Who doesn’t love a batch of freshly oven-baked cookies? They’re delicious, easy to make, and generally inexpensive. However, when it comes to baking cookies, it can be tricky to get them perfect. From the quality of the ingredients to the temperature of your oven, there are many variables that can affect the quality and texture of your cookies.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to make cookies step by step, with tips along the way to make sure your cookies turn out perfect every time.
What are the Steps to Bake Cookies?
If you want to know how to bake cookies from scratch, below are the steps involved in making a batch of great-tasting cookies.
Preparing Must-Have Cookie Tools
There are several basic tools that are important for making good cookies. Some of these items are very inexpensive, so there’s no reason for you not to have them around.
- Cookie Cutters
Cookie cutters are a must-have for any baker because they ensure that the size of the cookies is exactly what you want them to be. Most cookie cutters are circular in shape, but if you have kids who are picky eaters, you can use custom cookie cutters to add a fun and personalized touch to their treats.
- Cookie Stencils
If you want to add some intricate designs on top of your cookies without having to manually draw them onto your dough, cookie stencils can come in handy. From typography to abstract patterns, cookie stencils are easy to use and can help you create stunning cookie designs in a matter of minutes.
- Rolling Pins
You can’t make cookies without a good rolling pin. A good rolling pin will give your cookies even thickness and shape and you can control how much dough you roll out at once. When buying a rolling pin, make sure you get one that has a sturdy base and an easy-to-grip handle.
- Silicone Molds
Silicone molds prevent your dough from spreading and sticking to your pan. They’re also ideal for baking different types of cookies because they are pre-formed, meaning that no matter how many types of cookie dough you want to bake at once, they will not stick with one another. Plus, silicone molds are dishwasher safe, durable, and heat resistant.
Preparing Your Cookie Dough Recipe
There are many different types of cookies but three of the most popular are: cookies with soft and chewy dough, chocolate chip cookies, and buttery and sweet sugar cookies.
- Soft and Chewy Cookies
No matter what type of cookie you want to make, the key to getting that soft and chewy texture is to rest your cookie dough in the refrigerator. The longer you let your dough rest in the fridge, the softer and chewier your cookies will be. Using more brown sugar than white sugar in your recipe will also help to give your cookies a chewier texture.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are probably the best-known cookies out there. The quality of chocolate that you use in your recipe is the main difference between a good and great chocolate chip cookie. When it comes to the dough, if you prefer softer and chewier cookies, use more butter and brown sugar in your recipe. Meanwhile, if you prefer your cookies crispier, use granulated sugar and vegetable shortening instead.
- Buttery and Sweet Sugar Cookies
These types of cookies have a delicate texture, usually resulting from having more eggs and butter added to the dough. You can also add in some lemon juice and a pinch of salt to add a bit of zing to your treats. If you want to use an alternative to sugar in baking your cookies, try using maple syrup or honey instead. They will add a hint of sweetness without adding the extra calories.
How to Bake Cookies?
Cookies are some of the easiest and fastest baked treats to make. There is nothing that can brighten your mood and make your home smell as good as a batch of handmade cookies. Even while homemade cookies are far easier to make than the slice-and-bake variety, they taste much better. Below is a quick overview to help you get started.
How Long Do Cookies Take to Bake?
If you are wondering what temp to bake cookies to get the best results, the answer is 350°F (175°C) for about 8 to 10 minutes. This is a good temperature for most cookies as they will come out crispy on the outside while being soft on the inside.
You should also put your baking tray in the middle rack of the oven to ensure that your cookies will bake evenly. Putting your baking tray too close to the heat source can cause your cookies to burn before they are fully baked.
How to Store Cookies?
Did you know that you can store your cookie dough in the freezer for up to two months? This means that you can bake cookies whenever you want without having to make dough from scratch.
How to Keep Cookies Soft?
If you have a lot of leftover cookies and you want to keep them soft and chewy, store them in an airtight jar or container to prevent the moisture from evaporating. Some people also store leftover cookies with a piece of white bread. The concept behind this is that the cookies absorb the moisture from the bread, making them less likely to dry out.
How to Freeze Raw Cookie Dough?
If you intend to freeze a batch of cookie dough for future use, it’s highly recommended that you shape the dough into small balls of equal sizes on a baking tray, then put them in the freezer for one hour. Once they are frozen, you can put them in resealable zip lock bags or airtight plastic containers for long-term storage.
How to Bake Frozen Cookie Dough?
Because you have already portioned out your leftover dough into small balls, baking frozen cookie dough balls is a breeze. You can simply leave the frozen dough balls overnight in the fridge to defrost them.
Or, you can just preheat the oven 20 degrees lower than the normal baking temperature and bake the frozen cookie dough balls for about 5 minutes longer than the standard baking time.
Homemade cookies are much more flavorful, moist, and tender, as well as much more affordable and healthier than store-bought ones. By following the tips above, you can easily make the best cookies ever in the comfort of your own home.
