Browned Butter Cookies with Caramel Frosting

These browned butter cookies take a little time to make, since they require heating and cooling before they are even baked, but they are well worth the trouble.  My mom and I originally found this recipe in the December 2008 Betty Crocker Christmas Cookies publication.  They are super amazing, just make sure not to over-bake them, burnt butter is no where near as good as browned butter.

Cookie Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter (do NOT use margarine for this recipe)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar (I like dark brown, but you can use light)
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped cashews (I always leave these out)

Cookie Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375F
2. In heavy 2-quart saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat.
3. Cook stirring constantly until butter is light brown.
4. Pour butter into large bowl.
5. Cool 5 minutes.
6. Add 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 egg, stirring with spoon.
7. Add in flour, salt and cashew pieces (if desired), mixing well.
8. Drop dough onto prepared cookie sheets by rounded teaspoonfuls 2-inches apart.
9. Bake 8-10 minutes or until almost no indention remains when touched in center.
10. Remove cookies from oven and allow to cool on pan for 1-2 minutes before removing to cooling rack.
11. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Frosting Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter (do NOT use margarine for this recipe)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar (I like dark, but you can use light)
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cashew halves for decoration (if desired – again something I leave out – I don’t like cashews)

Frosting Instructions:

1. In 2-quart saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat.
2. Stir in 1/2 cup brown sugar
3. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
4. Stir in 1/4 cup milk.
5. Heat to boiling again before removing from heat.
6. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
7. Cool to luke-warm, about 30 minutes.
8. Gradually stir in powdered sugar.
9. Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting on each cookie and top with cashew half (if desired)