Cookies have been around since long before anyone knew about cholesterol or heart disease. They were first popular in Europe during Medieval times when it was believed that “eating something sweet would be good for you.”  And while people didn’t realize back then how unhealthy sugar could be, we’ve come a very long way since those ancient days.

Baking cookies – the right way!

Nowadays there is no doubt that sweets like chocolate chip cookies not only provide delicious tastes, but also help keep us healthy by lowering our risk of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, etc. So next time you want to whip up a batch of cookies at home, take a moment to read this article so you’ll get them just right!

The most important thing to remember when making any kind of baked goods is that heat makes things happen faster. Not getting the baked goods to the highest level of eat will ensure that you don’t get the results you want (mushy cookies!). However, using too much will burn everything in sight (and thus ruin your beautiful creation). The ideal temperature range varies depending on different types of foods, however here’s an approximate guide:

Fruits – 65°C/149°F

Bread & Pastry dough – 70°C/158°F

Pastries – 75°C/167°F

Puddings – 90°C/194°F

Whole grains – 85°C/185°F

Meat – 95°C/203°F

All other food products including eggs, milk, butter, oil, cheese and nuts should be cooked inside a specific temperature range which depends on their type. For example, cookies need to cook longer than breads because they contain less water. However, as mentioned above, over cooking anything can result in ruined cakes, pastries, puddings, pies, etc. Also, undercooking may cause burnt bottoms and soggy centers.

Making the cookie batter from scratch

We’re now done with the basics of how to bake cookies! Time to graduate to mixing up your very own cookie batter. First step is to gather all your dry ingredients into one bowl, then add your softened butter followed by shortening or margarine. Now we’re going to decide which type of sugar(s) we’re going to add. Are we going with brown sugar, granulated, and/or powdered sugar? What’s the significance, you ask? Depending on whether you prefer soft, medium, or semi hard textures, adjust the amount of each accordingly.

Afterward go ahead and stir well, taking care to incorporate air bubbles throughout the mixture. Then follow this up with beating in egg yolks one after another. Finally pour in your flour along with salt, spices, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, coconut, etc., according to your preference. Mix thoroughly until fully combined.

Once you’ve finished combining all your ingredients, you may now proceed to shaping small portions of your cookies and placing them on either parchment paper or waxed paper lined pans. It is highly recommended that you spray or grease your pan(s) beforehand to prevent sticking issues later on. Now that we’ve got the spray on, take your pan(s) and set them on the middle rack in the center of your oven. Bake from 8-10 minutes, checking on the pan once per minute after 6 minutes have passed. After the correct time frame, take the pan out and set it on a safe counter space to cool off.

These cookies usually require anywhere between 10-15 minutes total baking time; however it greatly depends on various factors such as size, shape, thickness, level of crispiness you desire, number of layers, etc.

Testing your cookies

To test if your cookies are ready, lightly touch the top part of the cookie with your finger tip. If it feels firm yet springy, continue baking. Otherwise pull the cookie apart slightly with a fork and see if the edges begin to turn golden brown. When both sides look sufficiently baked, carefully transfer to wire racks where they can sit undisturbed until cooled completely. Keep in mind that cooling time differs based on the individual recipe, however I find 2 hours works great.

Don’t worry if you accidentally leave your treats sitting on the counter overnight, you can always pop them back in the oven for 5-10 minutes once you return them to the sheet.
Afterwards enjoy eating your tasty creations! All that remains is for you to decide which ones you plan to devour first…or perhaps save them for last to give yourself plenty of incentive to finish the whole box?! Just kidding, but seriously though, why not try experimenting with flavors and styles to create unique recipes! Let me know how you fare in the comments below and share pictures of your favorite batches.

Happy Baking Everyone!

If you like baking yummy chocolate goods, take a look at our guide on how to bake brownies!

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