How to know if cookies are done? Plenty of ways, actually and you will find just the answers here. The next time someone asks you how you can tell when your cookies are done, you will not have to guess again.
What is the first thing that you notice when you take your cookies out of the oven? Are they raw in the middle, or have they become hard? Because aside from being able to tell when your cookies are done is also partly a matter of taste and personal preference. Some might just like their cookies to be extra crispy while to some bakers, that crispiness might be a sign of the cookies being overdone. And it only is a matter of a minute or two in the oven that separates gooey cookies from cookies that are still raw in the middle or crispy cookies from those that are too far gone. The good news is that there are some ways to know if your cookies are done.
How to Know if Cookies are Done
Set the Timer for the Minimum Time
Before you start baking your cookies, always use your oven thermometer to ensure that your oven is the exact temperature that is provided on the oven dial. Referring to the cookie recipe that you have in hand, always check on the cookies at the minimum time given for it. The reason for doing so is because it is always easier to cook the cookies longer, if necessary, but you can never reverse time to “uncook” cookies that have baked too long. When cookies stay too long in the oven, they either get too hard or too brown—both can equally taste terrible. Without setting an accurate time for your recipe, that is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. You may end up getting distracted and forget about the cookies and let them burn in the oven.
Lift the Cookies and Check the Bottom
It is common for cookies to be brown a little bit on the bottom as they cook in the oven. In fact, there are recipes that specifically which color you should look out for. Some maybe slightly brown than others, while some look for a light brown. Therefore, one of the ways to know precisely that the cookies are done is to roll one over and see if it just slightly browns on the bottom. If you see that your cookies are way too brown that usual, chances are your oven was set too high and it is the most obvious reason for your cookies burning on the bottom.
Check the Edges of the Cookies
Often, the recipe book will let you know that your cookie edges should be slightly brown or just begin to brown. A cookie edge will always brown before its middle. This means that the cookie edges can burn while it is still cooking in the middle. Because there are certain cookies, such as the sugar cookies for example, they are best when their edges are set but their edges should not be brown. With practice, you can eventually check the cookies’ edges visually without having to lift them. Doing such, you will notice that the cookie edges will appear more set than the cookie’s center, even though the edges have not browned.
The best way to go about this is to always refer to your recipe. If your recipe calls for the cookies to cool on a cookie sheet for a few minutes, that means those cookies will continue to cook (because the cookie sheet would still be extremely hot). In situations like this, you can be experimental and try different timings in getting the cookies out of the oven. Just remember that even though the cookie centers may look like they still need more time to cook, they will continue to cook while resting on the cookie sheet. Do not wait too long for the cookie center to cook or you will end up with overdone cookies once they have cooled on the cookie sheet.
Using a Toothpick to know if Cookies are Done
When your cookies are thicker, you can always use the toothpick test to determine if they are done. For example, brownies are essentially a type of bar cookie. A simple wooden toothpick does the trick. All you got to do is insert the toothpick into the middle of the brownies or any type of bar cookie, and if the toothpick is free of cookie crumbs when you pull it out, your cookies are done. In fact, some are probably done even if there a little bit of crumbs on the toothpick.
However, if what sticks on the toothpick looks like batter, they are not done (unless you want gooey brownies). Depending on the situation, like how gooey you want your cookies to be, the cooking time will then vary based on how you want them to be. Just know that a minute can sometimes make a huge difference from a raw batter to a gooey center. So, knowing how you would like your cookies to be helps. Read Chewy Cookies vs Crunchy Cookies to tell the difference.
Some Other Frequently Asked Questions about Baking Cookies.
Depending on the size of them, cookies are typically baked in a moderate oven at 175°C for approximately 8 to 12 minutes. If you like your cookies to be chewy, let them cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes before you place them on the cooling rack.
After some time, the moisture in the cookies will evaporate. This leaves them hard and crumbly. The same thing also happens to breads, muffins, and other baked goods. The best way to prevent cookies from going too hard is to eat them fresh on the same day they were baked.
After about 10 minutes, the cookies are usually golden brown around the edges but they have a soft centre. Leaving them for one or two minutes on a hot cookie sheet will continue to cook them a bit before you transfer them to a cooling rack.
Cookies can end up flat and thin if the pan is greased unnecessarily; the dough will flatten more than you bargained for as it bakes in the oven. That said, reusing baking sheets for multiple batches of cookies can be also cause cookies to be spread too flat and thin as the leftover grease on the sheet from the previous batch can be too much.
If your cookies are not flattening out the way you hoped, you might have added a tad bit too much flour. It can be easy to use too much flour when using cup measurements, and since cookies need an accurate ratio of butter to flour for it to spread just the right amount when baked, you need to be sure that your butter to flour ratio is correct.
So, what’s the Conclusion here?
When it comes to telling when a cookie is done, and long you should bake a cookie, we guess it really depends on what kind of texture you are looking for in the finished product. If you like your cookies to be crispier, you can opt to bake it longer. For most of us pining for a classic chocolate chip cookie, we are always looking for that balance by having a crisp edge and a center that is just chewy. Still, here are some best practices for you to consider when you are baking cookies:
- Follow the recipe accordingly. Always have your cookies checked at the beginning of the time range it shows. For example, if the recipe says let it bake for 10 to 12 minutes, check at 10 minutes to get a glimpse of your cookies.
- For even cooking, make it a habit to rotate your cookie sheets halfway through baking. Do this at least once or twice every time you bake them.
- Never overcrowd your oven; bake only 1 or 2 sheets at a time.
- To ensure that your oven is the right temperature, always use an oven thermometer.
- Always use a timer, it is easy to get distracted and lose track of time.
- Always wait for the oven to fully preheat before baking.
It would be difficult to find someone who can resist the tempting nostalgic aroma of a freshly baked cookie. Cookies appeal to us all for many reasons. Not only are they perfect for on the go in a bag but they also come in a variety of flavors for any sweet tooth. They have the power to bring about a smile to just about any face. Now that we have shared with you these easy and straightforward tips, we hope that you are able to know when your cookies are done. May your cookies be baked perfectly all the time! But if at first you do not succeed, that is fine too. Just keep practicing and you will get better! And amazing cookies means happy treats for friends and families!
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