What happens if you leave out the salt in a cookie recipe?

Taste:

* Less Flavorful: Salt enhances the sweetness of the cookies and balances the other flavors. Without it, the cookies might taste bland or overly sweet.

* More One-Dimensional: The lack of salt can make the flavors seem flat and uninteresting.

Texture:

* Tougher Cookies: Salt helps to control the gluten development in the flour. Without it, the gluten might overdevelop, leading to tougher, chewier cookies.

* Spread More: The salt helps to control the spread of the dough, so without it, the cookies might spread more than intended.

Other Effects:

* Less Browned: Salt helps with browning by reacting with the sugars in the dough. Without it, the cookies might be paler in color.

Overall, leaving out the salt can make the cookies less flavorful, tougher, and spread more.

However, a small amount of salt is usually necessary to balance the sweetness and enhance the flavor. It's important to follow the recipe and adjust the amount of salt only if you're comfortable with the outcome.