Cookies are delightful to eat and so simple to make. Everyone has a favorite type of cookie given the variety of flavor options.
Cookie texture is a personal preference as well. Others prefer them hard and crunchy, while others prefer them soft and chewy.
But what if you prefer crunchy cookies, and every time you bake them, they come out soft?
How are soft cookies made harder? Put soft cookies in an oven that has been preheated to 300-50°F and bake for a few extra minutes to harden them, whether they are recently baked or have been sitting out for a few days. To consistently get crisp cookies, you can tweak your cookie recipe and choose the best baking sheet.
Continue reading to discover the causes of soft cookies, how to store them to keep them crunchy, and what steps to take to achieve crispier results.
Exactly why are my cookies chewy and soft?
Despite how straightforward they are, cookies can still cause a variety of problems. Overly soft cookies are one of the most prevalent problems. Fortunately, you can fix the problem if you know a few quick tips.
Many people enjoy their cookies soft and chewy, but some people prefer their desserts to be more crisp.
Your cookies may end up having the incorrect texture for a variety of reasons. It’s crucial to comprehend why the cookies turned out soft before attempting to fix them.
You can prevent making the same mistake again by first understanding the problem rather than immediately seeking a solution.
What makes the cookies too chewy and soft? Most of the time, the problem is either with the ingredients themselves or with the baking tools you use.
Think about the Recipe
The recipe and its ingredients, in general, determine how soft baked cookies will be.
First and foremost, the amount of flour you use to make the cookies has a significant impact on their texture. More flour is better when making cookies that are harder. Just be careful not to overdo it or you’ll end up biting into a jawbreaker.
Second, the cookies will become softer as you add more sugar to the recipe. Last but not least, the amount of fat used to make the cookie dough affects how chewy and soft the cookies are.
To keep your cookies crunchy, you’ll need to use fewer moist ingredients. In a moment, we’ll talk more about that.
If all else fails, just make our crunchy salted caramel cookie recipe!
Think About the Equipment
In addition to the recipe, it’s critical to confirm that the equipment isn’t the cause of the soft cookie issue.
Despite cooking in accordance with your preferred crispy cookie recipe, your cookies end up soft and chewy. This could be a result of the oven’s low power.
The cookies may come out softer than they should if the incorrect baking tray is used.
How to Make Soft Cookies Harder
There are a few things you can do if you are about to bake cookies and want to ensure that they come out crispy.
(1) Modify the recipe
As was already mentioned, the recipe has a significant impact on how crisp the cookies turn out. To start, let’s talk about the recipe to ensure that you get crisp cookies.
What you can do to make cookies crispier is as follows:
Reduce the amount of ingredients with a lot of moisture, such as milk, eggs, and fat.
You might need to experiment a little with your ratios for your specific recipe.
Boost the flour. This essential step will give the texture of your cookies a firmer texture. Since plain all-purpose flour has more protein, we advise using it. A firmer texture can be achieved with protein.
Cut the recipe’s fat content by 25% to 50%. Additionally, consider substituting butter for oil. The cookies spread more because the butter melts at a lower temperature. Cookies as a result become crispier and thinner.
Replace brown sugar with white sugar. The latter preserves moisture, producing cookies that are softer and chewier.
You can get crispier cookies by making a few recipe changes. To avoid having cookies with the incorrect texture and flavor, don’t make too many changes. A lot can go wrong very quickly.
You’ll undoubtedly find the ideal cookie recipe for your favorite crispy desserts after a few tries.
2. Select an Appropriate Baking Tray
Your cookies may be coming out soft and chewy because of the baking sheet. Bake your cookies on aluminum baking sheets for crisp cookies. The cookies soften when they are baked on insulated baking sheets.
3. Lower the temperature
Set the oven temperature lower than recommended in the baking instructions and bake the cookies a little longer for crispier cookies.
Make sure to pre-heat the oven before adding the cookies. Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for crispy cookies.
4. Re-heat the oven with the cookies in it.
Put the cookies back in the oven for a few more minutes if you take them out of the oven and discover that they are not as crispy as you prefer.
The cookies should stay in the oven until they are the desired level of crispness.
If you decide to use this technique, keep a close eye on the cookies because they are prone to burning.
How to Keep Cookies Crispy When Storing
If you want to preserve the texture of the cookies and prevent them from becoming stale or soggy, you must store them properly.
Here’s how to keep cookies crisp and fresh in storage:
- Before putting the cookies in another container, let them cool completely. Even the crispiest cookies will soften if they are covered or stacked on top of one another while they are still warm.
- Place the cookies in a jar with a tight fitting lid.
- Store cookies that you’ve made with various flavors in different containers. Cookies made with ingredients like cinnamon or ginger will give off an aroma that will permeate other cookies.
- Put a piece of white bread in the container with the cookies to prevent them from getting soggy. The moisture that would otherwise cause the cookies to soften will be absorbed by the bread.
- The cookies should be kept at room temperature. Keep the container out of the sun’s direct rays and other heat sources. The shelf life of cookies at room temperature is up to 14 days. Keep the cookie container in the refrigerator or freezer to extend their shelf life. The shelf life of cookies is extended by the refrigerator by up to 21 days. However, the cookies can last up to two months in the freezer.
Keep the container well-wrapped and tightly sealed when putting cookies in the freezer. By doing this, you can stop the cookies from drying out and smelling.
How to Prepare Crispy Leftover Soft Cookies
It is sufficient to reheat soft cookies in the oven for a short period of time to crisp them up.
A biscotti is something you undoubtedly know about if you enjoy baking. A cookie that has been baked twice is known as biscotti. You can take inspiration from these Italian baked goods and rebatch your leftover cookies.
Here’s how to quickly turn your leftover chewy, soft cookies into refreshing desserts.
- the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The cookies should be put on a baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 10 to 15 minutes in the oven. The cookies will become crisp again because the heat will evaporate their moisture.
- After allowing the cookies to cool, place them in an airtight container.
Voila! You can now indulge in crisp, crunchy cookies once more.
Extra: Remaining Cookie Pie Crust
Making a pie crust out of leftover soft cookies is another thing you can do with them.
To make a delicious pie crust from leftover cookies, follow these steps:
- In a food processor or blender, add the cookies.
- Making use of the pulse function, crush the cookies into tiny crumbs.
- Bake the cookies for 15 minutes at 200°F in the oven if they are too soft to break into crumbs. The cookies will become crisper as a result, making it simple to break them up into small crumbs.
- Melted butter should be mixed with the crumbs. For each cup of cookie crumbs, add about three tablespoons of melted butter.
The butter should be distributed evenly among the crumbs by mixing. - Fill the pie pan with the mixture. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan and press it up against the sides.
- Choose your favorite fillings, and fill the crust.
If using leftover cookies to make a pie crust seems like too much work, you can use them to make a hearty ice cream topping.
Simply place the cookies in a blender or food processor, pulse them until you get the texture you like, and then sprinkle them over your ice cream to do this.
