Even if you don’t consider yourself a chef, chances are, you’ll bake cookies at some point in your life. Cookies are such a popular treat it seems like they should be easy to bake, but they don’t always turn out as planned. And there’s nothing worse than putting in all that work only to end up with cookies that are hard, burnt, flat, etc.
But, try not to get too discouraged; even professional bakers sometimes end up with cookie flops. Keep reading to discover five common cookie baking mistakes and some solutions to help you make a better batch.
(Nicole Michalou/Pexels)
1. Unevenly Baked
A sheet of cookies with some well done and others still doughy may be ideal if you love doughy cookies and your spouse loves crispy cookies. But, most people want the whole sheet of cookies to turn out the same. The problem lies in the size of your cookies.
If your cookies are not all relatively the same size, they aren’t going to cook evenly. Smaller or thinner cookies will cook faster than larger or thicker cookies.
Solution:
To solve the problem of unevenly baked cookies, you’ll need to be more precise on the dough portions you put on the sheet. The type of cookies you are baking will determine the best way to measure out the dough so cookie sizes are uniform.
- Drop Cookies: For drop cookies, the best and easiest way to portion your dough is to use a spring release cookie scoop.
- Cut-Out Cookies: Before using your cookie cutters to cut out shapes in the dough, be sure that the dough is evenly rolled out. You can even use a ruler to make sure that the dough is uniform in thickness.
- Slice and Bake Cookies: Use a clean ruler (or similar guide) for measuring to make sure each slice has the same thickness.
It may also be possible that you have a hot or cold spot in your oven, causing uneven baking. If you suspect this is the case, try rotating your cookie sheet halfway through the baking time (and getting your oven serviced for a long-term solution).
2. Spread Too Thin
Just like we humans can spread ourselves a little too thin, we can do the same with our cookie dough, resulting in dry, flat cookies.
If your cookies are spreading more than necessary, you may find that all of the cookies have baked right into one another, or you may just have thin, crispy cookies. If that’s not what you were going for, there is a way to fix that.
Solution:
First, ensure that you do not place the cookie dough too close together on the pan. Most cookies will expand during the baking process, so be sure to give them their space.
Next, allow your cookie sheet to cool in between batches of cookies. Putting dough on a hot cookie sheet will make them spread out.
Finally, if the temperature of the dough or the ingredients warms up too much, it will spread more during baking. If this is the case, simply put the dough in the fridge for about half an hour before baking.
3. Sticking To The Pan
Few things are as frustrating as getting a cookie off the cookie sheet, and ending up with only a partial cookie, while the remainder is left behind on the sheet.
Solution:
The easiest (and probably most obvious) way to rectify this problem is to grease the pan before putting on the cookie dough. Be careful, though; too much grease can cause the dough to spread out, leading to the aforementioned crispy, flat cookies.
Instead of grease, many bakers prefer to line their cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners. This is ideal because not only will the cookies easily come off the sheet, but you don’t have to worry about over-greasing the sheet.
Another thing to consider is the amount of time you leave the cookies on the pan before removing them. Most cookie recipes recommend leaving the cookies on the cookie sheet for at least a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. However, don’t leave them on too long because that can also lead to sticking.
4. Dry and Tough
While cookies pair perfectly with a glass of milk, you shouldn’t have to have a drink just to be able to swallow a bite of a cookie. If this happens to you, your cookies are way too dry or tough when what you really want is a moist cookie that melts in your mouth.
Solution:
Over-measuring flour is the most common reason for baking failures. The next common cause is over-mixing the flour.
- Measuring: The best way to get the precise amount of flour needed for your recipe is to weigh it or use the spoon-and-sweep method. With this method, you use a spoon to loosen the flour in the bag so it is light and airy. Then, spoon it into the measuring cup. After that, use a knife or spatula to level off the top. Never pack the flour into your measuring cup.
- Mixing: When adding the flour to your cookie dough, only mix until you can no longer see any patches of flour. This is because gluten begins to develop once the flour is mixed into the dough. Too much gluten will lead to dry, tough cookies.
- Resting: If you feel like you have over-mixed or maybe you aren’t sure, you can always let the dough rest a bit to let the gluten calm down. You can do this by allowing the dough to sit at room temperature for a bit or even letting it chill in the fridge.
5. Over-baked or Burnt
There is a reason that char-grilled cookies are not a thing. If your cookies are persistently over-baked or even burnt, look no further than your oven. Not all ovens are created equally, and yours may not be showing the accurate temperature, which is not uncommon.
Solution:
First, make sure that you are using some sort of timer to ensure you are only baking the cookies for the specified amount of time. But, also ensure you watch the cookies closely in case your oven is cooking faster than anticipated.
Most cookies should be taken out of the oven when they are slightly golden brown or when the sheen on the top of the cookies can no longer be seen. Once you remove the cookies, do not let them remain on the pan too long, as they can continue cooking from the pan’s residual heat.
Another thing you can do is to buy an oven thermometer to see if your oven temperature reading is accurate. If it’s inaccurate, adjust accordingly or hire a professional to recalibrate it.
By following these simple solutions, you are well on your way to creating perfectly baked, gourmet cookies. And, when that happens, feel free to celebrate. With cookies, of course.
Infographic
When it comes to baking your favorite cookies, mistakes can be costly. Not only will they ruin the finished product, but they could also put you at risk of foodborne illnesses and other health risks. You should know what not to do so that you don’t end up with ruined cookies. This infographic lists the most common cookie-baking mistakes and how to avoid them.
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