Hello Cookie Lovers,

How are you? Happy Thanksgiving!

In this issue of Smart Cookies, you will find:

  1. Recipe ComparisonChocolate Chip Cookies, Gluten-Free and Not
  2. Cookie Question
  3. Girl Scout Cookies – Homemade or Commercially Made?
  4. How to Keep Cookie Dough From Excessive Spreading

Recipe Comparison

This segment is to give you a general idea of possible taste and texture cookies might have before you actually bake them. It is not to determine that one recipe is better or worse than the other.

I baked 2 versions of chocolate chip cookies, gluten-free and regular, following directions from the same recipe.

R1 – Gluten-Free
R2 – Regular

1 cup = 8oz = 16 Tbsp = 48 tsp
1 whole egg is approximately 2 oz., yolk is about 0.5 oz. and the white 1.5 oz.

R1 – Gluten-Free

R2 – Regular

Amount Baker’s %
R 1 R 2 R 1 R 2
All purpose flour 0 Tbsp 3 Tbsp 0% 50%
Whole wheatflour 0 Tbsp 3 Tbsp 0% 50%
Rice flour 3 Tbsp 0 Tbsp 50% 0%
Sweet rice flour 3 Tbsp 0 Tbsp 50% 0%
Brown sugar 2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 33% 33%
Unsalted butter 2 Tbsp 2 Tbsp 33% 33%
Beaten Eggs 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp 16% 16%

Both types of cookies are irresistible, of course. I have to admit, however, that the gluten-free version is rather dry and crumply compared to the other.

When mixing ingredients for the gluten-free version, there is no danger of dough ever becoming too tough. On the other hand, your gluten-free chocolate chip cookies may spread quite a bit because the dough lacks structure. Therefore, besides the presence of cornstarch in the list of ingredients, proper and thorough mixing is important with gluten-free cookies.


Cookie Question

As the inevitable holiday season is fast approaching, what is your definition of a balance diet? Hint


Girl Scout Cookies – Homemade or Commercially Made?

When homemade, all kinds of cookies are very effective tools to raise funds for a good cause and to show appreciation.

Having had a firm grasp on this idea, Gretchen Holt-Witt turned 96,000 homemade cookies into $420,000 for pediatric cancer research. In memory of their son, Liam, Gretchen and her husband founded Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a nonprofit organization that inspires people to host bake sales.

Stephanie Baker and thoughtful students at Matthew Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Massachusetts recently baked and shipped 6,375 cookies to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. These cookies are chocolate chips, gingersnaps, and what have you.

Why didn’t Girl Scouts of the USA hold on to the recipe of fund raising with homemade cookies? I haven’t yet been able to come up with a good reason. All I know is that as a lover of homemade cookies, I seldom willingly support Girl Scout Cookies as they currently are. These cookies turn me off simply because they are commercially made.

Let’s bring back the little goodies that are actually made by the scouts or their adult friends and relatives. Participants may have to do a little more work, but the outcome will be a result of love, dedication, and genuine good will.

Wouldn’t you agree?


How to Keep Cookie Dough from Excessive Spreading

Reasons for spreading:

  • Insufficient/inadequate absorption of moisture by dry ingredients.
  • Over creaming of butter and sugar.
  • Warm dough and/or baking sheets.

Remedies:

  • Proper mixing of all ingredients and allowing dough enough time to relax. Refrigerating dough for about an hour or so should be helpful.
  • Using room temperature ingredients.
  • Trying not to microwave butter.

Hint: A balance diet is a homemade cookie in each hand. 🙂

Have an enjoyable Thanksgiving. Until next time ….Be safe!


Published date: November 23rd, 2011

Copyright 2011 by Trinh Lieu. All right reserved.