A warm, gooey, gourmet chocolate chip cookie with just the right amount of crispness at the edges is something worth drooling over. However, if you’ve ever attempted baking cookies yourself, you have probably had less-than-perfect results a time or two.
Baking is a science that requires time, patience, and knowledge to create a perfect outcome. But, creating the perfect cookie isn’t only achieved by seasoned bakers; you can bake the perfect cookie at home by following these professional tips.
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1. Begin With The End In Mind
If you want perfect cookies, you need to take the time to prepare for baking properly. Going into it willy-nilly may produce less-than-ideal results.
Set Out All Ingredients– Nothing is worse than being halfway through a recipe only to find out you’re all out of eggs or you don’t have enough flour. So, it’s imperative to be prepared.
Before starting any mixing or baking, you’ll want to go through the list of ingredients called for in the recipe. Set out all the ingredients and ensure you have enough of each before proceeding.
Read Instructions– Next, you’ll want to read through the entire list of instructions. This way, you will know what to expect and, hopefully, not miss any steps along the way.
2. “If You Can’t Stand The Heat….”
We’ve all heard the saying, “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” While whoever came up with this saying may have been implying something else, we want to take the liberty to use this to talk about the temperature of baking ingredients and pans, along with the temperature of your oven.
Ingredients– When baking cookies, all ingredients, including eggs, should be at room temperature before mixing. Set out eggs, butter, and any other refrigerated ingredients for at least 30 minutes.
It is important to note that melted butter IS NOT the same as softened butter. Melting your butter may change the outcome of your recipe.
Oven– Not every oven is created equal. Some ovens may run a little hotter or cooler than others. Purchasing an oven thermometer is a good idea to get a precise temperature reading.
When using a convection oven, reduce the called-for temperature by 25° F.
Cookie Sheet– If you are only using one cookie sheet, you will need to let the cookie sheet cool in between each batch of cookies. Putting dough on a hot cookie sheet can cause your cookies to lose shape and bake unevenly.
3. Be Precisely Precise
One of the main factors in creating perfect cookies is how you measure your ingredients. When measuring ingredients for your cookies, you need to use the right measuring tool and technique.
Wet vs. Dry Ingredients– You should only measure wet ingredients in liquid measuring cups and dry ingredients in dry measuring cups.
Liquid measuring cups are clear with measuring marks. The top measuring mark is a bit below the top of the cup to ensure accurate amounts without liquid spilling over.
Dry ingredients should be spooned into the measuring cup and then leveled. However, brown sugar is an exception to the rule. Brown sugar is one of the only dry ingredients that should be packed into the measuring cup.
Flour– Flour is one of the most common ingredients that gets mismeasured. You should never pack flour into your measuring cup. Doing so will lead to heavy, dry cookies.
To measure flour, first sift it, then spoon the flour into the measuring cup. Use a knife’s flat edge to scrape the top of the cup to make it level. The ideal way to measure flour is to weigh it with a food scale. One cup of flour equals 135 grams.
Salt– People tend to use less salt than the recipe calls for, hoping to avoid salty cookies. However, salt actually enhances other flavors in the recipe and balances the sweetness.
You should always use the total amount of salt the recipe calls for. The only exception is if you are using salted butter. In that case, use half the required amount.
4. Mix It Up Right
How you mix your cookie dough has a profound effect on the outcome of your cookies. Sift the dry ingredients together and mix the wet ingredients separately. Remember, in most recipes, sugar is combined with wet ingredients.
When combining the wet and dry ingredients, only mix until combined. Do not overmix. This will activate the yeast in the flour, resulting in dry cookies.
5. Give Your Dough A Break
Most cookie dough will appreciate taking a break in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. Refrigerating cookie dough improves the flavor, texture, and appearance of cookies.
6. Here’s The Scoop
Using a cookie scoop will help keep your cookies uniform in size and shape. This consistency will help ensure your cookies all bake evenly. It will also prevent your kids from fighting over who gets the biggest cookie.
7. Rolling With Your Dough
Do not use flour on your surface when making cookies that require you to roll out the dough. I repeat, do not use flour on your surface. This will incorporate too much flour into your dough, resulting in tough cookies. Use powdered sugar instead.
8. Don’t Be A Greaser
While it may be tempting to use cooking spray, oil, or shortening to ensure your cookies don’t stick, there is a better way. In fact, greasing your cookie sheet can cause your cookies to spread too much.
Instead of using grease, opt for lining your cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Lining your sheets rather than greasing them will not only result in more perfect cookies, but your pans will also last much longer.
9. Be Cool
You may believe that your cookie-baking adventure is over once you pop them out of the oven. But, there is one final step before enjoying the fruits of your labor. That step is the cooling process.
Leave your cookies on the cookie sheet for five minutes to continue the last of their baking. Then, transfer them to cooling racks until they are fully cool.
Properly cooling your cookies will leave you with a crowd-pleasing outcome. However, we’ll look the other way if you choose to sneak one hot off the pan.
Perfect gourmet cookies are easier than they might seem. By following these tips, you are well on your way to becoming a champion cookie baker. And, while you’re perfecting your technique, treat yourself to an online cookie delivery for just the right inspiration.
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A high-quality chocolate chip cookie that is deliciously soft on the inside and gently crisp around the edges is a delightful experience. However, even the most eager home bakers frequently end up with less-than-optimal results. Baking is a delicate science that requires time, effort, and knowledge to master.
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