Can I use Cream of Tartar in a Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe to make them crisp?
I want to know if I can use a cream of tartar in a chocolate chip cookie recipe. I want a crisp cookie. Can I use it with both baking powder & soda? In a peanut butter cookie recipe, it asked for cream of tartar and said that it makes the cookie have a "cracked" appearance on top?
So far, in my search for a crisper chocolate chip cookie, I've found, 1. more white sugar than brown, 2. bake longer than recipe calls for 3. freeze the cookie dough.
Any other suggestions?
Best Answer
Cream of tartar is an acid. The main purpose in a recipe I believe is to work with baking soda to make carbon dioxide to make the dough rise. Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda and various acidic reagents (including cream of tartar) so that some of the reactions are delayed (heat activated) and the gas is not released all at once. If you put baking powder in water, you will see it fizz up somewhat, but once that has died down and if you heat it you should see more fizzing up. The ratio of baking soda to cream of tartar can be calculated fairly easily, and the same can be done if you include baking powder additionally.
The crunch comes from caramelization of sugars which begins at a little above 350F/180C (not to be confused with Maillard browning which begins at a much lower temperature). Now, I have not done any research on this to date and I can only share with you my educated guess. I think if anything, cream of tartar may actually inhibit the crunch as carameliaztion is promoted by alkaline conditions and baking soda is mildly alkaline.
One thing perhaps worth experimenting is to brush the dough with a baking soda solution just before baking. You will need to watch them because you also run the risk of the cookies going brown too quickly before the inside is cooked or they get too dark/burnt. You can also use a solution of sugar and baking soda instead of just baking soda for this "glaze". As for concentrations, you will need to play with that.
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What does cream of tartar add to cookies?
Serves as a leavening agent. Cream of tartar helps to activate the leavening properties of baking soda, thus adding loft and a light, fluffy texture to cookies, cakes, and more.Should I add cream of tartar to chocolate chip cookies?
We like to use cream of tartar in these Chocolate Chip Cookies because the texture comes out soft and moist, with just the slight crispness around the edges.How do you make chocolate chip cookies crunchy?
Since brown sugar is soft, we want to use more white sugar for a crispy cookie. Milk. Just like melted butter, milk helps the cookies spread in the oven which produces crispier edges.How can I make my cookies crunchy?
Using lower-moisture sugar (granulated) and fat (vegetable shortening), plus a longer, slower bake than normal, produces light, crunchy cookies. That said, using a combination of butter and vegetable shortening (as in the original recipe), or even using all butter, will make an acceptably crunchy chocolate chip cookie.Which Celebrity Has The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe?
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