make cookies chewy? ›

Brown sugar

Brown sugar is also hygroscopic (more so than granulated sugar) and will therefore also attract and absorb the liquid in the dough. The difference is in the molasses that makes brown sugar brown: It adds moisture and slight acidity, resulting in a moist and chewy texture.

Is it better to use brown sugar or light brown sugar for cookies? ›

More molasses, however, means dark brown sugar has slightly higher levels of acidity and moisture which might cause a batch of cookies to rise a bit higher and taste more caramel-y than those made with light brown sugar. It's not something you should have to mitigate for in a recipe.

What makes a cookie chewy and not cakey? ›

Melted butter creates cookies with a different texture compared to cookies made with softened or creamed butter. When butter is melted, it coats the flour more evenly, resulting in cookies that are chewier and denser.

What are three factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

Salted butter, softened – I prefer salted butter but you can also use unsalted and add an extra pinch of salt to the dough. Brown sugar – Just brown sugar because we will get the 'granulated sugar' flavor from the corn syrup. Corn syrup – The corn syrup is what makes these cookies CHEWY FOR DAYS.

Why don't my cookies come out chewy? ›

Brown sugar—particularly dark brown sugar—makes a cookie chewy; white sugar makes it crispy. If your recipe calls for all white sugar and you want a fudgier result, try swapping out some of the white sugar for brown (go for half and half and adjust from there). You can also use honey or molasses for a chewier cookie.

What makes cookies rubbery? ›

Eggs bind the ingredients and make for moist, chewy cookies. Adding too many eggs can result in gummy, cake-like cookies. Adding too few eggs can result in dry, crumbly cookies. Beat each one in separately and thoroughly.

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