Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I haven't posted too much about cooking or baking over here but seeing as how that's a lot of where my time goes these days, it seems only fitting. Goat cheese in the morning and cookies for tea-time.

I know there are already more than enough chocolate chip cookie recipes out there but these are my favorites and they are delicious.

A fair warning: I'm a true believer that a chocolate chip cookie without nuts is not worth eating. You can adjust the recipe if you disagree but you'd be wrong.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
adapted from Neiman Marcus

Makes 2 dozen cookies

1 stick unsalted butter, divided
1 cup brown sugar, packed (I actually use a little bit less than 1 cup)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1 cup of chocolate chips (I like Guittard chips but Ghiradelli chips will work, too)
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper.

Set aside one half (4 tablespoons) stick of butter and let soften. Cut the other half in chunks and melt over a medium flame, swirling often, until it's light brown in color and has a nutty aroma.

Pour the melted butter over the softened butter and beat on high for about 30 seconds until the butter has a creamy texture. Beat in both sugars until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until completely mixed.

In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add this to the butter mixture and beat on low until just combined. Stir in the espresso powder, chocolate chips and walnuts and finish mixing by hand.

Drop the dough on to the cookie sheet (the dough is rather dry and I usually roll the dough gently into balls) about 3 inches apart. Lightly press down to flatten. Bake about 20 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. For chewier cookies, take them out of the oven a few minutes early.