If you’re looking for a cookie that takes traditional chocolate chip cookies to the next level, you’re going to adore this Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. I absolutely love how the sweet, salty depth of white miso adds a surprising twist that perfectly balances the rich brown butter and dark chocolate. When I first tried this flavor combo, I was hooked immediately — and I know you’ll find it just as irresistible once you give it a shot!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unexpected Flavor Twist: The white miso adds a subtle umami kick that makes these cookies stand out.
- Brown Butter Magic: Browning the butter develops complex, nutty notes that deepen every bite.
- Perfect Texture: Resting the dough in the fridge helps your cookies stay chewy in the center and lightly crisp on the edges.
- Great for Any Occasion: These cookies feel special enough for guests but are easy enough for everyday baking.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe plays its part beautifully, creating a cookie that’s rich, flavorful, and totally addictive. I always recommend using good-quality dark chocolate and fresh miso paste — it really makes a difference.
- All purpose flour: Use fresh flour for the best texture; it’s the base that holds everything together.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise and gives them a tender crumb.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness, especially important with miso involved.
- Unsalted butter: Browning it adds a lovely nuttiness; using unsalted lets you control the saltiness better.
- Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and a mild caramel flavor.
- Dark brown sugar: Brings depth with its richer molasses content.
- Granulated sugar: For crisp edges and a classic cookie sweetness.
- Egg: Make sure it’s at room temperature for smooth mixing and better texture.
- Vanilla extract: Compliments the miso and chocolate perfectly with warm, sweet notes.
- White miso: This is your secret weapon—adds amazing umami without overpowering.
- Dark chocolate: I prefer chunks or roughly chopped bars for melty pockets of chocolate throughout.
Variations
I love how versatile this Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is—you can easily adjust it to your taste or to fit dietary needs. Plus, experimenting with mix-ins can be pretty fun, so don’t be shy to get creative!
- Variation: Swap the dark chocolate for milk chocolate if you prefer a sweeter cookie—I’ve done this for family members who like a gentler chocolate flavor, and they were still obsessed.
- Gluten-Free: Replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate gluten sensitivities without sacrificing texture.
- Add Nuts: Try folding in toasted walnuts or pecans for extra crunch and richness—I personally love this for holiday batches.
- Double Up on Miso: If you want a stronger savory profile, increase the miso slightly but keep an eye on saltiness.
How to Make Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Brown the Butter for Deep Flavor
Start by melting your unsalted butter in a saucepan over high heat. Once melted, lower the heat and keep cooking until you start seeing those lovely brown bits forming at the bottom — that’s where the magic happens. The smell will shift to a nutty caramel aroma, which always gets me excited. Remove it from the heat right away so it doesn’t burn, and set it aside to cool slightly.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients Together
While your butter cools, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. This helps evenly distribute the leavening agent and salt, so your cookies bake perfectly.
Step 3: Combine Sugars and Butter
Next, mix the browned butter with light brown sugar, dark brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl or in a stand mixer. You want everything combined really well. The combination of different sugars keeps these cookies moist and packed with complex sweetness.
Step 4: Whisk the Egg and Vanilla
Add the egg (remember, room temperature!) and vanilla extract to the sugar-butter mixture. Whisk this for about 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy. This might seem like extra effort, but trust me—it helps the cookies rise just right and feel wonderfully tender.
Step 5: Incorporate the White Miso
Now, the fun part: add the white miso paste and mix until combined. It dissolves beautifully and you’ll notice the dough has a subtle savory depth. That umami flavor is what makes these cookies so delightfully different.
Step 6: Add Dry Ingredients and Chocolate
Gently fold in your dry ingredients until just combined. Resist the urge to overmix here—as I learned the hard way, overworking the dough can make your cookies tough. Finally, fold in the chopped dark chocolate until it’s evenly distributed. Seeing all those chocolate pockets makes me impatient to bake!
Step 7: Chill the Dough
Pop the dough in the fridge for at least an hour. This step is key! Chilling not only firms up the dough so the cookies spread less in the oven, but it also helps the flavors deepen—giving you that perfect soft yet chewy cookie texture every time.
Step 8: Bake Your Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and adjust your racks to the top and bottom thirds of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop makes shaping these cookies a breeze and ensures even sizes. Space the dough balls about 2 inches apart so they bake evenly.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn a lovely light brown. I like to swap the positions of the baking sheets halfway through baking to ensure the heat is distributed evenly—unless you prefer baking one sheet at a time in the middle rack.
Once done, let them rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack for another 10 minutes. Patience here pays off—cookies firm up just right and won’t fall apart.
Pro Tips for Making Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Don’t Rush the Brown Butter: Stay by the stove and watch closely—it can go from browned to burnt in seconds.
- Room Temperature Egg Is a Game Changer: Cold eggs can cause the batter to seize up and not mix well.
- Chilling Really Matters: I’ve skipped this step before and the cookies spread way too thin—don’t make the same mistake!
- Even Baking Tip: Swap baking sheets mid-bake for consistent color and texture across your cookie batch.
How to Serve Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I love sprinkling a little flaky sea salt on top of warm cookies right out of the oven—it makes the chocolate and miso flavors pop even more. If you’re feeling fancy, a dusting of powdered sugar adds a pretty touch and balances the savory notes nicely.
Side Dishes
These cookies are fantastic alongside a glass of cold milk or a cup of strong black coffee. For dessert, I’m a fan of pairing them with vanilla ice cream to make an easy sundae that’s always a hit.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special occasion, I’ve arranged these cookies on a platter lined with fresh edible flowers and mint leaves—trust me, it turns a humble batch into a wow-worthy spread. Wrapping individual cookies in wax paper and tying with twine also makes a sweet homemade gift.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers—though that’s rare—I store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. I like to place a slice of bread in the container to help keep the cookies soft and chewy. It’s a simple trick that really works!
Freezing
I often freeze scooped dough balls on a baking sheet, then pop them into a freezer bag. When I want fresh cookies, I just bake straight from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to the baking time. This saves so much time when a cookie craving hits suddenly.
Reheating
To revive day-old cookies, a few seconds in the microwave or a quick warm-up in a 300°F oven restores their freshly baked softness. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t dry out.
FAQs
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What does miso do in the cookies?
Miso adds a subtle umami and saltiness that enhances the sweetness and richness of the chocolate chip cookie, creating a more complex and interesting flavor profile without tasting overtly savory.
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Can I make these cookies without browning the butter?
While you can skip browning the butter, doing so gives the cookies a deeper, nuttier flavor that’s hard to replicate; I highly recommend taking the extra time for that step if you want authentic results.
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How should I store these cookies to keep them fresh?
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, and include a slice of bread inside to help retain moisture and softness.
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Is it okay to freeze the cookie dough?
Absolutely! Freezing the dough balls allows you to bake fresh cookies whenever you want. Just bake from frozen and add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
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What type of miso is best for this recipe?
White miso is ideal for this recipe as it’s mild and slightly sweet, which complements the cookie’s sweetness without overpowering it.
Final Thoughts
This Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe has become one of my go-to crowd-pleasers and a personal favorite in my baking repertoire. It’s a bit like discovering a secret flavor code that transforms a familiar treat into something extraordinary. Whether you’re baking for picky eaters or adventurous foodies, these cookies deliver every time. I can’t wait for you to try them and see just how incredible cookies can be when you add that little twist of miso magic!
Print
Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
- Yield: 8 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These BEST Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies feature a delightful combination of browned butter and sweet white miso paste that elevates classic chocolate chip cookies to a new level. The miso adds a subtle umami depth and a beautiful caramel-like flavor, creating soft, chewy cookies with crisp edges and rich chocolate chunks.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup + 1 tbsp all purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tbsp white miso paste
Additional Ingredients
- 4 oz dark chocolate (chopped or chunks)
Instructions
- Brown the Butter: Melt the butter in a saucepan over high heat. Once melted, reduce the heat to low and cook until you see brown bits forming and the butter smells nutty, indicating it has browned. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set aside for later.
- Cream Sugars and Butter: In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the browned butter with the light brown sugar, dark brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix until the sugars are incorporated and the mixture is uniform.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Whisk or beat for 5-10 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy. This aerates the batter for a better texture.
- Incorporate Miso: Mix in the white miso paste until fully combined, which adds a subtle umami flavor and depth.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Gently mix just until the flour disappears and the dough comes together, being careful not to overmix to avoid tough cookies.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Fold in the dark chocolate chunks, ensuring even distribution without overworking the dough.
- Chill Dough: Cover and refrigerate the cookie dough for at least 1 hour. This helps solidify the butter to prevent cookies from spreading too much during baking and enhances flavor development.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Position one oven rack in the top third and another in the bottom third. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop Cookies: Using a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop, portion evenly spaced scoops of dough onto the prepared sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading.
- Bake and Rotate: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until edges turn light brown. Halfway through baking, swap the positions of the baking sheets between the top and bottom racks to ensure even baking across all cookies.
- Cool: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 10 minutes once out of the oven, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely for another 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- The unique flavor of sweet white miso paste adds a delicious umami contrast to the brown butter and chocolate, giving these cookies a complex depth.
- Resting the dough in the fridge for at least an hour is key to controlling cookie spread and improving texture.
- Swapping the baking sheets during baking helps ensure even cooking and prevents uneven browning.
- You can use chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips according to preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 279 kcal
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 276 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 51 mg