In the Kitchen

What Did I Do Wrong?

o Biscuits/cookies spread on tray --> incorrect measuring of ingredients (mixture too soft, usually due to over beating), or oven not hot enough.
o Biscuits/cookies too hard--> incorrect measuring of ingredients, biscuits overcooked, oven temperature too high.
o Biscuits/ cookies too soft --> undercooked, not cooled in single layer or wire racks, not cooled completely before storing
o Biscuits/cookies over-browned underneath --> incorrect measuring of ingredients, usually sugar, honey, golden syrup, etc., oven tray over- greased, incorrect oven position, or incorrect oven temperature.

o Use the correct cake pan or oven tray when baking biscuits/cookies. Use oven trays with little or no sides. If the sides are more than 1cm high, the heat cannot circulate properly to brown the biscuits.
o As a guide, it?s best to position biscuits and slices towards the top half of a gas oven and towards the lower half of an electric oven. In a fan-forced oven, the heat distribution should be even.
o Several trays of biscuits can be baked in the oven at the same time, provided the trays do not touch the oven walls or the closed door. There must be space around each tray to allow the heat to circulate evenly. Don?t be afraid to open the oven door to check if the biscuits are browning evenly. Turn the trays if necessary. It is best to rotate trays half way during baking to ensure even browning. In a fan-forced oven, biscuits should brown and bake evenly without turning or rotating.
o To test if biscuits and cookies are cooked: they should still feel slightly soft on the tray. Five them a gentle push with your finger, they should keep their shape but loosen o the tray so they slip a little without breaking. Biscuits and cookies will become crisp on cooling.
o Do not over-beat butter, sugar and egg mixtures. Over-beating will soften the mixture, which could cause biscuits to spread during baking.

*Adapted from Quick-Mix Biscuits & Slices. The Australian Women?s Weekly Cookbooks. Sydney. 1998.

Qte's Tip: When baking, don't stress out to make the best cookies. Just relax and have fun.