Baking Tips

Cookie Sheets

Cookies absorb more heat and bake faster on dark metal pans, which can cause cookies to be too dark or to burn on the bottom; pans with a light-colored metal surface generally bake lightly browned cookies. If your cookie sheets are darker, you may have to adjust your baking time or temperature.
Bake only one cookie sheet of cookies at a time and place it on the center rack of the oven.
Allow cookie sheets to cool down before placing dough balls on them, as a warm cookie sheet will cause the cookies to melt and spread before they are baked.

Parchment Paper

If you have difficulty baking cookies at home, you might want to try lining your cookie sheets with parchment paper, which

Allows cookies to get done in the middle without burning the edges or bottom of the cookies.
Helps keep cookies from spreading too much.
Helps keep some types of cookies from crumbling around the edges.

Baking Time

Watch the baking time and use an accurate timer.

Start by setting the timer for the minimum baking time listed on the package, but also remember to remove the cookies from the oven when they seem done, rather than going strictly by the suggested time. Even one minute can mean the difference between a cookie that is done and one that is ruined.

Oven Temperature

Verify that your oven is at the correct temperature by using an oven safe thermometer and then adjust the temperature accordingly.

Some ovens will do a better job of maintaining the correct temperature if you wait at least 10 minutes to start baking your cookies after preheating your oven.

When using a dark metal cookie sheet, some bakers reduce the oven temperature by up to 25 degrees F to allow for a faster baking time.

Since no two baking situations are the same, your cookies will turn out best when you determine your own unique bake time, using your oven and your pans.