Baking the perfect homemade cookies is easier than it may seem. Creating crumbly soft cookies is all about using the proper ingredients and techniques. Let’s dive into just how even the most novice baker can knock homemade cookies out of the park! Let’s get baking.
Must-Have Ingredients
- Flour
- Sugar
- Fat (Butter, Oil, Margarine, Lard)
- leavening Agents
- Add-ins (Nuts, Sprinkles, Chocolate chips, Etc.)
Baking is a science. You must follow the proper formula while using the right ingredients in the correct order and in the correct amounts. Using high-quality ingredients and ensuring the proper measuring methods is key to getting the best cookies possible.
Tips on Preparation
Measuring
One of the best tips for making the most delicious cookies is knowing how to measure your ingredients properly. Whether you’re using measuring cups or spoons, knowing the proper way to measure dry ingredients is key. Some recipes may even add the ingredients’ weight for an even more accurate recipe.
Temperatures
Temperatures are essential for baking. When it comes to cookies, you’ll want to ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This allows things to bind together properly and makes for a more fluffy, well-baked cookie.
Sifting Dry Ingredients
Even if the recipe you’re following doesn’t mention sifting, it’s always good practice to do so. This allows for no lumps and clumping when mixing your cookies for a cohesive texture. This is especially needed when making sugar or shortbread cookies.
Mixing Techniques
Creaming Butter and Sugar
For the proper cookie texture, you must cream your fat with sugar. This incorporates air into your cookie dough, allowing for a light crumb and soft cookie. Without this technique, your cookie will be hard and will not rise while baking.
Mixing Wet and Dry Ingredients
When baking, you never want to just throw all your ingredients into a bowl and hope for the best! Wet ingredients need to be mixed and prepared alongside the dry ingredients and then combined.
Just be sure not to overmix. If you mix too much, the cookie will lose its soft texture and either fall apart or become crisp.
Shaping and Baking
Scooping Your Dough
When scooping your cookie dough, you want to ensure uniform shapes and amounts. This is not only for an aesthetic purpose but also allows the cookies to bake at the same rate.
Chilling Cookie Dough
It’s important never to skip this step when called for by a recipe. This is typically seen with sugar or shortbread cookies. Because these cookies contain a large amount of fat and sugar, chilling helps prevent the cookie from spreading out.
Wrapping Up Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Homemade Cookies
You don’t have to be a professional baker to make delicious homemade cookies. All you need to do is learn the proper measuring techniques, use high-quality ingredients, and know the correct cooking techniques to ensure a perfectly baked cookie.
