Cookie Baking Hacks From Carol’s Cookies
You don’t want just anyone baking for you — it’s best to leave the cookie making to the professionals. But if you must take it into your own hands, you can learn a thing or two from those who know their way around the kitchen. Here are the techniques our bakers use every day to turn out consistently great cookies.
Measuring and Prep: Where Most Home Bakers Go Wrong
Spoon your flour, don’t scoop it
Most people take a big scoop of flour out of the container, which packs it down more than it should be. Too much flour equals a hard cookie that doesn’t spread. Gently spoon small amounts of flour into your measuring cup, then scrape off the excess. Better yet, use a kitchen scale for accuracy.
Soften cold butter in 60 seconds
If a recipe calls for softened butter and you forgot to set it out, run a glass under hot water and place it upside down over the stick of butter. It softens quickly and evenly without melting, which would otherwise hurt your cookie texture.
Revive rock-hard brown sugar
If your brown sugar has hardened into a brick, microwave it with a damp paper towel on top for 20 seconds. It softens right up and is ready to measure.
Working with Fresh Ingredients
We always use the freshest ingredients, and a couple of simple tests help confirm everything is in good shape before you start.
The egg freshness test
Fill a bowl with cold water and place an egg in it. If the egg sinks and lies flat, it’s fresh. If it stands on its point, it’s still good but nearing expiration. If it floats to the top, toss it.
Rescuing a fallen eggshell
Eggshells fall in — a problem we’re all too familiar with since we hand-crack eggs for our cookies every day. Use a larger piece of the shell to scoop the fragment out, or wet your finger and dip it into the bowl. The shell piece is drawn to the larger shell or wet finger, making it easier to remove.
Baking Consistency and Cleanup
Use a scoop for evenly sized cookies
Keep the weight of your cookies consistent so they bake evenly. A cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop works well — spray it with unflavored cooking spray to keep the dough from sticking. Re-spray if the dough starts to stick again. Consistent size means consistent bake time, which matters even more when you’re baking large batches.
The paper plate splatter trick
Keep your kitchen cleaner by using a paper plate to cover your mixing bowl. Poke the beaters through the plate before mixing — it catches splatter without affecting the dough.
Storing Cookies So They Stay Fresh
Cool completely before storing
Don’t put away cookies that are still warm. Letting them cool completely keeps moisture from collecting inside the container, which is what causes cookies to go soggy or stick together.
The apple wedge trick
To keep cookies soft and moist in storage, place an apple wedge in the container with them. The cookies absorb the moisture from the apple, staying soft for days longer than they otherwise would. For more on keeping cookies at their best, see our cookie care and storage guide.
The Easiest Hack of All
Of course, the simplest way to guarantee great cookies is to skip the baking entirely. Order our gourmet cookies shipped fresh to your door, or send a professionally packaged gift box to clients, employees, or anyone you want to thank.