Science of Cooking: Ask the Inquisitive Cooks! (2024)

" How can I get my cookies to turn out the way I want them to? "

In your book, you discuss soft and crisp cookies, but I like my chocolate chip cookies mounded (with lots of chips) and hard, like little mountains. What would I increase or decrease in the traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe to attain this result?
Thank you,

— Sally W.

1. Reduce the amount of fat and sugar (as above).
2. Use margarine or shortening instead of butter. Shortening has a higher melting point so it spreads more slowly than butter.
3. Chill the dough before baking. Chilled dough holds its shape longer than room-temperature dough.
4. Use an egg as part of the liquid.
5. Use an ungreased cookie sheet; greasing encourages spreading.
6. If the above steps don't produce rounded cookies, try reducing the liquid again. With less liquid, cookies are less likely to spread.