Cookies: An Recipe for Joy
The whole world loves cookies. Whether you call them cookies, biscuits, galletas, or keks, these sweet, cake-like confections have been delighting people for centuries. Culinary historians believe that the first cookie was created in 7th century Persia, and bakers have been creating new recipes ever since.
Enjoying a warm and gooey cookie is one of those simple joys in life that evokes feelings of comfort and pleasure. But sometimes you reach into the jar expecting a soft cookie and instead get hard crunchy hockey puck. Whether it’s due to a mistake in the baking process or because the cookie is getting stale, a hard cookie is a real disappointment.
Don’t let it get you down. With one simple trick you can turn that tough cookie into the chewy delight you were hoping for.
Tough Cookies? Soften Them Up!
The best way to soften up those hard cookies is something you probably already have in your kitchen… bread! That’s right, a piece of fresh bread will make those tough treats soft and chewy. You will need:
- Hard cookies
- Airtight container with a lid
- Slice of fresh bread
Simply lay the bread at the bottom of the container and pile your cookies on top of it, seal the lid, and wait a few hours. The cookies will soak up all the moisture from the bread and by the next morning, they will taste as good as the day they came out of the oven gooey.
There is one caveat to this method, that is don’t use flavored bread. A heavily spiced loaf will affect the taste of whatever else is in the jar. This might not be such a bad thing if the flavors are complementary, like banana bread and sugar cookies or cinnamon loaf and oatmeal raisin cookies, but a lesser appealing combo could ruin your dessert.
Out of bread? Before you run to the store, try using an apple slice in place of the fresh bread. The same caveat applies though, your cookies may take on the apple’s flavor (which could be lovely!)
How NOT to Soften Hard Cookies
You may wonder how you have gone your whole life without learning about this simple and effective cookie saving trick. And now that you do know, you can stop making these common cookie softening mistakes:
- Putting them back in the oven. This is the number one way to ensure that your cookies will never regain their chewy texture. The heat of the oven will only dry them out more and make them hard as rocks.
- Microwaving them. If you cover your cookies with a wet paper towel and nuke them for a few seconds, they should soften up enough to eat. The problem is they will get really hot and melty. By the time they cool down to a temperature you can handle, they will be harder and drier than they were to begin with.
Prevent Hard Cookies
The best way to prevent hard cookies is to avoid doing the things that cause them in the first place. Remember that they continue to cook as long as they’re hot, even after they’ve been taken out of the oven. Pull them out just before they are done to achieve a tray of perfectly baked cookies.
The second way to avoid having hard cookies is to eat them within a couple of days. You won’t need to look too far to find plenty of hungry people willing to help you accomplish this tasty task!
If this post is making you hungry, you can order cookies online through Whisked! If cookies aren't your jam, we also have mail order pies. Satisfy you sweet tooth today!
Written by Jenna Huntsberger
