How can I keep my cookies from baking so flat?

Question

I used the recipe on the back of nestle tollhouse and they come out of the oven, flat as a pancake. What can I add to make them thicker?

Answer 1

This is a long answer but it should help you make better cookies.
Use the middle rack in your oven.
Make sure your cookie sheets are cool before you place dough on them. If the cookie sheets are warm, the dough will immediately start to melt and spread out.

If your cookie dough contains butter, try chilling the dough before baking. A warm kitchen is sometimes enough to make the dough too soft. If necessary, while the cookies are baking, place the dough in the refrigerator to keep it well chilled.

Also, if your recipe calls for butter or margarine, don’t use margarine that comes in a tub. A recipe that calls for softened margarine or butter is referring to butter or margarine that has softened on the kitchen counter, not soft spreadable margarine. Spreadable margarine has a high water content, and if you use spreadable margarine, your cookies will most certainly turn out flat. Use margarine that comes in stick form that is labeled for baking purposes, or use genuine butter.

Try the tips and suggestions listed here, and chances are your previously flat cookies will turn out thick, chewy, and delicious.

Answer 2

You could lessen the butter... sometimes too much butter can make cookies "run". Try to use 1/2 butter and 1/2 butter flavored shortening v/s all butter like the recipe states... might make a difference.
Also, I recommend dropping cookie dough from a spoon and scraped off by another spoon onto cookie sheets. Don't handle the dough with you hands--melting butter...flat cookie. Also, don't press it down or pat the top of the cookie "ball" down otherwise you could be making the running cookie problem worse. Good luck!

Answer 3

i have a friend who bakes cookies all the time. any time she has ever had this happen, it has had to do with the flour. it happend to me, so she asked if i had used flour from the top of the bag. i had, and i was absolutly positive i had followed the recipie right. she told me to pour out the top inch of the flour and not even use it, just put it in the trash, then use the flour underneath. i did, and it worked. i dont know the explination for this, but it worked.

also, i have noticed that when ever my mom bakes, she sifts the flour through some sort of strainer first. she has never had flat cookies. it might have something to do with putting a little air in it.

i dont know about the refrigerating thing...ive never done that.

Answer 4

I bake tollhouse cookies all the time. When mine come out flat i add a little more flour. I also roll them into balls first.

Answer 5

replace at least half (preferably all) the butter with shortening. Butter makes cookies flatter. Keep the dough chilled - put it into the refrigerator in between pans. Increase the flour a little, too. Finally, watch the time carefully. Better to underbake them just a little bit.

Answer 6

Make sure your butter is at room temp (not cold and not melted).
Make sure you're using baking soda and not baking powder.
Make sure your oven is operating at the right temp. You might want to purchase one of those oven thermometers to compare it to your oven's settings (you might need a new thermostat).
If you're at a higher altitude you'll have to adjust your recipe.
Try adding a bit more flour

Whatever you do, don't use yeast. Yeast is for breads not for cookies.

Answer 7

you need to add just a little baking powder and don't over mix your dough....overmixing the dough can be the cause of the cookies coming out so flat....go to the food network and check out Paula Deen's tips for baking cookies!

Answer 8

You need to refrigerate the dough for at least 1/2 hour (and while the rest are cooking) before you scoop onto baking sheets.

Answer 9

you need to let your dough sit in the fridge for a while, I like to let it sit for 1/2 hour before I bake them. your just going to wreck your cookies if you add yeast or more flour. sometimes, your baking powder or soda could be old and not effective anymore.

Answer 10

You are putting too many chocolate chips in each cookie. the more you put in the flatter they will get. Watch what happens when you reduce the amount of chocolate