Are you unsure of how to prevent cookies from spreading too much when they bake in the oven? If you are trying to problem solve let me help. Here are some tips to help cookies from spreading.
- Was the recipe the issue?
- Did you follow the directions wrong?
- Can you salvage the rest of the cookie dough?
- Can you attempt to fix the rest of the cookie batter to salvage the rest of the cookies?
Even with flat cookies, you will know that doesn’t mean the cookies are ruined. They will still more than likely taste delicious. But let me share some pointers with you that will help prevent fallen flat cookies in your future baking adventures.
Expert Tips On How to Prevent Cookies From Spreading
1. Chilling Cookie Dough
One of the biggest tips I can’t stress enough is chilling the cookie dough. You will find that depending on the recipe, some recipes do not require you to chill the cookie dough.
If the cookie dough you are working with is on the wetter side or sticky, I always recommend chilling for 30 minutes to 2 hours. The colder the dough is, the less the cookies are going to spread as they are baked in the oven.
So if you have a really soft cookie dough, you are going to know it is going to spread to a thinner cookie as it bakes. Now having a thicker and firmer cookie is going to take a bit for the cookies to soften in the oven which results in a thicker cookie.
2. Prepare Your Baking Sheets
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone non-stick baking mat. You want to create a non-stick surface for your cookies. Yes, you can use a cookie spray, but just know it can cause a greasy texture to the cookies.
I find that the silicone baking mat is as it grips the pan and cookie so it is an extra helper in not allowing the dough to spread as far when being baked.
3. Use Cooled Baking Sheets
When baking cookies you normally have to make multiple batches. Make sure you do not place the cookie dough on a hot baking sheet. Make sure the cookie sheets are cooled to room temperature.
If you place it on a hot pan, it instantly begins to melt the cookies, and this is a guaranteed thinner cookie as it instantly begins to spread the cookie dough.
4. Quality Baking Sheets
Do not skimp and buy cheap cookie baking sheets. If you buy cheap cookie sheets you will find they will often burn the bottom of the cookies, or create hot spots in the sheet and overcook areas of the cookies.
You will find that if the pan is dark metal, it will often overbake the cookies. Look for a light-colored pan or even a cookie stone.
5. Tall Cookie Dough Balls
So I learned this a long time ago and it is very handy. When you go to place the cookies on the cookie sheet, make tall dough balls. Roll the dough balls into an oblong shape, instead of a perfect circle. This is going to help the cookies take longer to bake down and spread, resulting in taller cookies.
6. Room Temperature Butter and Eggs
So one thing I recommend is to use room temperature butter and eggs. It will mix the best with the other ingredients and provide the best texture.
But one thing I can’t stress enough is it needs to be softened butter NOT melted. If you melt the butter, it will cause the cookies to overspread when they bake.
If the butter is too warm or melted it will affect the dough. At that point, you will want to refrigerate the cookie dough to ensure it sets up properly.
7. Measuring Flour Properly
Too much flour can leave the cookies dense and heavy. Too little flour the cookies fall flat as they bake. Scoop the flour into the measuring cup with a spoon. Do not pack the flour into the measuring cup. Then level off the top with a knife or flat surfaced tool.
8. Overmixing Cookie Dough
Creaming your butter and sugar for it to become light and fluffy is fine. But once you get the eggs and dry ingredients added you then run the risk of overmixing the cookie dough. Make sure you don’t overmix, or will cause the cookies to be heavy, and dense, and they can fall flat.
9. Bake In Middle Rack
When you are baking cookies it is important to use the middle rack of your oven. You don’t want cookies on all racks, as it will cause the cookies to overbake.
So take the time and do one sheet of cookies at a time, using the middle rack in the oven. That way even heat is distributed to all sides of the cookies and the baking sheet.
10. Fresh Baking Powder and Baking Soda
Baking powder and baking soda both don’t get used a ton in the kitchen. So a container can last a long time. Make sure both are fresh, or if it is expired it will leave the cookies flat and lifeless.
These both are leavening agents that help the cookies and create that fluffy texture.
To know if baking soda is active add a teaspoon in a bowl and add a little vinegar. If it fizzes it is still active.
For baking powder, you will add 1 teaspoon to 4 tablespoons of water. If the water bubbles then it is still active as well.
11. Freezing Cookie Dough
So if you shape your cookies to an oblong shape like listed above or not, you can pop your cookie dough on the baking sheet in the freeze for 10-15 minutes. Then place in the oven and bake the same. The colder your cookie dough, the taller the cookie will become.
12. Oven Temperature
Make sure your oven temperature is accurate. Too hot of an oven can cause your cookies to melt quickly. But also too cool can cause them to flatten as well and it takes a lot longer to bake them through.
13. Cookie Scoop
One big thing I recommend is using a cookie scoop. That way you have uniform-sized cookies so all the cookies bake up the same size and the same amount of time. If you bake the cookies at all different sizes, you run the risk of overbaked cookies and underbaked cookies.
How to Save Flat Cookies
If you made a batch of cookies and they are spreading a little too thin, here is a tip to help save the rest of the cookie dough. I hope you have found help with how to prevent cookies from spreading too much. And if you still run into them spreading here are quick fixes.
- Take the remaining cookie dough place it in the fridge, and allow the cookie dough to chill for 30 minutes to an hour. This is going to help firm up the cookie dough. Then roll it into the oblong ball and try again.
- If you don’t want to do that, grab a spoon and use the spoon to carefully grab the cookie dough and press it back to the center of the cookie shaping it into a thicker cookie. Then return the cookie back to the oven and let it finish baking. This is a that that helps give you thicker cookies, you just have to monitor the dough and shape as it bakes.
The Best Cookie Recipes
I wanted to share some of my favorite cookie recipes on the blog. These are the cookie recipes that the readers come back and make over and over again.
Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies – These are my favorite chocolate chip cookies. Great for gifting loved ones or serving up your family. Thick, soft baked chocolate chip studded cookies.
Cherry Blossom Cookies – Cherry and chocolate collide in these decadent cookies. A cherry-based cookie that is topped with a Hershey’s Kiss on top.
Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies – The cream cheese creates such a rich and decadency to these cookies. Step out of the box from a classic recipe and make
Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies – These are buttery cookie that is filled with a raspberry jam filling and drizzled with a sweet creamy glaze.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – These are a must for any oatmeal cookie lover. Large chunks of sweet chocolate in every single bite.
What tips do you recommend on helping prevent cookies from spreading? Leave a comment and let us know.
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