Cookie help

ash_scotland88 · 24 Oct 2011 at 15:07

So whenever I try to make cookies they always end up crispy and hard like biscuits, and sadly with a burnt bottom.
Is this just a case of leaving them in for too long? I think it's due to me not really understanding when golden is golden enough.
Other problem is the they don't end up with the textured tops like super markets and pictures, end up just smooth.

So, yeah, suggestions?

bsoltan · 24 Oct 2011 at 15:36

What recipie(s) do you use?

ash_scotland88 · 24 Oct 2011 at 15:40

This one:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chocolatechipcookies_72335

Admittedly used only a 100g of chocolate (didn't buy enough and was too lazy to walk back to shop) and 25g more of butter since the pack came in a 250g size.

It could also be a fact of not having a dedicated baking try, so used the tray that fits the oven (the type that usually has the wire rack on it) cleaned it up, and laid grease proof paper on it.

randomshenans · 24 Oct 2011 at 15:59

They really don't need that long at all in the oven. Oven too hot?

ash_scotland88 · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:04

Only issue with them being too would be if the thermostat is out. It's gas and cooked on centre shelf.
Maybe I need to lower my expectations of what golden should be....

ash_scotland88 · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:22

May give them an other go then.
Can't feed these ones to anybody but myself!

J1234 · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:48

Thanks for making me want to bake cookies now.

J1234 · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:51

Oh that sounds excellent. I may have to pop to the shop now for some ingredients..

ash_scotland88 · 24 Oct 2011 at 16:56

Done a secon small batch, from the frozen dough, and they look better ontop, underneath still look a tad....crispy. Will give them a few mins to cool down before I try one.

I also couldn't get a soft brown sugar so got dimera instead, could this also be giving an issue?

glitch · 24 Oct 2011 at 17:43

ash_scotland88 said:
So whenever I try to make cookies they always end up crispy and hard like biscuits, and sadly with a burnt bottom.

That will be down to a combination of over-working the mixture, getting your quantities wrong and cooking them for too long at the wrong temperature.

ash_scotland88 said:
Other problem is the they don't end up with the textured tops like super markets and pictures, end up just smooth.

And that points towards the mixture being too wet, which is no wonder if you've left out 250g of chocolate.

ash_scotland88 said:
So, yeah, suggestions?

Follow the recipe and get the right ingredients. Successful baking relies upon exact weights, measurements and technique.

Glaucus · 24 Oct 2011 at 17:48

Sounds like, cooking for far to long or/and wrong temp.

Base shouldn't be anywhere near burnt. The softness in the middle comes from being slightly under cooked.

ash_scotland88 · 24 Oct 2011 at 18:56

glitch said:
That will be down to a combination of over-working the mixture, getting your quantities wrong and cooking them for too long at the wrong temperature.

And that points towards the mixture being too wet, which is no wonder if you've left out 250g of chocolate.

Cheers, so if I wanted to replace chocolate with say nut's it'll have to be weight for weight.

glitch said:
Follow the recipe and get the right ingredients. Successful baking relies upon exact weights, measurements and technique.

I was going to counter that, but then realised you said baking and not cooking