Christmas 2024: 10 common mistakes to avoid while baking cookies

Dec 18, 2024 BY: Kritika Pushkarna

Baking mistakes to avoid this Christmas

It’s the most awaited time of the year when people love to indulge in baking cakes and cookies. While we all love to bake cookies, several mistakes can give your cookies a different feel, taste, and appearance. Here are some common mistakes that people commit while baking perfect cookies. iStock

Missing out on preheating

Always preheat your oven for baking. Cookies need an even consistent temperature to bake well. Starting with a cold oven can lead to uneven cooking and spreading. iStock

Using the ingredients at the wrong temperature

Using butter, eggs, or other ingredients directly from the fridge makes it hard to mix the dough. Most recipes require room-temperature ingredients for a uniform and smooth texture. iStock

Overmixing the dough

While it's tempting to mix until smooth, over-mixing can develop too much gluten, and result in dense, tough cookies. Mix only until the ingredients are just combined. iStock

Baking requires precise measurements

If one uses the wrong ratio of flour, sugar, or butter, the whole recipe gets affected. Invest in a kitchen scale for accuracy. iStock

Not chilling

Do not skip a chilling process in the recipe. Chill helps firm up the butter which will decrease spreading when baking, and improves flavour. iStock

Overcrowding of the baking sheet

When cookies are placed too close to one another, they will bake into one big cookie, spreading over into each other. There needs to be enough room between cookies for even baking and spreading of the cookie. iStock

Not preparing the baking sheet end

If cookies are baked on a sheet that does not use parchment paper or a silicone mat, they will likely stick to the sheet. Always line your tray so removal is easy and cleaning is painless. iStock

Baking cookies too long

It is common for cookies to cook on the baking sheet long after being removed from the oven. Take them out when the edges are lightly golden, even if the centre still looks slightly underdone. iStock

Using the wrong type of flour

Different flours have varying protein content, which affects texture. Stick to the flour type recommended in the recipe to achieve the desired consistency. iStock

Opening the oven door too often

Resist the urge to keep checking on your cookies. Opening the oven door repeatedly can cause temperature fluctuations, leading to uneven baking time. Happy baking! iStock

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