Store-bought cookies don’t hold a candle to a batch of fresh-from-the-oven cookies. Baking cookies can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve polled our baking experts and gotten the scoop on the tricks-of-the-trade to set you up for cookie baking success!
- Cookie Scoop – Cookie scoops (you can also use a melon scoop or small ice cream scoop) are our favorite way to ensure uniform-sized cookies every time.
- Silicone Rolling Mat – Sugar cookies used to be daunting until we found this rolling mat adored by many home and professional bakers alike. We like the DoughEZ mat. The mat comes with 1/4” and 1/8” guides that allow you to roll your dough to the perfect height.
- Precut Parchment Paper – This was a life-changer for our team. It sounds silly, but the pleasure of pulling out a pre-cut sheet that perfectly fits your cookie sheet is so satisfying! Gone are the days of fumbling with the roll and scissors only to find out you cut the sheet too small and you have to start over. Make sure you get the correct size to fit your cookie sheet. Parchment paper is a true workhorse, you can use one sheet again and again for cookies. We usually use one sheet per pan, per baking session.
- Silicone baking Mat – The pricer sister to parchment paper, our team swears by the SilPat cookie sheet liner. It comes in multiple sizes to match your pan, can be used hundreds of times, and cleans easily.
- Cooling Rack – Cooling racks are easy to store and when paired with a cookie sheet can double as a broiler pan for your cooking needs. They work well with cookie-sized spatulas and make sure that your cookies don’t overbake after they get out of the oven. It’s key to keeping cookies from drying out.
- Storage Containers – Cookies don’t play nice with air, so keeping them in an airtight container will keep them fresher longer, up to a week for most recipes.
- Gifting Storage Containers – Everyone loves to receive cookies as gifts. There are containers for everyone and every cookie. No matter if you are gifting one cookie, or a whole batch, festive containers are the perfect way to spread holiday cheer.
- Gourmet Sprinkles – Want your cookies to dazzle and delight like the pros? Our team can’t get enough of designer sprinkles. The mixing of colors, shapes, and sizes adds another dimension to your cookies and lots of oohs and aahs from your cookie recipients!
- Freezing Cookie Dough – Don’t have hours to work on your cookies at a stretch? We hear you! Most cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. Our go-to hack is having pre-scooped chocolate chip cookie dough on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet wrapped tightly on plastic wrap in our freezer so that when unexpected (or expected) guests pop in, you can have fresh baked cookies in under 10 minutes! Follow recipe directions for baking frozen cookie dough. Many doughs can go straight from the freezer to the over, but some may need to be thawed first.
- Freezing Baked Cookies – Baked cookies can also be frozen in airtight containers for up to three months. Check the recipe because certain decorated cookies should be frozen before icing.
Ready to bake? These recipes are tested by our team so you don’t have to. One bonus tip — don’t forget the milk (Santa doesn’t)!
Peanut Butter Cookies – This dough is ready to rock in minutes and doesn’t need to be refrigerated before baking.
Chocolate Chip Cookies – A little elf told us these are Santa’s favorite cookies!
Drop Sugar Cookies – Easy, elegant, and delicious, this granddaddy of cookies can be made with pantry staples and a spoon!