5 Tips for Tastier, More Flavorful Sugar Cookies
What if you could transform bland, tough cookies into soft, delicious ones? It’s not as hard as you might think. Today, we’re sharing a few techniques that can take your cookie recipe from good to great. So what are you waiting for? Grab your mixing spoon and your favorite extract, and give these easy cookie baking tricks a try.
Don’t Overmix. First things first: never mix your cookie dough for longer than is absolutely necessary. As soon as you add flour, kneading the dough forms longer strands of protein, which make for a tougher end product. Mix until barely combined, and finish stirring things together with a spatula if necessary. If you’re using our favorite sugar cookie recipe, mix 1-2 minutes after adding the flour.
Watch Your Measurements. Extra flour can make cookies hard; too much butter can make them lose their shape in the oven. Measure precisely or weigh ingredients for best results.
Re-roll As Little As Possible. If you roll out cookies on a floured surface, they will absorb a bit of flour. Additional re-rolling continues the development of protein strands in the dough, which leads to hard cookies the same way overmixing can. Cut as many shapes as you can from each set of dough and avoid sprinkling with excess flour.
Don’t Overbake. Aside from potentially scorching your cookies, overbaking can result in precious moisture evaporating out of the dough, leaving the end product dry or crumbly. For example, this recipe calls for baking cookies 6-8 minutes, or until barely golden for best results. Keep a close eye on anything in the oven, and transfer cut-outs from the pan to a cooling rack as soon as they are firm enough to handle.
Store Properly. Even the most carefully-tended cookies can become dry or mushy if stored improperly. Always cover raw dough with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Baked cookies can be frozen in a sealed container or kept in a cool, dry place where they won’t accumulate moisture. Cookies stored at room temperature are best consumed within 3-5 days from baking.
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