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Who doesn't love a good chewy cookie with the right amount of sweetness? Cookies are one of the most popular baked treats that are enjoyed all over the world, with different varieties depending on the region. With chocolate chip cookies being children's favourites or oatmeal cookies that are enjoyed during teatime, the best part about these treats is that they are highly customizable, so there's something for everyone.
Cookies also represent celebrations and something to be enjoyed with your friends and family. With so much to offer, you have to carefully make sure that you produce the finest cookies every time. However, baking is a science, and for that, we have some essential tips that will help you deliver the best cookies every single time. Keep reading to learn more.
Bake Simple Recipes
If you are new to cooking, it is always advised to start simple with recipes such as sugar cookies made from basic ingredients such as flour, leavener, butter, sugar, and eggs and avoid complicated cookie recipes such as Whoopie Pies and Cinnamon Roll Cookies. As you work your way through these simple recipes, you will gain confidence and a practical idea of how baking cookies actually work. Avoid complicated cookies during your initial days of baking and make the most of your learning experience.
Proper Measurements Of Ingredients
As mentioned earlier, baking is a science, and to achieve this, you will need proper measurements of ingredients to get the desired results. Use measuring bowls, measuring spoons, a kitchen scale, and dry and liquid measuring cups for measuring the key ingredients, such as flour, sugar, and other mix-ins, for precise accuracy. Investing in a kitchen scale could be a game-changer for you.
Use Eggs And Butter To Room Temperature
It is a common practice to always bring your butter and eggs to room temperature unless they are specifically asked not to in a recipe. This is due to the fact that ingredients that are at room temperature blend quickly while also allowing more air to be incorporated into the dough, which helps make the cookies rise more. Forgetting this step could lead to dense and flat cookies, which are not at all desirable.
Don't Heavily Rely On Substitutes
Well, substitutes can be lifesavers when you are in dire need. But always relying on substitutes instead of the ingredients asked for is not something that is recommended. For example, mashed bananas and pumpkin puree are often used as a substitute for eggs to bind the ingredients while also making them tender.
Although they work fine, they can't completely replicate eggs. Another example is maple syrup being used as a substitute for vanilla extract, which is a fine alternative but doesn't exactly offer the same flavour as vanilla extract.
Even though you will get a similar flavour or texture while using a substitute, the true essence is lost, and the exact flavours and textures are not mimicked through substitutes.
Add Salt To The Dough
This is the secret to delicious cookies. All you have to do is simply season your cookies with salt to achieve this. You should add around half a teaspoon of salt to a batch of cookie dough, which may seem like a lot, but it can instantly enhance your cookies.
Invest In Baking Sheets
Although parchment paper works just fine, it simply isn't totally non-stick. For hassle-free baking, replace your parchment paper with baking sheets, as they don't even need to be greased with oil, and even the stickiest dough will release from the sheets without causing trouble. It's recommended to invest in some silicon baking sheets for the best results.
The Baking Time
One of the biggest mistakes to make while baking is to overbake your cookies. To avoid this, simply set your oven timer for around five minutes more than the time mentioned in the recipe. It will help you make cookies that are sort of moist but crisp on the sides, and if you press in the middle, you will be able to make an indent, yet they shouldn't feel raw in any way.
