At one point or another, many bakers will find themselves asking why are my cookies flat? This ultimate cookie guide covers the top reasons for flat cookies and the best remedies to keep them from spreading out too much in the future. I will also share the best baking secret with you on how to fix flat cookies.
DOUGH IS OVERMIXED However, avoiding overmixing is essential as this can lead to flat, crispy cookies. Overmixing can create a surplus of air bubbles that can collapse while baking and can over-develop the gluten in your dough, which can lead to a dense and tough cookie.
The butter was too soft
Most cookie recipes call for room temperature butter. Room temperature butter should be around 19 degrees Celsius /65 degrees Fahrenheit when its ready to use. It should also be soft and pliable, but not runny.
Room temperature butter is able to hold air when creamed, which helps create a light dough. Melted butter cant do the same and is unable to give your cookies the lift that they need. One exception is my brown butter chocolate chip cookies. In this recipe, the other ingredient ratios compensate for the melted butter.
1 Too many cookies baked at a time
Cookies need space to spread and overcrowding the baking sheet can cause them to flatten. Baking too many batches at a time could also cause flat cookies. When baking cookies, youll get the best results from cooking one tray at a time. While it can be tempting to bake multiple trays at a time, it can make the cookies bake unevenly due to oven hot spots.
10 Most Common Cookie Baking Mistakes
FAQ
What causes cookies to be thin?
How do you fix thin cookies?
Why did my cookies come out flat and crunchy?
Why are my cookies crunchy and not chewy?
Why are my cookies so thin & crisp?
If your cookies come out too thin and crisp, it may be because there was too much sugar, especially white sugar, in the dough. A higher ratio of white sugar makes crisper cookies, whereas a higher ratio of brown sugar makes chewier cookies. Another possible cause is the temperature of the butter or batter.
Why do cookies come out flat & overly crispy?
If they come out flat and overly crispy, that could be because they are lacking flour. It could also be that the cookies don’t have enough baking powder. The flour fills out the cookies gives them some substance and some depth. The baking powder will lighten the cookies and make them fluffier as it rises when activated by heat.
Why are my cookies Cakey?
When cookies are too cakey, there are two main culprits: too much leavening (baking powder or baking soda) or too much egg. If there is too much baking powder or baking soda in the dough, the cookies will rise too much when baking, creating a cakier structure. Eggs also promote a cakey structure in cookies.
Why are my cookies greasy?
Too much butter or other fats can make your cookies spread out and become greasy. Inaccurate measurements of flour (too little) or leavening agents can also lead to flat cookies. Additionally, your dough might be too warm when it goes into the oven, causing the butter to melt too quickly and result in flat, greasy cookies.