Cookie Troubleshooting Guide (2024)

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Updated October 13, 2020

Cookie Troubleshooting Guide (1)

Everyone makes mistakes, even experienced cookie bakers like you. Don't worry, we got baking in the Betty Crocker Test Kitchens to find out how to fix flat cookies, burnt cookies and other travesties in the future.

Why Are My Cookies Flat?

Cookie Troubleshooting Guide (2)

Mistake: When cookies turn out flat, the bad guy is often butter that is too soft or even melted. This makes cookies spread. The other culprit is too little flour—don't hold back and make sure you master measuring. Finally, cookies will also flatten if placed and baked on hot cookie sheets. Keep it cool to start with.

How to Fix it: If too-soft butter was the culprit, try refrigerating cookie dough for 1 to 2 hours before baking. If too-little flour was the issue, try adding an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour to the dough. Then, bake a test cookie. If neither were the mistake, it was probably a too-hot pan that caused the spreading. Cool your cookie sheet before baking another batch.

How to Avoid it: Allow your butter to come to room temperature—then cut it into pieces. The perfect temp should take about 30 minutes. Make sure you’re using the most accurate measuring method and the correct measuring tools. Cool your cookie sheet in between batches—allow the sheet to sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes, then run under cold water and dry—this will cool the sheet without it warping.

How Come My Cookies Baked Together?

Cookie Troubleshooting Guide (3)

The Mistake: When cookies bake together, it’s because they were too close. Just like us, cookies need a little breathing room—otherwise, they have a meltdown!

How to Fix it: Make a snack of your cookie clump or break it into pieces and use it as a topper for your ice cream sundae!

How to Avoid it: Give your cookies space...about 2 inches apart. You should be able to fit a dozen cookies onto a sheet. Remember to let your cookie sheets cool in between batches or your dough will spread.

Why Did My Cookies Burn?

Cookie Troubleshooting Guide (4)

The Mistake: Let's get to the bottom of burnt cookies! A few things can cause your cookies to burn: a dark-colored cookie sheet could cause it or if the temperature is at full tilt. And, sometimes it’s just the simplest answer: cookies were baked too long.

How to Fix it: The good news is, you only bake one sheet at a time, so your recipe isn't ruined because of one burned batch. The bad news is, burnt cookies just aren't the same as the real things, so throw them out and start again!

How to Avoid it: Use a shiny, silver-colored aluminum cookie sheet, which will reflect heat. Timing is everything too. Remember to set a timer as the cookies enter the oven. It’s also a good idea to use an oven thermometer to check your oven’s temperature. A piece of advice, oven temperature gauges can be 25 to 50 degrees off.

Why Did My Cookies Bake Unevenly?

Cookie Troubleshooting Guide (5)

The Mistake: If your tray of cookies bakes up unevenly—with some cookies tough and overdone and others too soft and raw—it’s probably because the cookie dough balls you started with were too varied in size.

How to Fix it: As long as the cookies are not tooth-breakingly hard or raw, you can still enjoy them. You could remove the cookies that are done and keep the others cooking for a few minutes more.

How to Avoid it: Luckily, this is an easy one. Use a spring-loaded cookie scoop or tablespoon measure your cookies to the T. Cookies will get done at the same time, and you won’t wind up with a tray of cookies that’s simultaneously overdone and underdone. Get the inside scoop on cookie shaping.

Why Did My Cookies Stick to the Sheet?

The Mistake: Cookies stick to the sheet when they’ve been left to cool for too long.

How to Fix it: When this happens, put the cookies back in the oven to soften enough that they release from the pan. Simple! This should happen quickly, in 1 to 2 minutes. Remember, you're warming them up again, not baking them!

How to Avoid it: Pay as much attention to your cooling process, as you do to your baking process. Most recipes advise leaving cookies on the sheet for 1 to 2 minutes, after being removed from the oven. This allows cookies to set and makes them easier to move. Next, place cookies on a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.

Now that you know what not to do, learn what to do. With tips from the Betty Crocker Test Kitchens, you’ll be baking perfect homemade cookies in no time.

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Cookie Troubleshooting Guide (2024)

FAQs

Cookie Troubleshooting Guide? ›

Dough with not enough flour was sticky and hard to transfer. Dough that had too many eggs was runny and spread out on the pan. Dough with too much flour was like glue—we were able to roll into a ball and it stayed in exactly the same shape throughout its time in the oven.

How to know what went wrong with cookies? ›

Dough with not enough flour was sticky and hard to transfer. Dough that had too many eggs was runny and spread out on the pan. Dough with too much flour was like glue—we were able to roll into a ball and it stayed in exactly the same shape throughout its time in the oven.

What are three problems with baking cookies? ›

But anyone who's ever made cookies has experienced the agony of treat defeat when a batch baked with the highest of hopes just doesn't hit the mark. They could be dry or doughy, tough or crumbly, spread too thin (or hardly spread at all), entirely too sweet or bewilderingly bland, or burnt or underbaked.

What happens if you add too much baking powder to cookies? ›

Too much baking powder can cause the batter to be bitter tasting. It can also cause the batter to rise rapidly and then collapse. (i.e. The air bubbles in the batter grow too large and break causing the batter to fall.) Cakes will have a coarse, fragile crumb with a fallen center.

How do you fix failed cookie dough? ›

First, try adding more liquid to the dough. This can be milk, water, or even just a little bit of extra oil. If that doesn't work, you can try kneading the dough for a few minutes to help it come together. Lastly, if all else fails, you can always add in a few tablespoons of flour to help bind the dough together.

How do I clear corrupted cookies? ›

In Chrome
  1. On your computer, open Chrome .
  2. At the top right, click More. Clear browsing data.
  3. Choose a time range, like Last hour or All time.
  4. Select the types of information you want to remove.
  5. Click Clear data.

How do I resolve cookies problems? ›

Chrome
  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Click the Settings (three-dotted) button on the top-right corner.
  3. Click Privacy and Security.
  4. You may select Allow All Cookies or Block Third-party cookies in Incognito. Do NOT select Block all cookies, as doing so could result in a blank screen.

Can you overmix cookie batter? ›

It's important to mix your ingredients. just until they're combined. to avoid developing too much gluten in your dough. Over mixing can lead to a tough and dense cookie, and you just don't want that.

What is the most common mistake in baking? ›

Using ingredients at the wrong temperature

One of the most common baking mistakes is using ingredients that are either too cold or too hot. Room-temperature ingredients are typically best for baking, so if your recipe calls for butter, eggs, or milk at room temperature, make sure to set them out ahead of time.

How to know if cookie dough is overmixed? ›

You may notice visible pockets of flour, streaks of butter, or uneven coloration. When overmixed, though, cookie dough will feel dense, greasy, heavy, and warm. It may be tough to roll out or work with, just like overmixed pie dough.

What does cornstarch do to cookies? ›

“The result is added tenderness with more structure.” You don't need much of the ingredient to notice significant changes in your favorite recipe. Add a teaspoon or two to your dry ingredient mix and it will drastically change the texture. It's also fun to experiment until you get the exact finish you desire.

How much baking powder for 1 cup of flour? ›

A good rule of thumb, according to Corriher, is that 1 cup of flour can be leavened by ¼ teaspoon baking soda or 1 to 1¼ teaspoons of baking powder.

Why use both baking soda and baking powder in cookies? ›

These recipes typically contain some type of acidic ingredient, but baking soda alone is not enough to lift the volume of batter in the recipe so baking powder is added to pick up the slack. Another reason to use both leavening agents is that they affect flavor and browning differently.

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies. If the butter is any warmer, it won't incorporate enough air and your cookies will have less rise.

How to make cookies chewy instead of cakey? ›

Add some cornstarch to the dry ingredients. Cornstarch makes cookies more soft and tender, and you can't have chewy without tender…can you? Roll the cookies in balls of the same size so they will all get done at the same time. Once the cookies have cooled, transfer them to a wire cooling rack until they are set.

Why do my cookies get hard after they cool? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly. The lack of moisture makes the cookies hard and dry, which makes them difficult to enjoy.

How do you know if cookies have gone bad? ›

Off Smell or Taste: Any rancid, sour, or just "off" smell or taste is a clear indicator that cookies have gone bad. Mold: This is a definite sign of spoilage. If you see any mold, the cookies should be discarded immediately.

Why did my cookies come out wrong? ›

Just like a cold oven can affect your cookies, so can an oven that is too hot. If your oven is too cold, then it can cause your cookies to spread too much before the edges set. And if your oven is too hot, it will cause the edges set too quickly before the cookie can spread at all causing for a cookie that spread less.

What are three ways to tell if your cookies are done? ›

Easy to Notice Signs:
  • Golden Brown Edges – Check the edges of the cookies for a golden brown colour. This indicates that the cookies have caramelized and are likely done. ...
  • Set Centres – Gently touch the centre of a cookie. ...
  • Light Cracking – Look for light cracks on the surface of the cookies.
Oct 18, 2023

Why did my cookie fail? ›

When there's too little flour, your cookies will spread, and they will not rise as expected. Make sure you're measuring the amount of flour correctly; it's better to use a kitchen scale than measuring cups. If you don't have a weighing scale, here's what you can do to accurately measure flour using a measuring cup.

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