Why must I return the chilled chocolate cookie dough to room temperature before baking?

Why must I return the chilled chocolate cookie dough to room temperature before baking? - Person Holding White Hexagonal Baking Mold

According to a chocolate chip cookie recipe, I chilled the cookie dough before baking but it was also written to turn the cookie dough to room temperature before baking. What is the purpose of doing that?

I found out research indicating that we put the cookie dough in the fridge to prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. But then why do we have to return the dough to room temperature?

How long should I wait in order for the shaped cookies on the baking sheet to get the room temperature?



Best Answer

The resting is probably to hydrate to the dough, which will inhibit spreading. See https://cooking.stackexchange.com/a/29298/14401.

The bringing back to room temperatre is probably for one of four reasons:

  • To help ensure you are baking each tray at a consistent temperature
  • Colder dough will cook on the outside a bit more before cooking through, so they may brown or crisp or dry out more than is desired before being cooked through
  • They might be somewhat easier to scoop at room temperature
  • The original recipe author was just used to doing it that way.

It is highly likely that by adjusting the baking time slightly, you could bake them from refrigerator temperature, with only a very small change in quality. You would just have to try it and see.




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Quick Answer about "Why must I return the chilled chocolate cookie dough to room temperature before baking?"

Colder dough will cook on the outside a bit more before cooking through, so they may brown or crisp or dry out more than is desired before being cooked through.

How long should chilled cookie dough sit out before baking?

30 minutes will do the trick if you're simply looking to avoid your cookies spreading all over the place. If you have the luxury of chilling the dough overnight to develop flavor, go for it.

Do you need to bring refrigerated cookie dough to room temperature?

Once the dough has chilled, let it warm up at room temperature until it's just pliable (about five to ten minutes); letting it get to be too warm will defeat the purpose of chilling the dough at all.

Can you bake cookie dough right out of the fridge?

If you want to ripen a cookie dough recipe that tells you to bake them right away, just allow your ripened dough to come to room temperature before baking.

How long does it take for cookie dough to get to room temperature?

Anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. The longer you chill the dough, the more flavor will develop. The flour will also absorb more of the moisture so the thicker and chewier the final texture will be.



Chilled Cookie Dough- Do I Warm It Up Before Baking?




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