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Why do my cookies look like pancakes?
So recently I made my delicious cowboy cookies, and they were looking great until I pulled them out. Instead of my beautiful, thick oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, I found flat, crunchy disks of oatmeal and chocolate chips. I couldn’t figure out what happened, so I did a little research.
I’d followed my recipe perfectly. I didn’t leave anything out, so why did my cookies look like pancakes? The answer- the butter. The recipe called for softened butter. Of course, I have a bad habit of deciding to make cookies without prepping anything first. So I often throw my butter in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to soften up. Sometimes, it melts a little, but I didn’t think it would hurt anything. WRONG!!!
My research found that melted butter causes the cookies to run. Ok, I honestly don’t remember the chemistry that causes this to happen, and I can’t find the same site again. All I know is that melted butter make the cookies run, and softened butter doesn’t. Oh, if your butter is melted, you can still save it. Stick your batter in the fridge, and allow it to cool before you scoop and bake your cookies.
So the next time you’re making cookies, if the recipe calls for softened butter, then be sure you don’t melt it. (Oh, and I’m bad about wanting to make cookies immediatly. So how do I soften my butter quickly? I still use the microwave, but now I do it in 5 second increments, turning the stick each time till I get to the perfect softness.)
Posted by admin on July 31st, 2008 under Oops! Mishaps in the kitchen
