06, 2023
Tie up those apron strings!
Our food editor is sharing her baking tips for the best cookies ever.
Start simple
New to baking?
These simplePeanut Butter Kiss Cookiesare a practically foolproof favorite!
Master this batch and youll be warmed up for your complete cookie spread.
Measure ingredients precisely
Baking is a science.
When making cookies, youll want to measure the sugar, flour and other mix-ins as carefully as possible.
Use a digital scale (heres why) and follow thesetips for measuring ingredients.
Really, it makes a difference.
Bring butter and eggs to room temperature
Use room temperature ingredients unless otherwise noted.
This is especially important when youre asked to cream butter and sugar.
Forgetting to pull out your butter ahead of time could lead to dense, flat cookies.
If youre ever in a jam, turn to these methods onhow to soften butter quickly.
Youll know its ready when the mixture is smooth and the sugar has dissolved.
Heres more onhow to cream butter and sugarthe right way.
Dont overmix the dough
When adding in dry ingredients, be sure to mix until just combined.
Overmixing can toughen your cookie dough.
(Read: crumbly, flat cookies.)
A good rule of thumb is to stop mixingbeforeyou think you should.
(For more tips, check out ourcookie baking guide.)
Many ovens dont heat properly.
If your oven temperature is incorrect, you could end up with an undercooked or burnt-bottom cookie.
Also, dont forget to preheat the oven before popping in your cookie tray!
Give em some space
Unless otherwise directed, place cookies 1-2 inches apart on baking sheets.
Manage oven placement
When using a single baking sheet, put it on the middle rack.
If you are using more than one baking sheet, rotate pans halfway through the baking time.
Swap the location of the pans in the oven and rotate 180 degrees for an even double-batch bake.
Chill out
Cookies finished baking?
Let em cool for 1-2 minutes on their baking sheets before transferring to a rack.
Theyll continue to bake and firm up on the hot pan.
Dont rush a hot pan
Let baking sheets air-cool completely before starting on a second batch.
Rinsing baking sheets in cold water can cause them to warp.
Think ahead
Decorating your cookies with sprinkles, icing or powdered sugar?
Cover your workspace with waxed paper before you dive in.
Thisll make for easy cleanup (even when the kids are involved!)
Cookies can keep in the freezer for up to three months.
Just thaw at room temperature when youre craving something sweet!
Remember, practice makes perfect
No one is born a perfect baker.
The secret to perfect cookies is practice.
So, tie that apron and get started!
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