Baking Homemade Cookies
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| Valentine Cookies |
Baking homemade cookies so that they have your desired texture, appearance, and nutritional value requires more than easy cookie recipes. It takes some understanding of the baking process, tools, techniques, and ingredients.
It also helps to follow these five rules:
1. Understand the nature and characteristics of each ingredient - flour, eggs, fats & oils, sweeteners, leaveners, flavors, and even decorating materials like fondant, marzipan - Each contributes to the appearance and texture of homemade cookies in its own way.
2. Measure baking ingredients accurately by using proper tools and techniques. This is part of mise en place - a French term means accurate selection and measurement of ingredients.
3. Do not overmix your cookie dough.
Overmixing encourages gluten development, resulting in dense and tough cookies.4. Do not overbake. Closely monitor oven temperature and baking time.
5. Always bake your homemade cookies with passion. :-)
I learned the first four rules very well in my cookie baking classes. No one, unfortunately, can teach you and me the fifth rule. I hope that with your existing passion for baking cookies, you will find this Web site informative and inspirational because I have so much more to share with you.
But before you start exploring this baking resource, I invite you to read these objective comments from David, Tiffany, Holly, and Lara:
"Wow, what a great site. I just wanted to say thank you for this site and all of the information you have available."
| David King |
| 12/30/2009 |
"I magically found this site just in time for Christmas. It went right into my favorites! Thank you for the wonderful recipes and tips!"
| Tiffany |
| 11/30/2009 |
"Oh my gosh, I just spent HOURS on your website! This is the epitome of a cookie website - I LOVE IT! I feel like I could keep reading on forever and still find new things. I am a die-hard cookie fan and passionate baker (even thought I'm only 23!), and this website has been the most informative I've come across so far - everything you need to know in one place. Thank you so much for all of the info! I would one day LOVE to sell my baked goods, and this website is definitely educating me on things I wanted to know. Thanks again, Holly."
| Madison, WI |
| 4/13/2009 |
| "Really nice site! Thanks!!" |
| Lara |
| 12/25/2008 |
The following TABLE OF CONTENTS will ease your navigation. You can also bookmark this page by simply clicking on this button
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| Baking Homemade Cookies Blog Baking Homemade Cookies Blog quickly and conveniently keeps you informed of new Web pages, updates to existing ones, as well as time-sensitive cookie related news and events. |
| Smart Cookies Ezine - Always Keeping You Informed Smart Cookies ezine features recipe comparison, introduces cookies and cookie related products, reminds you of Web site updates along with intriguing articles, baking tips and trivia. |
| Easy Cookie Recipes - Less Time Preparing, More Time Enjoying Low fat, gluten free, no bake....many easy cookie recipes including the first American cookey recipe. |
| Cookie Problems – How to Avoid Them Helpful baking tips to assist homemade cookie lovers and bakers in avoiding and solving common cookie problems. |
| How to Mail Homemade Cookies With Three Easy Steps Necessary ingredients to mail homemade cookies are selecting the right types of cookies, packing them properly, and using appropriate mailing method. |
| Baking Cookies - Helpful Tips and Techniques Baking cookies starts with selecting the right tools and proper measuring of ingredients. Here are many other helpful tips and techniques... |
| No Bake Cookies and Their Connection to Flour Although not used directly in no bake cookies, wheat flour has different types and comes in various forms. An analysis of its kernel and explanation of gluten are also available. |
| Gourmet Cookies and Their Flours High quality ingredients are essential in baking gourmet cookies. What is gluten free flour and is it considered high quality? |
| Effects of Sugar on Baking Homemade Sugar Cookies Understanding the essential roles of sugar is prerequisite to baking tender sugar cookies. |
| Sweeteners in Baking Homemade Cookies - Pros and Cons Find out what other sweeteners besides honey can contribute to the unique flavors and texture of homemade cookies. |
| Low Fat Cookies - Healthier Alternatives Understanding essential roles of fats, anyone can create and enjoy great tasting low fat cookies. |
| Butter for Baking Homemade Cookies Butter is certainly not the only choice of fats in baking homemade cookies. Find out about characteristics and composition of margarine, shortening, and oils in addition to butter. |
| Effects of Eggs on Baking Homemade Cookies There is more to eggs than just providing structure and tenderness to homemade cookies. Here's why... |
| Chocolate Chip or Chocolate Chip Cookies - Which Was First to Appear? Introducing the origin of chocolate chip and many other varieties of baking chocolate. |
| Choices of Nuts in Baking Homemade Cookies Introducing different nuts most often used in baking homemade cookies including how to properly measure and store them. |
| Dried Fruits in Baking Homemade Cookies Explaining the production and benefits of dried fruits, such as raisins, in baking homemade cookies. |
| Popular Flavorings for Your Favorite Homemade Cookies An overview of origins, types, and composition of popular spices and processed flavorings used in baking homemade cookies. |
| Baking Soda and Other Leaveners for Homemade Cookies History and composition of baking soda, baking powder, and other leaveners used in homemade cookies. |
| Fondant – Perfect for Cookie Decorations Decorating homemade cookies with fondant and sharing a recipe for this versatile sugarpaste. |
| Marzipan Basics Including a Simple Sculpting Project Showing you how to make marzipan, how to work with it, and how to preserve its quality. |
| Cookie Icing and Glazes - More Than a Visual Appeal Discussing different types, characteristics, and main ingredients of a stable cookie icing or glaze. |
| Cookie Baking Process - Science and Common Sense Important steps in a cookie baking process - from A through Z. |
| Comparing Baking Recipes Using Baker's Percentage Selecting baking recipes and adjusting them are easy using baker's percentage. It involves a little science and a little common sense. |
| Food Sanitation in Baking Homemade Cookies Some issues concerning food sanitation and safety are personal hygiene, cross contamination, improper storage of cookie ingredients. |
| Reasons to Host a Cookie Exchange Party Discover my favorite reason for hosting a cookie exchange party, in addition to other ideas and tips. |
| Evolution of Cookie Gift Baskets - A Story in Reverse Two possible origins of cookies may have started before the Middle Ages. Fancy cookie gift baskets or cookie bouquets were unknown in those days. |
| Baking Homemade Cookies SiteSearch Baking homemade cookies Web site is a labor of passion created by a baking enthusiast. Search the site to share this passion. |
| How to Contact Baking Homemade Cookies A perfect way to contact me if you have suggestions, comments, cookie recipes to share. Looking forward to hearing from you. |
| Resources Related to Baking Perfect Homemade Cookies Offers cookie lovers many relevant, quality, and helpful resources that are related to baking homemade cookies and to building Web sites. |
