These chewy brown sugar cookies feel like a warm hug straight from your oven. They’ve got a soft middle, a slight crisp around the edges, and that deep, buttery flavor only brown sugar can bring. When I first made these, I wasn’t expecting them to disappear before they even cooled, but let’s just say the cookie jar never stood a chance. This is the kind of recipe you pull out when you’re low on time but high on cookie cravings. It’s reliable, forgiving, and doesn’t demand a PhD in pastry arts. Whether you bake often or just on weekends when the mood hits, this one fits the bill. I always make a double batch because once the aroma starts wafting through the house, you’ll have people (and maybe even pets) doing laps around the kitchen. Ready to bake? Let’s do this the delicious way.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
- 4) How to Make Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
- 5) Tips for Making Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
- 6) Making Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
- 8) Try these Cookies next!
- 9) Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- Soft, chewy center with crisp edges
- Made with pantry staples and no chilling required
- Perfect for everyday snacking or gift-giving
- Simple instructions, even beginner bakers can handle
2) Easy Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe
Chewy brown sugar cookies have that rich, deep sweetness that only brown sugar can bring. They’re soft through the center, slightly crisp at the edges, and the aroma? Warm, buttery, and impossible to resist. I often start baking these on a quiet afternoon, and by the time they’re out of the oven, the house is no longer quiet — the smell pulls people into the kitchen like magic.
Let’s be honest: sometimes we want cookies without dealing with complicated steps. That’s where this chewy brown sugar cookies recipe shines. No fancy tools, no chilling the dough, just real ingredients mixed by hand or with a mixer and baked into perfect little rounds of joy. These are the cookies I take to book club or slip into lunchboxes. They always get smiles — and always disappear.
At Elena Cooks, this recipe sits among our top easy sweet recipes and easy dessert recipes for a reason. When you want chewy cookies that deliver on texture and flavor without stress, you can count on these every time.
3) Ingredients for Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
Light Brown Sugar: This is the star of the show. It gives the cookies that chewy texture and caramel-like flavor. I always pack mine tight in the cup because we want every bit of that molasses-rich sweetness.
Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s softened but not melting into a puddle. It blends best this way and gives our cookies that signature tender bite.
Eggs: Two large ones do the trick. They bind everything together while keeping the cookies soft and a little fluffy in the center.
Vanilla Extract: A little goes a long way. It boosts all the other flavors and brings a homemade warmth to every bite.
All-Purpose Flour: This gives the dough structure. Measure carefully—scoop and level—so you don’t dry out your dough by accident.
Baking Soda: Helps the cookies puff just right while they bake. No drama, just good chemistry.
Salt: Just a pinch. It balances the sweetness and makes the rest of the flavors stand out more clearly.
4) How to Make Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. I usually do this first so I’m not waiting around when the dough’s ready. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper so things don’t stick later.
Step 2. In a big bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth. You’re aiming for light and fluffy here, like whipped peanut butter. Then beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.
Step 3. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly stir this into the wet ingredients. You don’t want to overmix — just until it’s all combined and looks like dough.
Step 4. Scoop the dough into balls, about a tablespoon each. Place them on the trays with some breathing room between them. No one wants conjoined cookies — unless you’re into that.
Step 5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The edges should be lightly golden, but the centers will still look soft. That’s the chewy magic. Let them sit on the tray for a couple of minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
5) Tips for Making Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
Use room temperature butter. Not straight from the fridge, not melty. That way, you get a dough that blends smoothly and bakes evenly.
Don’t flatten the dough balls before baking. Let the oven work its heat to spread them just right. If you press them down, you’ll lose that soft middle we’re after.
If you’re into add-ins, chocolate chips or chopped walnuts work well in this chewy brown sugar cookies recipe. But honestly, they don’t need anything else. They shine all on their own.
6) Making Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies Ahead of Time
Mix the dough a day ahead and pop it in the fridge. When you’re ready, scoop and bake. Easy. The cold dough bakes thicker, which means a puffier cookie with a soft middle and golden edges.
You can even freeze the dough. I roll it into balls and freeze them on a tray first, then store in a bag. That way, I can bake just a few cookies when the mood hits without making a whole batch.
This makes it one of those easy cookie recipes that fits your schedule. Busy week? Late-night sweet tooth? We’ve got you covered.
7) Storing Leftover Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
Keep them in an airtight container at room temp. They’ll stay soft for about four days — if they last that long. Sometimes I toss a slice of bread in the container to help maintain that chewy texture.
If they go a bit stale, no worries. A quick 10-second zap in the microwave softens them right back up. Just don’t overdo it or you’ll end up with a cookie pancake.
These are the kind of cookies that are worth baking again, which is why they’ve become a staple on Elena Cooks at elenacooks.com.
8) Try these Cookies next!
9) Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe for Easy Sweet Cravings
Ingredients
- 2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. If it’s acting up like mine does sometimes, just keep a close eye after 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until it looks like fluffy sand.
- Add in the eggs and vanilla, and mix until everything looks smooth and glossy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet—don’t rush it.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them out so they don’t start cuddling in the oven.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. If they look a little underdone in the center, that’s perfect.
- Let them rest on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Or straight to your mouth—no judgment here.
10) Nutrition
Serving Size: 1 cookie | Calories: 160 | Sugar: 13g | Sodium: 80mg | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Carbohydrates: 21g | Fiber: 0.3g | Protein: 1.5g | Cholesterol: 25mg
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