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Making Cookies Here is a list of equipment that will help
you make great cookies. Check individual recipes before you
start. Make sure you have the required equipment on hand.
Mixing Equipment
Mixing bowls - You'll need small, medium and large
bowls. They can be made of glass, heavy plastic or stainless
steel.
Measuring cups and spoons - Use standard measuring
cups and spoons. For measuring dry ingredients, use
dry-measure cups. For liquids, use Pyrex measuring cups.
Pastry blender - Pastry blenders are used to cut
shortening into a flour mixture. When the shortening is evenly
distributed, the mixture should look like coarse crumbs.
Electric mixer - Upright or hand mixers may be used
to mix cookie dough, unless the dough is very firm.
Wooden spoons - Use wooden spoons to mix stiff dough
and for general mixing.
Cookie-forming Equipment
Rolling pin - Rolling pins are used for rolling our
cookie dough.
Pastry cloth and stockinette - Cookie dough sticks
less when rolled on a pastry cloth than when rolled directly on a
floured counter. A cloth stockinette fits over the rolling pin
and helps keep dough from sticking to the rolling pin.
Cookie cutters - Cookie cutters come in many shapes
and sizes. They should be sharp, with no rough edges.
Cookie press - This is a metal or plastic, tube
shaped utensil which forms the dough into different shapes by
forcing it out through a variety of patterned disks onto a cookie
sheet.
Ruler - A 12-inch ruler is handy for measuring
rolled-out dough. It can also be used to measure the size of
cookies and pans, or for cutting bars accurately.
Baking Equipment
Cookie sheets - You'll need at least two, and
preferably three cookie sheets.
Shiny, heavy-gauge aluminum or stainless steel
cookie sheets with low sides bake cookies the most evenly.
Nonstick cookie sheets work well if the non-stick
finish is not too dark. If it is very dark, reduce the oven
temperature 25 degrees F.
Dark cookies sheets absorb more heat and can cause
overbrowning of cookie bottoms. Oven temperature can be
reduced 25 degrees F. to compensate for this.
Insulated cookie sheets are made from two layers of
aluminum separated by a layer of air. They can prevent cookies
from becoming too dark on the bottom, but may increase the baking
time. Some cookie doughs may spread more on these cookie
sheets.
Oven thermometer - Hand or stand an oven thermometer
in the oven so you can check for accurate oven temperature when you
bake your cookies.
Timer - Exact baking time is important when baking
cookies. Always use a timer when you put your cookies in the
oven.
Spatulas - Rubber spatulas are used for folding
in ingredients and for scraping dough or batter from the sides of
the bowl. A large metal or plastic spatula works well to
transfer cookies to and from cookie sheets.
Cooling racks - You'll need at least two large wire
cooling racks. These are necessary to allow even cooling on
all side of the cookies.
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