Baking cookies can be fun and rewarding, especially when baking recipes for special Christmas cookies. Follow the cooking tips listed below for perfect results in your cookie baking recipes.
Read your cookie recipe from start to finish before beginning to make sure you have the time and ingredients required. Make sure your ingredients are at the proper temperature and that you carefully follow the steps as directed for mixing the dough. Improper mixing will give inconsistent results.
Make sure your oven is at the proper temperature before putting the cookies in to bake. Cookies baked at too low a temperature will run and spread thin before baking, and often burn on the bottom before the tops are done. Preheating your oven is crucial to success.
Your cookie sheet should be bright and shiny to ensure even browning. Replace your old cookie sheets if they have become dark or blackened with use, as they will produce cookies with dark or burned bottoms. In addition, be sure to cool your cookie sheets between cookie batches, as the uncooked dough will thin and spread on warm pans.
Carefully position cookie sheets in the oven to allow heat to circulate evenly around the pan. Allow adequate spacing on all sides and between racks if baking more than one pan at a time. Half-way through baking time, rotate pans from top to bottom rack and from back to front to avoid uneven browning from hot spots.
Remove cookies from oven and allow to rest one or two minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks for thorough cooling. Do not allow cookies to touch each other until completely cooled.
Make sure your cookies are thoroughly cooled before decorating or storing.
Now I want to make some cookies!
I always set my cookies a minute or two less then suggested.
What?!? You mean your supposed to follow directions? Ooooohhhhhh. That could be why mine are always slightly burnt.... =0)
Love these tips...so many cookie bakers fail before they start when they don't follow these, because they really do work. Thanks Lisa.
I wish I were better at baking cookies. Your list helped me see where I am making some mistakes, so maybe I will give it a try, again! Thank you!
Good tips. I use tin foil on my dark pans.
select one here...