| Baking cookies seems like the easiest thing in the | | | | the dough for at least the minimum time specified |
| world, until you open the oven and discover dark | | | | in the recipe. Wrap the dough tightly in saran wrap |
| brown rocks instead of cookies. Baking is a | | | | to keep it from drying, and place it in the fridge. |
| science- even the slightest change in ingredients, | | | | Do not remove the dough from the fridge until |
| cooking temperature or time can make or break | | | | you are ready to begin rolling. This adds time to |
| your recipe. In order to insure that your cookies | | | | your cooking process, but chilled dough is easier |
| turn out perfect, follow these ten simple tips. | | | | to roll than unchilled dough. It's pretty hard to roll |
| 1. It may seem silly, but read the recipe all the | | | | room temperature dough; simply chill the dough |
| way through BEFORE you stat mixing ingredients | | | | and you'll save yourself some frustration. |
| together. I can't tell you how many times I've just | | | | 6. If you are baking one cookie sheet of cookies |
| started in, and suddenly realized that the recipe | | | | at a time, be sure to place the oven rack in the |
| said to add ingredients in a certain order for a | | | | center position. Place the cookie sheet in the |
| reason. Or, even worse, I've misread the | | | | center of the rack. If baking more than one sheet |
| measurements or instructions because I was | | | | at a time, keep in mind that the cookies closest |
| distracted by mixing the dough. Take a few | | | | to the heat source will brown faster. You may |
| seconds to read over the recipe before you start | | | | need to rotate the cookies sheets during cookie in |
| to reduce the chance of messing up the | | | | order to prevent uneven or over browning. |
| measurements or instructions. | | | | 7. Use a pastry bag or cookie press to make |
| 2. Turn your oven on to preheat before you | | | | even, smooth drop cookies. This will help keep |
| being getting the ingredients together. Newer | | | | your cookies similar in size, shape, and texture. |
| ovens make only take 14 minutes to preheat, but | | | | You can also use a melon baller or a special |
| older ovens make take closer to 20 minutes or | | | | cookie drop scoop to make your cookie uniform |
| even more to heat to the proper level. I would | | | | in shape and size. |
| suggest letting our oven heat for at least 15 | | | | 8. After baking your cookies, allow the cookie to |
| minutes before putting the first batch of cookies | | | | cool on the cookie sheets for 30 or so seconds. |
| in. This should allow enough time for the center of | | | | Then use a wide spatula to carefully remove the |
| the oven to heat, thus allowing the cookies to | | | | cookie from the baking sheet and place them on |
| bake evenly. To make sure your oven is at the | | | | cooling racks. Be sure not to place the cookies |
| proper heat level, use an oven thermometer. | | | | too close together or they will stick to each other. |
| 3. When separating eggs, do not break them | | | | Allow cookies to cool completely before stacking |
| directly over the mixing bowl. Instead, have a | | | | them on each other. |
| small bowl handy and separate one egg at a time. | | | | 9. Most cookies and cookie doughs can be stored |
| This will prevent you from wasting more than one | | | | in the freezer for up to 6 weeks. To store cookie |
| egg should the breaking or separating processes | | | | dough, double wrap the dough in something like |
| not go smoothly. If you break or separate the | | | | saran wrap and place in a zippered freezer bag. |
| egg directly over the mixing bowl, you run the | | | | Cookies can be stored in an air tight container. Be |
| risk of shells or egg parts getting into the dough | | | | sure to mark each container with what type of |
| that shouldn't be there. Yes, you'll dirty one more | | | | dough or cookies it contains and when they were |
| little dish, but otherwise you may waste several | | | | made. |
| eggs. | | | | 10. When cleaning your utensils and mixing bowls |
| 4. When beating egg whites, make sure to use | | | | after you've made cookies, be sure to use warm |
| clean bowls and beaters that are free from | | | | water, rather than hot water, if your dough |
| grease and oil. Try to use stainless steel, ceramic, | | | | contained flour. Hot water will cause flour to clump |
| or copper bowls and utensils, rather than plastic. | | | | and harden. This will only make your utensils |
| Plastic tends to hold grease more than the other | | | | harder to clean. |
| materials. Place the beaters and mixing bowl into | | | | Baking cookies should be fun, but keep in mind |
| the fridge for an hour or so before hand. This will | | | | these 10 simple tips to prevent hours of |
| cause the egg whites to stiffen faster. | | | | frustration when baking your favorite cookie |
| 5. If you are making rolled cookies, be sure to chill | | | | recipes. |