Adventures in baking: Sugar cookies from Baking Illustrated
I admit, I had high hopes for these cookies. (Recipe below.) I've always been a huge fan of Cooks Illustrated, because they take the time to explain their methodology and why things work as they do. So I expected their "Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies" recipe to be stellar.
It's not. It's not bad; don't get me wrong. They're just not great. Maybe because I had my oven on a touch too high, or maybe because the melted sugar cooked just a bit too long, but the sugar-coated bottoms of the cookies wound up burning, even though the tops are fine. Also, the cookies are more crumbly than I anticipated. I expected something more smooth than crumbly.
Still, they're decently tasty, especially with milk. I'm just not sure I'll make them again, and I doubt they'll make the Christmas cookie gift list.
(For the record: I made these by hand, and I only cooked one baking sheet at a time because I have a small oven. Your mileage may vary.)
Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
makes about 24
Bakers Illustrated -- p.428
2 cups lower-protein unbleached all-purpose flour (e.g. Pillsbury or Gold Medal)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
16 tbsp unsalted butter, softened but still cool
1 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/2 cup for rolling dough
1 tbsp light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions. Preheat to 375 degrees.
- Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Cream butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. (3 minutes on medium speed)
- Add egg and vanilla; beat until combined. (About 30 seconds on medium speed)
- Add dry ingredients; beat until just combined. (About 30 seconds on low speed)
- Place 1/2 cup sugar for rolling in a shallow bowl. Fill a medium bowl halfway with cold water. Dip your hands in the water and shake off any excess. Roll a heaping tablespoon of dough into a 1 1/2 inch ball between moistened palms, roll the ball in the sugar, and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Using the butter wrappers, butter the bottom of a drinking glass and dip the bottom of the glass in the remaining sugar. Flatting the dough balls with the bottom of the glass until they are about 3/4 inch thick, dipping the glass in the sugar as necessary to prevent sticking (after every 2-3 cookies).
- Baking until cookies are golden brown around the edges and their centers are just set and very lightly colored, 15 to 18 minutes.
- Cool on baking sheets 3 minutes; then transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature.
It's not. It's not bad; don't get me wrong. They're just not great. Maybe because I had my oven on a touch too high, or maybe because the melted sugar cooked just a bit too long, but the sugar-coated bottoms of the cookies wound up burning, even though the tops are fine. Also, the cookies are more crumbly than I anticipated. I expected something more smooth than crumbly.
Still, they're decently tasty, especially with milk. I'm just not sure I'll make them again, and I doubt they'll make the Christmas cookie gift list.
(For the record: I made these by hand, and I only cooked one baking sheet at a time because I have a small oven. Your mileage may vary.)
Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
makes about 24
Bakers Illustrated -- p.428
2 cups lower-protein unbleached all-purpose flour (e.g. Pillsbury or Gold Medal)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
16 tbsp unsalted butter, softened but still cool
1 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/2 cup for rolling dough
1 tbsp light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions. Preheat to 375 degrees.
- Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Cream butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. (3 minutes on medium speed)
- Add egg and vanilla; beat until combined. (About 30 seconds on medium speed)
- Add dry ingredients; beat until just combined. (About 30 seconds on low speed)
- Place 1/2 cup sugar for rolling in a shallow bowl. Fill a medium bowl halfway with cold water. Dip your hands in the water and shake off any excess. Roll a heaping tablespoon of dough into a 1 1/2 inch ball between moistened palms, roll the ball in the sugar, and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Using the butter wrappers, butter the bottom of a drinking glass and dip the bottom of the glass in the remaining sugar. Flatting the dough balls with the bottom of the glass until they are about 3/4 inch thick, dipping the glass in the sugar as necessary to prevent sticking (after every 2-3 cookies).
- Baking until cookies are golden brown around the edges and their centers are just set and very lightly colored, 15 to 18 minutes.
- Cool on baking sheets 3 minutes; then transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature.