Let’s be honest; baking cookies is nothing short of art for a lot of people, and with art, there is also some science thrown into the process, and I do understand that you might not even think about it.
But recently, my flatmate came up to me with a question asking why my cookies are puffy, and that made me realize that I have never really faced this issue, but there has to be a reason, and that got me thinking.
That is why in this article, we are going to take a look at why this phenomenon takes place and how you can sort this out. So, let’s not waste time and have a look, shall we?
Why Are My Cookies Puffy?
Now, coming to the actual issue that most people face is that why the cookies are puffy in the first place, and believe it or not, it is not as complicated as it might sound.
We are going to take a look at the issues that other people face with cookies, so you can have a better understanding of what the issue with your cookies is. So, let’s not waste time and have a look.
#1- Using Cold Ingredients.
Perhaps the most or one of the most common reasons why people run into issues with cookies being puffy is that you are using cold ingredients.
Sure, on the surface, it might not look like it is a big deal, but in reality, you have to be absolutely certain that you are not using cold ingredients because the change in temperature of various ingredients can actually mess things up and that is one thing that we don’t want when we are baking cookies, so always keep that in mind.
#2- Overmixing dough by adding too much air while creaming butter.
Another reason why people often end up with puffy cookies is that they are actually overmixing the dough, which ends up adding more air, and that, combined with the butter creaming process, you have a recipe for disaster, and it is never something that ends well.
Therefore, it is best if you just avoid it altogether because, let’s be honest, I would highly suggest that you are avoiding a situation like that because it does end up messing up the recipe.
#3- Excessive eggs.
I do understand that we all love eggs, but let’s be honest, if you end up adding too many of them, then things are going to go wrong because you will not be able to have the experience you are looking for.
Too many eggs can easily end up making the experience with cookies worse, and you would end up with puffiness, which is never good.
#4- Excessive use of flour.
Moving further, when you are looking to get things sorted, and you want to be sure that you are not doing anything wrong, then I would highly suggest that you are looking at not adding excessive flour because it always ends up messing things up, and that is not what we would suggest to anyone, in the first place. If you want the right experience, I would highly suggest that you are sticking to
#5- The sugar and butter were beaten excessively.
If you are looking to be sure that your cookies are turning out fine, you have to be really careful when it comes to beating the sugar and butter.
You don’t have to go ahead and beat them excessively because doing so is only going to introduce more air into the mixture, and this will just mess up the cookies, and that is what we are trying to avoid as much as possible. I do understand you want the perfect result, so it is best if you are avoiding that.
#6- The wrong ingredient was used: baking powder instead of baking soda.
Another thing that a lot of people have very little idea about is that when you are baking cookies or anything, for that matter. You cannot just go ahead and mess up the ingredients.
For instance, if you use baking powder instead of baking soda, you have something that makes a difference, and not for a good reason. If you want to use baking powder for the job done, you will have to triple the amount of baking powder.
So, for instance, if the recipe states that you need 1 tablespoonful of baking soda, you are going to need 3 tablespoons of baking powder to actually work the right way.
#7- It is recommended to use butter that is not melted.
Another thing that we would suggest you is that when you are going for cookies, and you want to be sure that you are not running into puffier cookies, then I would suggest that you are using melted butter.
That way, the butter has an easier time mixing in with the rest of the ingredients, and you will not really run into any issues.
So, I can suggest that if you are looking for something good, this is a great way of making sure that you are not running into any other problems.
#8- Chill the dough.
This is a very common thing that I see a lot of people not paying enough attention to, but if you are genuinely looking to be sure that you are able to make a difference, then be sure that you are letting the dough chill for a while.
The reason is simple, we want cookies that are excellent in every way, and you do not want to run into any issues.
The last thing that I would suggest you to do is that before you are baking the cookies, you press them down just a bit on the baking sheet for a better overall spread.
You have to be sure that they are even so you do not see any problems coming in the way. I do understand that it can be confusing, but hey, it is something that you need to look into.
Yes, the cookies do flatten as they cool, and this actually enhances the flavor too. So, the next time you find yourself in confusion as to whether you are going to let the cookies flatten, I would highly suggest that you do because it results in a much better overall experience, and you get cookies that taste excellent, too.
If you still prefer warmer cookies, you can put them in the microwave oven for 20 seconds or so to warm them up.
Yes, baking soda releases carbon dioxide when added to the cookies, which helps in leavening the dough, and this results in softer and fluffier cookies.
However, you have to be careful because you really don’t want to add too much of it, or else the experience might not be good at all, so it is worth noting.
There are a lot of different methods that you can use to flatten the bookies, and you can look into them to get an idea about what you are going to go with. Almost all the methods work perfectly fine, and they are really good.
Aside from the ingredients that you use, baking cookies in an oven that is at least 375F degrees is better because it allows them to bake a lot faster, and you don’t have to worry about the ingredients just sitting in and drying out inside the oven.
There are several ways through which you can ensure that the cookies that you are making are turning out fluffy. This includes using multiple fats, not using melted butter, chilling the dough, and baking at a higher temperature.
Final Verdict:
We do understand that baking cookies can be difficult, but hey, if you are looking for a good overall experience and an easier time baking cookies, then this is a great way to get started.
You can look at all the tips that we have mentioned here, and you will have a much simpler and easier time baking your cookies. I can assure you that things are not going to go wrong in this process at all.
