I would class myself as an OK baker. I can make cupcakes, big cakes, scones, bread and goodness knows what else but one thing I am useless at is baking cookies! I have never had a perfect batch. They're either too thin and burn or too thick and don't taste cooked. I just can't get cookies right but the Fab Flour Easy Peasy Baking campaign has compiled the ultimate list of cookie tips and tricks so bakers like me can enjoy scrumptious cookies, every time!
Mixing: When mixing the butter and sugar, don’t mix too quickly or for too long! If there’s too much air in the mixture and it’s light and fluffy it’ll sink when cooking.
Weigh: If you’re after uniform cookies, weigh each ball of cookie dough before placing it on your baking sheet.
Flour: Different flours will affect the shape and texture of your cookies. Flour with a higher protein content like bread flour, will spread less when baking and create a chewier texture. As self-raising flour typically has a slightly lower protein content than plain, mixing flours can give you more control over your cookie shape and consistency.
Chilling: Once your cookies are laid out on the baking tray, chill the unbaked cookies in the fridge overnight. This will ensure your cookies do not spread too thin and have thick, soft centres once baked. (Remember, your cookies will continue to bake on the cooling rack, so you want them to be slightly under baked in the middle when you take them out of the oven).
Space: Give your cookies at least 1-2 inches of space between each other on the tray, so they don’t mould into one giant cookie in the oven.
Batch: If you’re baking cookies in batches using the same tray, wait for your tray to cool down in between batches.
Cookies bake really well in the middle of the oven, so it’s better to bake your cookies one batch at a time that way they can go in the centre of the oven every time.
Preheat: Make sure your oven is up to temperature before you put your cookies in to bake – this may take 10-15 minutes but it’s worth the wait.
Shape: Once your cookies have come out of the oven, whilst they are still hot and pliable, take a tumbler or round glass that is slightly larger than the cookie and place it over the top. Jiggle the glass in a circular motion around the cookie to smooth off the edges and mould the cookie into a perfect circle.
You can find more Easy Peasy Baking recipes and information on the campaign over on the Fab Flour website or on social media.
These cookies look great, Kim. I could just eat some :)
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