How long should you bake your cookies?

It's impossible to give a single answer to how long you should bake cookies because the baking time varies significantly depending on several factors:

Factors Affecting Baking Time:

* Cookie recipe: Different recipes call for different baking times.

* Cookie size: Larger cookies need more time to bake through.

* Cookie thickness: Thicker cookies need more time to bake through.

* Oven temperature: If your oven runs hot or cold, it will affect baking time.

* Cookie sheet: Dark cookie sheets bake faster than lighter ones.

* Altitude: Higher altitudes require longer baking times.

General Guidelines and Tips:

1. Follow the recipe: Always start with the baking time suggested in your chosen recipe.

2. Check for doneness: After the minimum baking time, check for doneness by gently pressing the center of a cookie. It should be slightly soft but not too gooey.

3. Underbaked cookies: If the center is too soft, bake for a few more minutes.

4. Overbaked cookies: If the edges are too brown and the cookie is hard, it's overbaked.

5. Use a timer: Set a timer for the minimum baking time, then check the cookies frequently.

Important Note: Different ovens vary in temperature. Consider investing in an oven thermometer to ensure your oven is accurately calibrated.

Remember: It's always better to underbake cookies slightly than to overbake them. You can always bake them for a little longer, but you can't undo overbaking!