BAKING BASICS - TIPS FOR MAKING DROP COOKIES

(1) Butter that is too soft will result in a cookie that spreads.

(2) Overmixing the dough softens the butter, which causes the cookies to spread.

(3) To control the consistency of the cookie dough, it is essential that the flour be properly measured.

(4) If nuts are chopped more finely than indicated, the consistency of the cookie dough will be firmer.

(5) If you omit a chunky product from a recipe, substitute an equal amount of another chunky product.  For example, if you omit raisins from a recipe, substitute an equal amount of nuts or chocolate chips.

(6) If using a stand mixer, you can add chunky ingredients like chocolate, nuts, and fruit if the mixer has a paddle attachment.

(7) When portioning the cookie dough, if it becomes too soft to handle in warm or humid weather, or as it stands when batch baking, refrigerate it for a few minutes.

(8) If you like a thicker cookie, it will spread less if you chill the dough before portioning.

(9) If you like more uniformly shaped cookies, chill the dough first and roll into balls before baking.

(10) Scrape down the side of the bowl frequently while portioning cookies to ensure even distribution of chocolate chips, nuts, and fruits.

(11) For a well-rounded cookie, drop the dough onto the cookie sheet from the tip, not the side of the spoon.

(12) When dropping the dough from the tip of the spoon, hold the spoon with the tip pointing down, perpendicular to the cookie sheet.

(13) A number 40 (1 ¼-inch) ice cream scoop is idea to use for portioning drop cookies.

(14) Irregular mounds of cookie dough can be reshaped by gently rounding the dough with a moistened fingertip.

(15) You may change the size of the cookie by reducing or increasing the size of the mound of dough.  Adjust the spacing of the mounds on the cookie sheet, and be sure to adjust the baking time accordingly.

(16) Since drop cookies dough is soft, allow enough space between the mounds of dough on the cookie sheets because this type of dough tends to spread.

(17) If you like softer cookies, remove them from the oven while still slightly underbaked.

From Great Cookies by Carole Walter.