Tips for Successful Cookie Baking

The holidays are filled with cookie baking, but sometimes people are disappointed with the results. If you happen to be one of those people, who are constantly disappointed in the way your cookies turn out, here are several tips to ensure success.

Tips for Successful Cookie Baking: Use Real Butter

First of all, don't use margarine in your cookies. Yes, the recipe may state that you can use margarine, but they won't taste as good or have the proper texture. Butter will ensure great flavor and a great texture. If you must use something else besides butter, butter flavored shortening works well in some recipes.

Tips for Successful Cookie Baking: Start with Room Temperature Ingredients

One of the best tips you can follow for successful cookie baking is to start with room temperature ingredients. An hour before combining the ingredients, set out the butter and eggs so that they can come to room temperature. This will ensure that your dough comes together more easily, without too much mixing.

Tips for Successful Cookie Baking: Use a Sturdy Mixer

Another tip that is important for successful cookie baking is to use a sturdy mixer. If you use a mixer that can't handle the dough, the beaters could get hot as the mixer struggles to mix the ingredients together. This will cause your butter to melt, which can lead to unsuccessful cooking baking. If you don't have a sturdy mixer, a wooden spoon and elbow grease does a great job.

Tips for Successful Cookie Baking: Chill Your Dough

Chilling your dough is another tip that will ensure successful cookie baking. This is especially true when you make sugar cookies that need to be rolled out. This can also help to repair any damage done by a mixer that wasn't sturdy enough. Just pop your dough into the refrigerator an hour before you're ready to bake.

Tips for Successful Cookie Baking: Use a Cookie Scoop

Another tip to ensure successful cookie baking is to use a cookie scoop. A scoop will ensure that each piece of dough is exactly the same size. When you don't use a scoop, the dough ends up being all different sizes. This means that some cookies will bake faster than others.

Tips for Successful Cookie Baking: Use Parchment Paper or Silicone Mats

If you want successful cookie baking, don't depend on a nonstick baking sheet. Instead, use parchment paper or silicone mats. Both of these items always ensure your baked goods come off easily. These products also ensure there are no funky after tastes, unlike wax paper and some cooking sprays.

Tips for Successful Cookie Baking: Use Insulated Baking Sheets

This is an important tip for successful cooking baking because it ensures that the cookies brown properly. Instead of having cookies that are burnt on the bottom and barely brown on top., they will be perfectly brown all over.

Tips for Successful Cookie Baking: Start with Cold Baking Sheets

You may have to buy several baking sheets, but it pays to start with a cold sheet each time. Otherwise, your cookies will bake too quickly on the bottom. If you have to, wait for the sheets to cool down while your dough is safely in the refrigerator.

Tips for Successful Cooking Baking: Remove from the Pan Immediately

One last tip to ensure successful cookie baking is to immediately remove the cookies from the pan to a cooling rack. This ensures that they stop baking. If you leave them on the pan, they will continue to bake through a process called "carrying over". The heat from the hot pan will continue to brown the bottoms and eventually over brown them.