These baker’s secrets will make your chocolate chip cookie to die for.
There’s nothing like a homemade chocolate chip cookie. But, if your go-to recipe needs a little revamp, Brooke Homec shared a few tweaks to getting a bakery-worthy cookie in your own kitchen.
Brooke has mastered the chocolate chip cookie. She shared five important things she’s learned along the way, and why they’ll make a difference in your chocolate chip cookie.
1. Read the Instructions
Before you even grab your ingredients, take a moment to read through the entire recipe. You might be surprised by how much this matters! Some recipes require cold butter, while others call for browned butter (and sometimes you might even need to chill it again after browning)! Plus, make sure to check if the dough needs to chill before baking. These details can really change how your cookies turn out, so don’t skip this step!
2. Weigh Ingredients
For the best results, use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients in grams. This might sound complicated, but it’s super simple and helps you get everything just right. Using a scale also means fewer dishes to wash! If you’re using measuring cups instead, be careful not to pack the ingredients too tightly. For example, too much flour can lead to cookies that are dry and dense. So a light scoop is key!
3. Mixing Your Dough
Mixing your cookie dough is more of an art than you might think! Break it down into three stages:
- Stage 1: Creaming the Butter and Sugars. This is where you’ll want to mix the butter with the sugars until it’s light and fluffy. It usually takes about 4-5 minutes. This step is crucial for getting the right texture.
- Stage 2: Adding Eggs and Vanilla. Once you’ve creamed the butter and sugars, it’s time to mix in the eggs and vanilla. Be gentle here—just mix until everything is combined. You don’t want to over-whip the eggs.
- Stage 3: Incorporating Dry Ingredients. Finally, it’s time to add in your dry ingredients like flour and baking powder. Mix gently! It’s best to add the dry ingredients when there’s still a bit of visible flour in the dough. This helps keep your cookies soft and chewy instead of dense.
4. Shaping Your Cookies
Want perfectly round cookies? Here’s a simple trick: right after you take them out of the oven, use a spatula or spoon to gently shape them. The cookies will be soft and warm, making them easy to mold. Just push in any edges that spread too much, and you’ll have beautiful, round cookies!
5. Storing
Once your cookies are cool, the freezer becomes your best friend! Instead of leaving extras on the counter (where they’ll dry out quickly), bag them up and pop them in the freezer. This way, they’ll stay fresh for longer. Plus, having bags of cookies ready to go is perfect for when friends drop by or you want a tasty treat.
Bonus Tip: You can also shape your cookie dough into balls and freeze them. When you’re craving a warm cookie, just pull out however many dough balls you want and bake them fresh!
With these five secrets, you’ll be well on your way to baking cookies that are both delicious and stunning!
Find more from Brooke on Instagram, @thesaltedsweets, or on her website, thesaltedsweets.com.
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