Cooking Stack Exchange
Cooking Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [cookies]

Questions about preparing, baking and troubleshooting any cookies (also known as biscuits). Cookies are flat baked sweets which are usually small enough to be hand-held.

The cookie in North America is also known as a biscuit in other regions. Cookies are flat baked sweets which are usually small enough to be hand-held. Cookies are made primarily of flour, fat, sugar and baking soda and are constructed using the creaming method (beating sugar into fat creates air bubbles).

Questions with this tag include those about preparing, baking and troubleshooting any cookies. Questions about , , and should use those tags rather than this one.

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How can I get chewy chocolate chip cookies?

My chocolate chips cookies are always too crisp. How can I get chewy cookies, like those of Starbucks? Thank you to everyone who has answered. So far the tip that had the biggest impact was to chill and rest the dough, however I also increased the…
Wizard79
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What is the purpose of creaming butter with sugar in cookie recipes?

I got distracted while assembling the dry ingredients for a cookie recipe and added the sugars, which were supposed to be creamed with the butter first. Fortunately, the sugar was added last and I was able to salvage enough to cream it. What does…
apaderno
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Can you re-use parchment paper when baking batches of cookies?

I just finished making cookies. The dough was enough to make multiple batches. I only have one baking sheet. Every time a batch was ready, I used new parchment paper on the baking sheet. Is this necessary or could I just re-use the same piece of…
Mien
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What is the criss-cross pattern on top of peanut butter cookies used for?

I've been making peanut butter cookies, but skipping the step of pressing the top of the cookie down with a fork. What does this step do for the cookies?
KatieK
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How does one invent a cookie recipe?

My cookbook has dozens of cookie recipes and I can find hundreds more online. But... If I want to invent my own cookie recipes how can I go about doing it, without wasting tons of ingredients on trial and error? How must I balance the ratios of the…
Village
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What is this Italian Cookie called?

I'm looking for a recipe for an Italian cookie that I remember having as a child. The cookie is shaped like a gnocchi or cavatelli but is much bigger, about 1.5 inches long and slightly larger than a quarter in diameter. It is distinctly 'C'…
Joe Casadonte
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Why don't my cookies flatten?

I have baked Betty Crocker's Giant Honey and Oat Cookies three or four times now, and every time, my cookies do not spread out, I just get thick cookies. Is there something I am doing wrong? As far as I can tell, I am following the recipe exactly.…
user3058
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6 answers

Why doesn't my cookie recipe work in the US?

This may sound like a stupid question, but I am not sure what to do. Even though I am not a professional, I was on a course and I am not allowed to post any recipe [copyrights thing]. I relocated from Israel to the States (California) and I have…
Oron
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Why is lye used in some recipes for cookies?

I have seen some recipes for cookies which include lye (water boiled with ash) among the ingredients. Does anyone know what the purpose is? Is there any other ingredient that can replace lye?
Siato
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Why does my bread collapse in my bread machine?

I have a bread machine and when I follow the recipes in the included booklet that came with the machine, the bread rises for about an hour, but the collapses back on itself and comes out rock hard and, usually, undercooked (doughy). I've tried…
Adam J.R. Erickson
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Why do chocolate chips stay softer after being baked?

I could be wrong, but I have the feeling that after baking chocolate chip cookies, the chocolate chips are still melted; or at least a lot softer than before you bake the cookies. It's logical that the chips melt, when they are in the oven, and even…
Mien
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What can I substitute for eggs in cookie recipes?

I'd like to make some biscuits (cookies), but I have no eggs, and I don't want to leave the apartment. Can I use something else instead of the eggs? I'd like answers that will work for most cookie/biscuit recipes. (Editor's note: yes, there are also…
Blorgbeard
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What determines the shape-holding ability of cookies?

What things can you vary to make cookies hold their shape better during cooking, and not spread out like a pancake? From my experimenting, the initial temperature of the dough before cooking seems to make a difference - refrigerated dough spreads…
Eclipse
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What's the benefit of chilling my cookie dough before baking?

I'm making some chocolate crinkle cookies, and one of the recipe steps is to refrigerate the dough at least four hours before baking. Does this cause any changes in the dough such as something to do with gluten formation (or relaxation), or is it…
Erica
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I accidentally added butter into flour/cocoa powder/baking soda without beating first

I am making cookies and accidentally added my butter directly into my dry ingredients. Now I have chunks of butter and dough that is basically powder. Is there any way to salvage this even if the cookies don't come out perfectly?
Claudia
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