Why do my chocolate chip cookies always burn on the bottom??!
Why do my chocolate chip cookies always burn on the bottom??
Okay, I don't usually let them BURN, but they always come out really dark brown on the bottom and pale white on the top. Sometimes they're actually doughy still on top, but if I leave them in any longer, they do burn on the bottom. The other thing is that they are very flat. The batch I just did could pass for chocolate chip pancakes, no joke. I do measure and read the ingredients carefully and follow the recipe directions precisely. Other info: I have a gas oven. I have experimented with several different recipes; putting the cookie sheets near the top and the middle; lowering the heat 10-20 degrees; and putting a baking pan on a lower rack than my cookies to help buffer the heat, but nothing seems to work! I have thick quality Wilton non-stick cookie sheets.... does the non-stick factor have anything to do with it? Any helpful suggestions appreciated!
Answers:
To solve the "burnt on bottom" problem use an air-bake cookie sheet, a stoneware piece, or line a regular pan with silpat or parchment paper.
To solve the problem of the cookies spreading too much make sure the dough is cold before baking, and don't bake on a hot cookie sheet. Cover and chill your dough in the fridge before dropping onto the cookie sheet. Cold dough will hold its shape, whereas dough that starts out warm will spread thin. You can even press the dough into a log, wrap in cling wrap, and chill to have homemade slice-and-bake cookie dough.
Between batches either let the cookie sheet cool off or switch of between 2 or 3 cookie sheets.