4 Common Sugar Cookie Mistakes (2024)

Unlike many things in the baking world, sugar cookies are meant to be foolproof. They don't have much butter or leavening, so they'll keep their shape when you roll out the dough and cut them. They're sturdy enough to be handled and decorated, but soft and delicious enough to be a Christmastime dessert staple. But there are still ways to totally mess them up. Assistant food editor Alison Roman gave us the skinny on the most common sugar cookie mistakes.

  1. Roll Out the Dough Too Thin or Too Thick
    If you roll this dough out even a little too thin, they'll become fragile. Not good if you're having a cookie-decorating party. But if you roll the dough out too thick, then they won't cook through and become dense and, honestly, pretty gross. The ideal thickness to roll out your sugar cookie dough is about 1/4"--that way, they'll be tough enough to be handled and decorated, but thin enough to stay a little crunchy.
  2. Use Intricate Cookie Cutters
    Cookie cutters with really small details and tiny pieces might seem like they'll yield a cool cookie, but the tiny pieces of dough won't cook evenly with the rest of the cookie (read: they'll burn). Stick with simple designs and add flair with the decorations (more on that below).
  3. Over-Bake Them
    Lots of people bake their sugar cookies until they're a nice golden-brown. DON'T DO THAT! They'll be hard as rocks--and will get harder the longer you keep them around. Because they'll harden naturally as they age, you want to bake them until they're just set. Look for a sandy-blonde color with just a hint of gold.
  4. Use Only Frosting to Decorate

(Credit: Zach DeSart)

Zach DeSart

Dazzling decorative sugars offer so much crunch and flair, we wouldn't dream of throwing a holiday cookie party without them. Available in a huge range of colors and sizes, they're secret weapons in the baker's arsenal that give any cookie a glam makeover--and you some serious baking cred. Sprinkle a few dragées on thin icebox cookies like the Speculoos Buttons for added height, or roll your favorite ginger-snap in sanding sugar before baking for extra texture. We love vintage-inspired hues like silver and gold, but feel free to color your holidays any way you like.

4 Common Sugar Cookie Mistakes (2024)

FAQs

4 Common Sugar Cookie Mistakes? ›

But anyone who's ever made cookies has experienced the agony of treat defeat when a batch baked with the highest of hopes just doesn't hit the mark. They could be dry or doughy, tough or crumbly, spread too thin (or hardly spread at all), entirely too sweet or bewilderingly bland, or burnt or underbaked.

What are 3 problems with baking cookies? ›

But anyone who's ever made cookies has experienced the agony of treat defeat when a batch baked with the highest of hopes just doesn't hit the mark. They could be dry or doughy, tough or crumbly, spread too thin (or hardly spread at all), entirely too sweet or bewilderingly bland, or burnt or underbaked.

What messes up cookies? ›

Over-creaming the batter; Using too much butter; Not using enough butter; Not using enough sugar.

What are the five common baking mistakes? ›

Common Baking Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
  • Baking at the wrong temperature. ...
  • Not measuring ingredients. ...
  • Checking on your items too frequently. ...
  • Your ingredients are at the wrong temperature. ...
  • Your dough isn't rising. ...
  • Nothing is baking evenly. ...
  • Your dough or batter is too tough.

Should I chill my sugar cookie dough? ›

Chilling the dough also improves the way your cookies taste. "In terms of flavor, you'll notice more depth of flavor from the vanilla and the sugar will taste sweeter," says Haught Brown. "In terms of texture, chilled cookie dough produces a more evenly golden-brown cookie with a crisper edge and chewier center."

Can you over mix sugar cookie dough? ›

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Flour adds fluff and texture to the cookies. Adding too little flour can cause cookies to be flat, greasy, and crispy. Most recipes assume you'll use all-purpose, but if you want a lighter, crumblier cookie texture, choose one with a lower protein content such as cake-and-pastry flour.

What is the golden rule in baking? ›

Basically, all you need to know about baking is that the longer you mix a dough or batter, the stronger the gluten, and the more gluten, the better the chew. But you don't want the same chew from a beautiful cake as you would a baguette, so you minimise the development of gluten by not over-working the dough or batter.

What is the one big rule in baking? ›

#1 Read through the recipe

Make sure to quickly skim the recipe before you start baking to understand the general flow and key steps. You can even make notes on the recipe or highlight key points to help you along.

Should sugar cookies be crunchy or soft? ›

The very best sugar cookies are soft and tender. → Follow this tip: One of the keys to great sugar cookies is mixing the dry ingredients only until they're just incorporated, and not a second longer. Once the dry ingredients are added, less mixing equals more tender cookies.

Why put sugar cookie dough in fridge? ›

"When your dough is refrigerated, the butter hardens. So when you bake them, they spread less and hold their shape better," adds Epperson. "Which means a better likelihood of a soft, chewy cookie in the center." Chilling the dough creates fluffier cookies with better consistency.

What are three problems with cookies? ›

Cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, and session hijacking are some of these attacks. Unsecured cookies may potentially pose a security risk to website owners and users. Unencrypted data about an insecure cookie is sent over HTTP to the original website or to a third party.

What can go wrong when making cookies? ›

Common Cookie Baking Mistakes:
  1. Cookies not baking evenly.
  2. Overcrowding the pan.
  3. Not chilling the dough.
  4. Using wrong flour.
  5. Too much butter softening.
  6. Using stale baking powder or baking soda.
  7. Overworked the dough.
  8. Measuring ingredients incorrectly.
Jan 31, 2023

What are the hazards when baking cookies? ›

The risks most commonly associated with baking are:
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls. Wet floors, as well as spilled batter, dough, and other dry ingredients increase the risk of accidental falls in a bakery. ...
  • Exposure to Asbestos and Flour Dust. ...
  • Lifting and Moving Heavy Objects. ...
  • Heat Stress and Burns.
Oct 22, 2020

What are the disadvantages of cookies? ›

Cons of Cookies:

1. Privacy Concerns: Cookies can store sensitive information, including user preferences, browsing history, and demographic data. This raises privacy concerns, particularly when cookies are used for tracking user behaviour across multiple websites without explicit consent.

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