How do I make my cookies softer?

Question

I live at high altitude (8500 ft.), which makes it harder to cook anyway. My husband loves snickerdoodles, and since I've moved here, I haven't been able to make them soft and chewy. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Answer 1

Do they have flour in them? I used to live in Denver and we used a special high-altitude flour at the restaurant where I worked. You might try that.

Also, try getting a copy of Madeliene Kamman's "The New Making of a Cook". In the baking section, I think she had a whole chapter on high-altitude baking.

Answer 2

Try them at a lower temperature (or higher, sadly enough I don't know if the differences are usually high or lower then if you're at higher altitude compared to low altitude).. but if that doesn't work, then just take them out sooner. It sucks, but I'd try experimenting.
The applesauce idea might work though. I don't know about substituting the brown sugar, but the apple sauce will keep it softer anyway.

Answer 3

trick is?
don't cook the cookies all the way
take them out when they're a little doughy still
and then let them sit for a while
by the time he's ready to eat it
it should be soft and chewy perfectly.
good luck.

Answer 4

Decrease cooking time by 2-3 min.

Answer 5

Using margarine or shortening in place of some of the butter, the recipe I like uses half and half.

Answer 6

Try changing out some of the white sugar for brown. And if that doesn't work, try a little applesauce.

Answer 7

I've heard that using margarine in place of butter softens things up!

Answer 8

Bake them a wee bit less.

Answer 9

bake them in a lower temperature and add more baking time
Changes your ingridients also

Answer 10

Have you tried lowering the temp. 5degrees and mixing the batter as if you were aerating it.