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Brown Butter and Honey Pistachio Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 102 reviews

These Brown Butter and Honey Pistachio Cookie Bars combine the rich, nutty flavor of browned butter with the natural sweetness of honey and the satisfying crunch of pistachios. Baked to a perfect chewy texture with a golden edge and a soft center, these bars are enhanced by a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for an irresistible balance of sweet and savory.

Ingredients

Butter

  • Unsalted Butter: 1 cup (2 sticks or 226g), plus a little extra for greasing the pan

Dry Ingredients

  • All-Purpose Flour: 2 ½ cups (about 310g), spooned and leveled
  • Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon
  • Salt: ¾ teaspoon (use ½ teaspoon if using salted pistachios)

Sugars and Honey

  • Light Brown Sugar: ¾ cup (165g), packed
  • Granulated Sugar: ½ cup (100g)
  • Honey: ½ cup (170g) – Clover or wildflower honey works well

Wet Ingredients

  • Large Eggs: 2, at room temperature
  • Pure Vanilla Extract: 2 teaspoons

Nuts and Toppings

  • Shelled Pistachios: 1 ½ cups (about 210g), raw, unsalted, roughly chopped (reserve ¼ cup for topping, optional)
  • Flaky Sea Salt: For sprinkling on top (optional, but highly recommended)

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter (The Flavor Foundation): Place 1 cup of unsalted butter in a medium-sized, light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter, allowing it to foam and sizzle as the water evaporates. Continue cooking and swirling occasionally until the milk solids sink and turn golden brown, and the butter turns an amber color with a nutty aroma (about 5-8 minutes). Immediately remove from heat and pour into a large heatproof bowl, including the toasted milk solids. Let cool 15-20 minutes at room temperature or 10 minutes in the refrigerator until cool but still liquid.
  2. Prepare the Pan and Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter and line it with parchment paper, leaving overhangs on two opposite sides for easy lifting. Lightly grease the parchment paper.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to distribute leavening evenly and aerate the flour. Set aside.
  4. Mix Wet Ingredients: To the cooled brown butter, add packed light brown sugar, granulated sugar, and honey. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer or whisk for 2-3 minutes until smooth and slightly lightened. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Scrape the bowl as needed. Mix in vanilla extract until combined.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry mix in three parts to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or stirring gently until flour is nearly incorporated. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough bars.
  6. Fold in the Pistachios: Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in 1 ¼ cups of chopped pistachios evenly using a spatula or wooden spoon. Reserve ¼ cup for topping if desired.
  7. Press Dough into Pan: Scrape thick, sticky dough into the prepared pan. Press evenly to the corners using a spatula or greased fingertips. Sprinkle reserved pistachios and flaky sea salt on top if using.
  8. Bake to Perfection: Bake on center rack for 25-30 minutes until edges are set and golden, center slightly underbaked but no wet batter. Start checking at 23 minutes for desired chewiness.
  9. Cool Completely (Crucial Step!): Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 2-3 hours to set texture for clean cutting.
  10. Cut and Enjoy: Lift bars from pan using parchment sling and cut into desired sizes, wiping knife between cuts for neat edges. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

  • Use a light-colored saucepan for browning butter to monitor color changes accurately.
  • Be careful not to overmix dough to maintain chewy texture.
  • Cooling the bars completely is essential to achieve clean cuts and perfect texture.
  • Flaky sea salt adds a wonderful contrast and enhances the flavor but is optional.
  • Use raw, unsalted pistachios for best control over saltiness.
  • Honey adds natural sweetness and moistness, but clover or wildflower honey are preferred for balanced flavor.

Keywords: brown butter, honey, pistachio, cookie bars, chewy cookie bars, nutty dessert, homemade bars, easy baking

Find it online: https://hannahdelgado.com/brown-butter-and-honey-pistachio-cookie-bars-recipe/