Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies are the ultimate gourmet twist on a classic favorite. With the rich, nutty flavor of browned butter blended with melty chocolate chips, each bite is pure indulgence. The finishing touch? A light sprinkle of flaky sea salt that enhances the sweetness and brings out the chocolate like never before. They’re perfect for everything from bake sales to cozy nights in. Whether you’re treating yourself or impressing guests, this recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Plus, the simple ingredients and foolproof technique make these cookies as easy to bake as they are to love.

Full recipe:

Ingredients:

6 oz unsalted butter
7 oz brown sugar
2 oz white sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ tbsp vanilla extract
8 oz all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
16 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp flaky sea salt, for topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Once golden brown with a nutty aroma, remove from heat and let cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, cream the browned butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until fluffy (3–5 minutes).
Add eggs one at a time while mixing on low. Add vanilla extract and mix.
Remove bowl from mixer. Fold in flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined. Do not overmix.
Stir in the chocolate chips gently with a spatula.
Cover the dough and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours).
Scoop 2-tablespoon portions of dough onto prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Add a few extra chocolate chips on top of each.
Bake for 11–12 minutes or until the edges are golden. Remove from oven and sprinkle with flaky sea salt immediately.
Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 22 minutes
Kcal: 292 kcal | Servings: 20 cookies

The Story Behind Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies have long held a place in the hearts (and cookie jars) of dessert lovers around the world. But when you elevate this classic treat with rich, nutty brown butter and a finishing touch of flaky sea salt, something magical happens. This recipe isn’t just another chocolate chip cookie — it’s a gourmet twist that brings together sweetness, saltiness, and decadence in a way that feels both nostalgic and refined.

The addition of sea salt in dessert baking has gained popularity in recent years, but the combination of sweet and salty isn’t new. Chefs have long known that salt intensifies flavor, especially in chocolate. When used correctly, it doesn’t make a cookie “salty” — it deepens the sweetness, enhances the complexity of the chocolate, and cuts through the richness of the butter for a perfectly balanced bite.

This Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe also includes a technique that’s adored by professionals and home bakers alike: browning the butter. This simple step transforms regular butter into a deep, golden, toasty base that gives cookies a rich, nutty flavor you simply can’t get from creaming room temperature butter.

What Makes This Recipe Stand Out

There are thousands of chocolate chip cookie recipes out there, but what makes this one special comes down to a handful of intentional upgrades. Let’s explore what sets this version apart from the rest:

Brown Butter: Browning the butter gives the cookies a deeper, more complex flavor profile. It adds notes of caramel and toasted hazelnut, making the cookie base taste like it’s been crafted by a pastry chef.
High-Quality Chocolate Chips: This recipe uses semi-sweet chocolate chips generously — 16 ounces to be exact. This means every bite is filled with gooey chocolate that pairs perfectly with the sea salt.
Chilling the Dough: Chilling the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes before baking ensures a chewier texture, prevents excessive spreading, and allows the flavors to deepen.
Flaky Sea Salt Finish: This is the showstopper. Sprinkling sea salt on top immediately after baking gives you those signature salt crystals that melt on the tongue and contrast beautifully with the sweetness of the cookie.

Flavor Profile: A Perfect Balance

Bite into one of these cookies and you’ll notice a combination of textures and flavors that’s hard to beat. The outer edges are golden and crisp, while the centers remain soft and chewy. The browned butter creates a base that’s rich and slightly caramelized, while the generous amount of chocolate provides creamy, molten pockets of flavor throughout.

Then comes the sea salt. It might seem like a small detail, but it transforms the entire experience. The flaky crystals enhance the flavor of the chocolate and the butter, offering a moment of contrast that highlights the cookie’s sweetness rather than competes with it.

Healthier Than You Think (In Moderation!)

While this is certainly a dessert recipe, there are some subtle upsides to this indulgent treat:

Controlled Salt: Because we’re using unsalted butter and adding salt with intention (both inside and on top), you have full control over sodium levels.
No Preservatives: Unlike packaged cookies that contain preservatives, artificial flavoring, and additives, these cookies are made with simple, real ingredients — butter, sugar, flour, eggs, and chocolate.
Freezer-Friendly: You can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it in portions, so you’re always just minutes away from a freshly baked, homemade treat.

Moderation is key, of course — these cookies are rich! But knowing exactly what goes into them means you can enjoy each bite without the mystery ingredients found in many store-bought options.

Tips for the Best Results Every Time

Making perfect cookies is both an art and a science. Here are a few pro tips to ensure success:

Cool Your Brown Butter: After browning, let the butter cool to room temperature before mixing. If it’s too warm, it could melt the sugars too quickly and create oily cookies.
Use a Kitchen Scale: For precision, measure your ingredients using a kitchen scale. Baking is more accurate and consistent when done by weight rather than volume.
Don’t Skip the Chill: Even a 30-minute chill can dramatically improve your cookie texture. If you have the time, chilling the dough for 12–24 hours develops an even deeper flavor.
Add Chips on Top Before Baking: For that picture-perfect bakery look, press a few chocolate chips into the tops of your dough balls before baking. They’ll look more professional and tempting.
Use Quality Sea Salt: Not all salts are created equal. Use a flaky sea salt like Maldon or fleur de sel for a luxurious finish. Table salt will simply not provide the same delicate texture or flavor impact.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

These cookies are undeniably excellent on their own, but here are some pairing suggestions if you want to elevate them further:

With Ice Cream: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla bean or salted caramel ice cream for a decadent dessert.
As Ice Cream Sandwiches: Freeze the cookies and pair two of them with your favorite ice cream in between for an unforgettable summer treat.
With Coffee or Espresso: The slightly salty edge complements the bitterness of coffee, making it a perfect companion for your morning or afternoon cup.
Gift-Worthy: Wrap a few in parchment and twine and give as a gourmet gift. They make perfect additions to gift baskets, holiday cookie tins, or as a thank-you for teachers and neighbors.

Storage and Make-Ahead Options

These cookies store beautifully. Once baked, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days. You can also freeze them:

Raw Dough Balls: Scoop the dough and freeze the balls on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a zip-top bag and store for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen — just add an extra 1–2 minutes to the baking time.
Fully Baked Cookies: Let them cool completely, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a container. Warm in the oven at 300ºF for 5 minutes to restore that fresh-baked texture.

Why Everyone Needs This Recipe in Their Collection

This Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is a crowd-pleaser that delivers every time. It’s sophisticated enough to serve at a dinner party, yet easy enough to make on a weeknight when a craving strikes. It’s customizable, freezer-friendly, and tastes better than anything from the bakery aisle.

What makes it universally loved is its ability to hit all the right notes — sweet, salty, rich, gooey, crispy, and chewy — all in a single bite. It brings back the joy of childhood while offering a grown-up touch that feels intentional and elevated.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner, this recipe will make you feel like a pro in the kitchen. It’s the kind of recipe you’ll reach for over and over again because the results are reliably delicious.

Conclusion

In a world of endless cookie recipes, this Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie stands tall as a modern classic. With the depth of browned butter, the luxurious texture of sea salt flakes, and the gooey indulgence of rich chocolate chips, it represents everything a great cookie should be. Perfectly balanced, deeply flavorful, and irresistibly chewy, it’s the kind of cookie that turns a moment into a memory. Whether you’re baking for a celebration, a family gathering, or just a quiet evening in, this recipe delivers joy in every bite — and might just become your forever go-to.