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Tiny Salty Chocolaty Cookies Recipe

4.4 from 118 reviews

These tiny, salty, chocolaty cookies offer a delightful balance of rich cocoa flavor, a hint of sea salt, and a fudgy texture. Made with browned butter and bittersweet chocolate, they are perfect for chocolate lovers seeking a bite-sized treat with a sophisticated twist.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick)
  • 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1 large egg
  • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 67% cacao), chopped

Optional Add-ins

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, pecans, or walnuts

Topping

  • Flaky sea salt, such as Maldon or Jacobsen, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Brown the Butter: Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat, swirling often to prevent the milk solids from sticking. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until it foams and turns a light brown color, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and kosher salt to eliminate lumps. For extra smoothness, you may sift these ingredients.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Using a spatula, incorporate the egg whites, whole egg, and browned butter into the dry mixture. Stir until you achieve a smooth, batter-like consistency, with any minor lumps expected to smooth out during baking.
  5. Add Chocolate and Nuts: Fold in the chopped bittersweet chocolate along with the optional finely chopped nuts, mixing evenly.
  6. Shape and Bake: Drop quarter-size blobs of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart as they will spread considerably. Sprinkle each cookie lightly with flaky sea salt. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until the cookies have flattened, look baked through, and have a slightly wrinkled surface.
  7. Cool and Serve: Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets to firm up before enjoying.

Notes

  • Using high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder enhances the chocolate flavor significantly.
  • Browned butter adds a rich, nutty depth to the cookies—be attentive while browning to avoid burning.
  • Flaky sea salt topping balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolaty notes.
  • Optional nuts add texture and extra flavor; choose your favorite varieties or omit for a nut-free version.
  • Space the dough well on the baking sheet as the cookies spread substantially during baking.
  • Allow cookies to cool fully before handling to ensure they firm up properly and don’t crumble.

Keywords: salty chocolate cookies, tiny chocolate cookies, browned butter cookies, fudgy chocolate cookies, flaky sea salt cookies