How to Make Cookies From Scratch

Baking is one of the most calming of all cooking techniques but also one that many people are intimidated of. There is nothing more mouth-watering than the smell of freshly baked cakes and cookies. But unlike making a stew or soup where you can add new ingredients or vary the quantity of ingredients in the dish, baking is more exacting. All the ingredients that go into baking a cake or a soufflé has to be measured exactly and you need to make sure that the heat in the oven is uniform and constant. But do not let this hold you back from baking a fresh batch of cookies or gingerbread for your family and friends. Here we are going to discuss how to make cookies from scratch.

How to Make Sugar Cookies from Scratch

Ingredients

• 225 g butter, softened
• 110 g caster sugar
• 275 g plain flour
• Zest of 1 lemon

Method

In a food mixer, add the sugar and softened butter and process them until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy. If you do not have a food mixer, you can combine the mixture together in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy. Now sift in the flour and add the grated lemon zest. Combine all the ingredients together until you have a soft dough. Place the dough on a clean and dry wooden chopping board and knead it gently with your hands. Roll the dough into a sausage shape and form small walnut size balls with your hands.

Grease a baking tray with a bit of butter and place the walnut shaped cookie dough balls into the baking tray making sure that they are slightly apart. Dampen a fork in water and press the dough balls slightly so that they are flattened. Place the baking tray inside a preheated oven of 170º and bake them for 12 - 15 minutes. After baking, the cookies should be lightly golden brown in color. Leave them on a wire rack to cool before transferring them to a cookie jar. You can also decorate the cookies with melted dark or white chocolate.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies from Scratch

Ingredients

• 150 g flour
• 125 g dark chocolate
• 1 large egg
• 30 g cocoa, sieved
• 125 g soft butter
• 50 g white sugar
• 7 5g light brown sugar
• 350 g dark chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate
• ½ teaspoon salt

Method

To make this yummy chocolate chip cookies, first melt 125 g of dark chocolate in a double boiler. If you do not have a double boiler, you can melt in a microwave or by placing it in a small bowl over a pan of simmering water. While you are melting the chocolate, preheat the oven to 170º C.

In a large bowl, sift the flour and add the cocoa powder, sodium bicarbonate and salt and keep this aside. In the mixer, combine the sugar and butter until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the melted chocolate to this mixture and process slowly. Add the egg and the vanilla extract along with all the dry ingredients that you had kept aside. Mix all the ingredients together. Finally add the dark chocolate chips into the mixture and fold in the mixture with a light hand.

Line a baking tray with a baking sheet and place scoops of the cookie batter into the baking sheet. Make sure that the cookie batter is placed at equal intervals. Place the baking tray inside the preheated oven and bake cookies for 16 - 18 minutes. When cookies are crisp transfer them to a wire rack and allow them to cool.

How to Make Oatmeal Cookies from Scratch

Ingredients

• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup golden raisins
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Method

In a large bowl, add the flour, oats, baking soda and salt. With a whisk combine all the ingredients together. In a stand mixer, beat the sugar and softened butter together until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract into the mixture. Next add the dry ingredients i.e. flour, oats, baking soda and salt that was kept aside in the bowl. Combine the mixture well and add the golden raisins.

Lightly grease a baking tray and drop spoonful of the cookie dough on the tray. Bake the cookies for 11 - 13 minutes at 170º C in the oven until they are crisp on top and cooked through. Cool on a wire rack.

There are many different types of cookies that you can try making once you master the basic recipe. Now that you know how to make cookies, add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg or poppy seeds and sesame seeds to give your cookies a different taste and flavor.