Why do my chocolate chip cookies bake flat instead of fluffy?

Question

I follow the recipe, mixing the sugars, butter, and eggs. I then add dry ingredients, mixing well. I EVEN make sure the butter's not too soft! Sometimes, I'll even chill the dough. Nothing seems to work. My Chocolate Chip Cookies ALWAYS come out flat! Is my baking soda ineffective? Should I add more? Anyone have a "fail proof" (or "fool proof") recipe?

(Thanks in advance for your thoughtful answers.)

Answer 1

There's a lot of reasons that cookies come out flat.....either you've overcreamed the butter and sugars, or there's not quite enough flour, or the dough is too warm when it goes into the oven, or the oven isn't hot enough.....etc etc etc.




These are foolproof...

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 cup butter flavored shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons Mexican vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter flavored shortening, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla .Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until light brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Make sure you don't have a greased cookie sheet. The extra grease will make the cookies flatten out and they won't rise while baking.

Also, if you're using baking soda, try baking podwer. That's duel action which means half of it works while it's still a dough and the other half works in the oven.

The recipe I use (and trust me, I don't make much in the kitchen other than a mess) is:

1 1/8 c flour (I like wheat, but white works just fine)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/c butter (i whole stick)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt.
1 c chocolate chips

1. Melt the butter in the microwave or stove.
2. Add both sugars to the melted butter and let them sit.
3. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking soda (sift together if usuing white flour)
4. In a smaller bowl, beat egg and add vanilla.
5. Pour egg mixture into butter/sugar mixture.
6. Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients and then fold in choc. chips.
7. Bake on UNGREASED baking sheet for 10 minutes at 350 F.

Hope that works for you.

Answer 4

Instead of using choc chips, buy some 'choc melts'. They are bigger, rounder, and melt right into the cookie dough. Secondly, why don't you leave the dough to rise BEFORE placing it into the oven? Or maybe you shouldn't leave them in for as long as you do. It really is depentent on how hot your oven is. What kind of brands are you buying? Consider trying new brands and perhaps you will achieve a better result. If all else fails, try baking something else!!!!!

Answer 5

Try substituting margarine or shortening for butter. Special note for chocolate chip cookies: after many experiments I realized that mom was right, you must use cane sugar for both white & brown sugars. If is doesn't say so - it isn't. Dominos works best. If your choc chip cookies are flatter than pancakes - that's the problem. Good luck!

Answer 6

there's a couple things that could be going on. over-mixing the batter is a bad thing. also, you don't want to touch the batter too much when you're spooning the mixture onto the baking sheet.
the best thing to do is use two spoons, so you don't have to touch it at all. it has something to do with the oil in your skin affecting the oil in the mix. i've always had pretty good luck with my cookies, and am very strict about the touching the dough thing. i hope this helps. good luck! oh, and be sure to put the mix back in the fridge between batches.

Answer 7

Why Are My Cookies Flat

Answer 8

when i add an extra egg it makes the cookies more 'cake like' vs. flat...the same goes for brownies except on brownies it even says it on the package. The best recipe of Chocolate chip cookies is on the back of the tollhouse bag!! Also, do NOT spray your pan...

Answer 9

Are you using Joy of Cooking? Good cookbook, bad recipe for chocolate chip cookies. It never works out for me and I am very good in the kitchen.

Answer 10

Cookie dough shouldn't be too moist. It should be pretty thick and have rough texture and not wet and smooth.