VEGAN BROWN BUTTER SEA SALT COOKIE RECIPE!!!

Hey guys!!  Hope December is treating you well. (:  I have decided to put up another cookie recipe for you since it is the holidays and if you wanted to make a fancier cookie for that one party that you are going to or for a gift for someone, these will definitely be a hit.  This recipe is vegan but you most definitely do not have to make them vegan.  The choice is yours!!!  Tyler and I are trying to watch what we eat, but do not feel like cutting out sweets, so we are taking the sweets that we like and are turning them into healthier versions. (:

DISCLAIMER: I did NOT come up with this recipe.  I found it online and just changed a couple things for myself.

This is honestly an awesome recipe and is totally easy.  The things that you will need are:

~1 & 1/2 sticks of butter (vegan or non will do)

~1/2 cup of lightly packed brown sugar

~1 teaspoon vanilla extract

~1 & 1/2 cups flour (vegan or non will do)

~1 teaspoon baking soda

~Salt for sprinkling (sea salt is best, but if you do not have, regular salt is just as good)

First things first, preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.

Next you will want to get a large pan to melt down all of your butter.  I used my cast iron skillet which I honestly find works best.  Add all of your butter into the pan over medium heat and let it all melt down until it begins to caramelize on the bottom and you will notice a "nutty" smell.  Be sure to stir your butter occasionally and try not to burn it.  (;

(This is the butter I used...absolutely delicious.)

(I also doubled the recipe so that is why there are three sticks of butter shown.)

Next step is once your butter is done or when you think its done it should look something like this.

After that, pour it all into a mixing bowl and add to your butter, your brown sugar and your vanilla.  Then mix!

Once done with that, set aside for a moment.  In a different mixing bowl, mix your flour and baking soda together and slowly begin to add the dry ingredients into the wet.  Once fully combined, you need to set that bowl aside and let it cool completely to room temperature.  Be mindful that your dough is going to look crumbly....this is ok!!!  It will cool down and come together.  Do not worry my friends (:

Once your dough has completely come to room temperature, you are going to want to take a tablespoon (if you do not have one, a small scooper will be fine) and scoop dough into that form and place on a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.  This is probably the most time consuming part because you will need to use your hands to form the shape and then slide out onto the cookie sheet.

(It is ok to cram your pan full with these because they will not spread.)

Once you are finished filling your tray or trays, pour a small amount of salt into a bowl then use one of your CLEAN fingers to dip into the salt and dab a small amount on the top of each cookie.  Try not to put too much on, because a lot of salt can ruin the cookies.

(Like so!)

Your cookies will bake for around 15 minutes.  I believe mine were done right on time.  To check if they are done, take one finger and lightly dab the center of a cookie.  You want them to be a tiny bit squishy because once you take them out, you will want to leave them on the tray for another maybe 5 minutes to cool, then you can transfer them to a cooling rack.  I find that these cookies taste best when they have completely cooled down.

(These are the finished cookies which did get a golden color)

I hope you guys enjoyed this recipe and would love to hear if you try them out!  Leave me any comments below letting me know if you do and how they are.  Have fun with this one.  Get creative!  Add chocolate to them if you're feeling like it.  Even dip them in chocolate and I bet that would make them even more amazing.

Who's excited for Christmas?!  I AM!!!

What is your favorite Christmas sweet treat?

xox