Brown Butter Toffeedoodle Cookie Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)

This Brown Butter Toffeedoodle Cookie takes our family favorite Snickerdoodle cookie to a whole new level! Rich browned butter, a sprinkling of toffee bits, then dipped in cinnamon sugar. It is a soft, buttery, and delicious cookie!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

If you were lucky enough to have a Starbucks toffeedoodle cookie when it was in their lineup then you do not need to be convinced of why you need to make this recipe. You already know how incredible it is!

But if you missed out on this treat when it was at Starbucks, let me share why you will want to make this at home! This recipe is a twist on the traditional Snickerdoodle cookie, which is a soft, buttery cookie rolled in cinnamon sugar. In this updated version I brown the butter to bring out the rich butter flavor even more. Then the cookie is studded with toffee bits which adds a caramelized brown sugar flavor.

It's no surprise that these were a hit at Starbucks, as they are excellent when paired with a great cup of coffee!

These are the perfect cookie for the holiday season and they also are lovely on a brunch dessert tray. But really you don't need a special occasion for these cookies. They make a great snack on just a regular day.

Ingredient Information

Butter - Use high-quality butter for the best-flavored cookies. This recipe calls for unsalted butter. If you substitute salted butter then reduce the salt in the recipe by ¼ teaspoon.

Vanilla Extract - Pure vanilla extract makes the best-tasting cookie. My favorite brand for this recipe is Rodelle. The flavor makes a big difference in the cookies.

Cream of Tartar - This is a key ingredient in snickerdoodle cookies, as it transforms them from regular sugar cookies into snickerdoodles by adding tanginess and chewiness.

Eggs - It is best to use room-temperature eggs when making cookie dough, as they have less viscosity which allows them to mix better into the batter.

Toffee bits - You can use any English toffee bits (the ones without chocolate coating), or even crush English toffee candy. I like to use the Heath Bits O' Brickle because they are widely available and easy.

Step-By-Step Directions

Step One: Brown the butter

Let's start with how to brown butter. If this is your first time browning butter, don't sweat! It's a pretty simple process that transforms regular butter into a golden liquid that is full of flavor.

Cut the butter into 1 tablespoon slices so that it melts evenly.

Place the butter in a stainless or ceramic skillet over medium heat. Stir continuously until the butter turns golden brown. Watch it carefully because once it starts to turn golden it can burn easily.

There will be darker bits in the bottom of the pan. Do not strain them out. They hold lots of flavor!

Pour the brown butter into a freezer-safe dish and place in the freezer for 10 minutes. Stir, then freeze for an additional 10 minutes in order to turn the butter back solid. You can also cool in the refrigerator if you aren't in a rush.

Step Two: Beat together wet ingredients

It is best to use an electric mixer so the sugar and butter get really fluffy. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.

Once the butter mixture is fluffy, add the eggs and vanilla and continue to beat another minute or two.

Step Three: Add dry ingredients

Combine the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Once mixed, add to the sugar batter.

It is best to mix in the flour mixture on a low speed. This keeps it from flying everywhere, and also allows you to not overmix. If you overmix the dough you will end up with flat, crispy cookies.

Step Four: Mix in toffee bits

Finally, mix in the toffee bits. I do this part by hand, gently folding the toffee into the batter.

Step Five: Refrigerate dough then portion

Refrigerating your cookie dough before baking results in cookies that are thick and fluffy. This is because the fat solidifies as the dough cools, and the sugar absorbs some of the moisture in the dough. Both of these factors result in the dough taking longer to spread out while baking, which keeps the cookie from becoming too thin and flat.

For big, gourmet-style cookies, use a 4 tablespoon cookie scoop or a ¼ cup measuring cup.

Roll each cookie into a ball, then dip in the sugar-cinnamon mixture. Unlike regular snickerdoodles, where the entire ball is covered in cinnamon sugar, we just want a little bit of the sugar topping these cookies. So I dip the ball of dough into the cinnamon mixture, instead of rolling it all the way around.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place about 3-inches apart on the sheet.

Step Six: Bake the cookies

Bake the cookies at 375°F for about 9 minutes, or until you start to see some browning on the outside of the cookie. The middle should still look just a little bit raw. They will set up as the cookies cool.

These are the best cookies! You are going to love them!

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