how can i keep my cookies soft after i bake them?

Answer 1

Under cook them and then keep them in a sealed container.

Answer 2

In my family, we love moist baked goods. When we make cookies and cakes we let them cool for about ten or fifteen minutes and then we cover them completely. The steam that is rising off of the cake then doesn't completely escape and the moisture stays in the baked good.

I will be honest and say that when you use this technique on a cake, that you end up with a little excess moisture on the top layer of your baked good. I personally love it and, possibly due to the family tradition, I have a hard time eating a cake or cookie that has been left to cool in the air completely because, to me, it seems very dry.

My suggestion with cookies is to let them cool until you can move them without breaking them, and then put them in a container with an airtight lid. I put a few slices of bread over each layer of cookies in the container before closing it up so that any steam that might still be rising is absorbed by the bread; thus you have enough moisture to keep the cookies soft, but not so much that they are 'soggy'.

Again! he he! This is a family tradition and I suppose if you grew up in a house where dry cakes were tradition, then perhaps my way wouldn't be so appetizing. I think it is fun that you asked this question though, because the next batch of cookies you make will give you the opportunity to try out several of the tips offered.

So good luck and happy baking!

note: there is such a fine line between a cookie being 'soft' done and 'crunchy' done. I tend to take my cookies out after they have slightly browned and allow them to finish 'baking themselves'. You have to experiment with this technique however. I don't like a doughy cookie, so I indeed have to make sure they are cooked thoroughly. But it seems that sixty seconds can make all the difference in the world when it comes to baking a soft cookie as opposed to a crunchy one.

Answer 3

You have 2 things you have to do:

1) prevent the dough from spreading out so far that the cookie 'crisps'

2) avoid overbaking the dough

To keep the cookies from spreading out on the cookie sheet, chill the dough at least 24 hours in the refrigerator before putting it onto the cookie sheet. Also, chill the cookie sheet for at least 10 minutes in the freezer before putting the cookie dough on it.

To avoid overbaking the cookies, take them out of the oven before they are done so that they can finish baking as the cookie sheet cools. Then use a spatula to remove them from the cookie sheet and put them onto baking racks. Put the cookie sheets back in the freezer to get ready for the next batch.

Answer 4

I usually remove the cookies from the oven 2 or 3 minutes before the baking time expires. So they wont dry out. I let. Then I keep them in an air tight container.

Answer 5

I'm not one for soft cookies, But I do know that all the homemade cookies I make, turn soft after a couple of hours in a plastic bag...You can also put them in the bag while slightly warm and they wont lose all the moisture when they cool. Maybe a slightly damp paper towel inside....good luck

Answer 6

Keep them in an airtight container. I found that one of the disposable Ziploc containers works well. Just make sure to keep it closed tightly and "burp" the air out of it after sealing it.

It also depends on your cookie recipe. If your cookie calls for all butter, chances are it's meant to be a crunchy cookie, and nothing you do will keep them soft. If it calls for shortening/margerine/butter combination, those are probably going to be chewy, and that's when keeping them in an airtight container works.

Answer 7

First try not to over bake them cause they will be hard for sure. Try to put them in an air tight container or zip lock bag after 2 min. of cooling.

Answer 8

cook them for a minute or two less....
when i make choclate chip cookies, i use the recipe on the back of the chip bag. the one that says 2 1/4 cups of flour, and then i add another 3/4 cup of flour-theyre thicker and dont spread as much. then i cook them for only 9 minutes, as opposed to 11. they stay softer longer, and to add to that, they should be kept in an air tight container. hope this helps! :)

Answer 9

Here is a trick my gramma taught me. If you lay bread on top of your cookies when you put them away they will stay very soft! It works every time! You will notice the bread getting hard but not your cookies!

Answer 10

Always cool your cookies on a rack, not a countertop, and always store them in an air tight container wrapped in waxed paper. Thats what I do and they stay real soft and fresh...

Answer 11

Try placing them on a plate under some plastic wrap (I find that the Glad Press 'n Seal works best).

NOTE: Live in FL, the rules are somewhat different down here i.e. no "bread box"; must have bread in fridge.