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Can anyone help me fix my rubbish cookie baking? (piefed.blahaj.zone)
submitted 5 months ago by LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone to c/cooking@lemmy.world
26 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I used to make this recipe ten years ago in a different oven and the cookies were incredible. They were just like millies cookies.

Ive made 2 batches last week one turned out cakey and one turned out part raw. Today I've done 6 cookies baked one at a time with various timings and I can't get it right! If they're not cakey they're raw.

Does 180C mean in a fan or non fan oven? And I'm using dark brown sugar does that change things?

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[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 12 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Get a hanging oven dial thermometer (cheap). Pop it in the oven, and set it to whatever temp you're baking at for 15 minutes. If that temp is off, then you need to adjust whatever you're baking at to match.

It sounds like your oven is running cold, so maybe that's the issue. HOWEVER, the biggest thing about baking is that you need to be able to discern when your items are actually done. Learn how to "toothpick test" things like cookies and breads, or just get used to "lift testing" cookies specifically. If they don't feel solid when you lift one side, they aren't done.

Another thing to keep in mind when cooking anything is that time and temperature are extremely subjective. No two ovens are exactly alike, or calibrated exactly the same. Commercial ovens are regularly calibrated, so there should be less variance, especially if baking is their business.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Thanks mate I have dyspraxia so can you explain how to test the cookies like I'm 5? Anything involving visual judgement and manual skills I struggle. These cookies harden on the sheet after as well so it's hard to call

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Sure, see if this link (I don't know the site, it's just the usual tests) is helpful:

This is just some simple ways to check if things are done.

Unfortunately, most of these are all visual or manual. I would say the easiest thing to do is just take a spatula and lift one edge of the cookies and see if they are solid, but that will only help with UNDERcooking, and you may still be at risk of overcooking.

Another thing since you mentioned it: you want to cool any baked goods on a wire rack when they come out of the oven. This stops the bottoms from steaming and getting gummy once they come out of the hot oven into cool air.

I really think the in-oven thermometer is going to be the best bet if you have issues discerning any of the steps above with Dyspraxia though.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 5 months ago

That link is great! Really appreciate your time thanks

[–] AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

too cakey == too much flour. too thin == not enough flour. pull the cookies 1 minute before their full time on your first run because cookies are better slightly under than slightly over.

tell the doneness by looking at the bottom of the cookie - that is the color that will tell uou the most about their doneness <3

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Great tips! how much should I reduce the flour by?

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Not enough information for an exact answer, but if you have plenty of ingredients I would go 5% less and keep everything else the same. If it isn't enough then keep lowering it until you hit the right balance and if you overshoot then bump it up halfway to your prior one and and kind of work your way to the right spot from there.

Definitely write down everything you try each time if you aren't already as when you get it right that will be your recipe from here on out.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Nice one thanks. I'm using plain flour with baking powder should I reduce the baking powder?

[–] AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

oh, saw another problem here. use baking soda for regular choco chip cookies.

baking soda == baking powder without the rising element. the acidity of the cookie will bring less fluffiness/cakiness than the full rise from powder. for a reference on amount (sorry, i am american so i use cheeseburger measurements...), i use 2-1/3c flour to 1 teaspoon baking soda; not cut with baking powder

edit: i think i said that wrong. baking soda has the rising agent, but not the activator for the rising agent. baking powder has the activator.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Ahhhhhhh that makes sense thanks so much! How much should I add if I'm using plain flour?

[–] AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

might as well just hand it over, lol. this is my ingredient list:

1 Cup (2 sticks) Butter
2-1/3 Cup Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Tablespoons Milk
1-1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 Bag (~11-12oz) of Choco Chips (substitutable)

edit: note: 2 eggs are for 1 whole egg + 1 egg yolk

edit 2: my steps... might as well....

#Melt Butter

melt the butter and let it cool slightly

#Mix 1

Mix together flour, salt, baking soda

putting onto paper plate after mixing works well here...

#Mix 2

In mixer, add butter, sugar, & brown sugar, and beat for 2 minutes

#Mix 3

Mix together 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, milk, vanilla

#Mix 3 & 2

Mix 3 into mix 2 on slow/stir

#Mix Plate

Slowly pour Mix 1 into main mix, make sure it fully mixes

#Add Chips

Pour in your chocolate (or whatever type) chips; mix on slow/stir until combined, then turn off.

#Chill

Chill in the fridge for 1 hr

#Prep & Bake

Split into 24 cookies. Use parchment paper. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 375F.

2 sheets per bake swap sheets 1/2 way through

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You superstar! I've screenshotted it thanks so much. Is flour just plain flour? And do they go chewy not cakey because I feel cursed atm

[–] AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

yes, i use all-purpose flour (same as plain flour, just american); these have that cookie texture, not the cakey texture (a small rise, but not a ton)

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 5 months ago

You've been really kind helping me so much mate, i really appreciate it 🙏

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 months ago

I made these today. I knocked the sugar down by 1/3 and I did misread it and put it in the freezer not the fridge. They are cakes not cookies cry cry cry 😢 I give up

[–] AmazingAwesomator@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

i think i am using the same; i use what is called "all-purpose flour" in usa

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 months ago

ah great thanks 😊

[–] elephantium@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

cheeseburger measurements

I love it! I've also heard this referred to as "... in freedom units"

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 1 points 5 months ago

I would recommend changing one thing at a time and consulting one of the images that show what causes the different issues to see what else to adjust.

[–] hdsrob@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (4 children)

Dark brown sugar should only change the flavor a bit, since it just has more molasses added to the sugar (but I guess it could change the texture a bit in a small batch).

The recipe probably assumes a regular oven, not a a fan (convection) oven. I'm not sure about yours, but our convection oven has instructions for lowering the temperature from what the recipe calls for (25 degrees lower F, so about ~~4 degrees~~ 14 degrees C) if using the fan.

Also, if you don't already have one, you might want to get an oven thermometer. I've seen a lot of ovens that don't actually cook at the temperature they are set to on the knob, so having a thermometer in the oven that you can check and make adjustments until the oven temperature is where you need it to be can help a lot.

[–] LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 5 months ago

Thanks in the meantime what can I do? How much should I adjust the temperature by?

[–] b34k@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

A difference of 25 F is about 14 C (5/9ths). Also, most convection ovens I’ve used have 2 modes, bake and roast. With bake they auto lower the oven 25 F from the temp you set to account for this. Roast just uses the set temp.

[–] hdsrob@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Yep, bad conversion on my side .... corrected.

I've had both ... our current is a convection oven / microwave combo, that has no option to disable the fan (we also have a regular oven). I think our last oven that had a convection feature also had an option to turn the fan on separately, but it's been a long time.

[–] evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Technically, dark brown sugar will be more acidic, and will therefore require more baking soda to balance it out, though I think that would have minor effects

[–] Carrolade@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Recipes are usually for no-fan. Your oven may have a setting to let you turn your convection fan off, otherwise you'll have to compensate for the fan speeding things up.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

The self-raising flour could be the problem if you're using just normal flour.

If all you have is normal flour, you need to add to it:

1 cup (120g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon table salt