When it comes to the holidays, few treats are more traditional than a good cookie. From well-loved staples to unique family recipes, everyone has their favorites. And, whether made or purchased, these same cookies often reappear year after year. But sometimes, it’s nice to mix it up—to add something new alongside the time-tested classics. My personal recommendation? The Brown Butter Cookie Company.
Having family near the Morro Bay area means I travel up the coast often, and few visits pass by without a stop at this Cayucos landmark. From unique originals to classic offerings, its cookies are ever-shifting and always delicious. I’m particularly fond of the Brown Butter Sea Salt Shortbread Cookies—the Cocoa variety in particular—having been raised on the firm belief that brown butter can make most recipes that much better.
And the company’s founders would agree. Traci and Christa Hozie got their start as deli owners, making—among their other products—shortbread cookies to serve as both stock and samples. When the cookies continued to sell out on the daily, and demand continued to grow, they decided to make their cookies the focal point of a new business. And thus, in December of 2008, the Brown Butter Cookie Company was born.
Their business quickly grew with the addition of an online store, which brought their cookies—and, in particular, their much-loved Original Brown Butter Sea Salt Shortbread Cookie—to the world. A second shop opened in 2013, with a third following six years later. Despite the explosive growth, all of their products continue to be made in-state, both in their flagship Cayucos location and their new Atascadero facility.
Just what does this process look like? It all starts with the browning of the butter, gently melted and cooked to bring out the wonderfully rich, nutty flavor. Then, add-ins are mixed in to produce the company’s current lineup, which includes the Original mix, Cocoa, and Toffee Chocolate, as well as a spiced holiday addition. In 2024, the company also introduced a new collection: Made with Ghirardelli®. The three-flavor set of Chocolate Chip, Espresso Chip and Dark Cocoa Chocolate Chip is made with Ghirardelli® chocolate chips and, for some of the cookies, Ghirardelli® cocoa powder.
Once the batches are mixed, the brown butter cookies are shaped into their classic square shapes before being baked, sprinkled with sea salt and carefully hand-packaged. Package sizes vary, with the online shop carrying batches of both a half-dozen and a dozen.
While orders typically ship within 2 to 5 business days (a tracking number is included with all purchases), you can, for a limited time, beat the rush with a holiday pre-order. Until November 30th, Holiday Duet packages, single flavors in festive red boxes, and more can be reserved well in advance of the holidays. These orders will then be packaged and shipped between the 9th and 19th of December, ensuring your cookies will—in most cases—reach you long before your planned festivities.
It’s all too easy to become entrenched in existing traditions, but when a place like the Brown Butter Cookie Company comes along, making a shift can be worth it. From gifts to little treats, its offerings are the perfect solution for every need. Don’t know which cookies to try? You can never go wrong with the Original cookies, or you could splurge on a few half-dozen boxes to discover your preferences. If you live in, or are making a trip to, California’s central coast, you could even stop in and try out some samples for yourself. So get ready to sweeten up your next holiday party with these rich, flavorful treats, and visit the Brown Butter Cookie Company website HERE to find your newest baked obsession.
