If you’re a novice wondering how to make cookies, check out our helpful tips.
Plus, we’ve got recipes for hundreds of cookies from basic to gourmet.
Nothing beats a warm homemade cookie, especially when it’s served with a cold glass of milk.
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You’ll need butter (or abutter substitute), flour, eggs, salt, and sugar.
From there, you might dress up your dough with chocolate chips, nuts, fruit, and spices.
Use our step-by-step directions to bake a perfect batch of cookies every time.
Credit:Jake Sternquist
Plus, get our favorite cookie recipes and tips for storing cookies so they stay fresh for longer.
Here are some tips from our Test Kitchen to use when shopping for pans.
How to Make Homemade Cookies
When it comes to makinghomemade cookies, butter is king.
Credit:Jake Sternquist
It adds that delicious flavor, texture, and richness you expect.
Only substitute another ingredient if the option is offered in the recipe instructions.
Start with butter softened to room temperature.
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It should have lost its chill and be spreadable; 30 minutes should do the trick.
Never use melted butter unless specifically called for.
Test Kitchen Tip: To speed up softening butter, cut the cold stick into pieces.
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Beat butter with an electric mixer until smooth.
This ensures the butter is adequately softened and eliminates lumps.
Beat in the sugar and other dry ingredients (except flour).
Credit:Jake Sternquist
This is called creaming.
Creaming incorporates air into the cookie dough, ensuring light cookies.
Scrape sides of bowl as needed to get a uniform mixture.
There should be no streaks of egg in the mixture.
Some hand mixers bog down if the dough gets too stiff.
Don’t burn out the mixer.
Stir just until the flour is incorporated.
Bake as directed in the recipe.
If making cutout cookies, such as sugar cookies cutouts, chill your dough until easy to handle.
Roll out dough on a floured surface, cut shapes, and bake on ungreased cookie sheets as directed.
