I’d much rather have chewy sugar cookies than crumbly mess cookies. Though I’ve never been that big of a fan, so maybe it’s still a less “ideal” sugar cookie.
Tbh, if I can’t get them right, I’d rather have chewy than that half-ass crumbly texture too.
Sugar cookies need to be crisp, crystalline, not crumbly. The problem is that it’s all about getting that sugar/fat ratio perfect with the flour, and that’s hard to pull off since flour hydration varies based on environmental factors.
They’re one of those super basic kind of baked good that is so hard to really nail that it could be a test. It’s like omelettes; you have to really have your techniques and knowledge nailed down tight to make them great, and they’re easy to screw up.
But damn, when they do come out perfect, and they almost dissolve on the tongue leaving behind that buttery goodness, it’s a bit of magic. Not my favorite cookies by a mile, but still.
Reminds me of those cooking anime when they’re describing a perfectly cooked meal… ugh I’m too hungry. lol Pretty sure I saw poached eggs and omelettes as tests in real cooking shows, too. I want to taste a perfect sugar cookie. They might not remain at the bottom of my cookie list if it’s as good as you describe.
I wish I could pretend to get them perfect every time, but I kinda cap out at 7/10. I’ve gotten to the point where the edges are always great, but nailing the centers isn’t as reliable.
My omelette game is amazing though! Been working on that since I was a kid. Don’t ask about the poached eggs though lol.
One of the biggest factors in getting the centers crispy is the thickness factor though. After I’ve got them cut, I take a cocktail or highball glass, dip the bottom into sugar and gently flatten them a little more. Not enough the edges split, but just before they would.
If the flour is running a little more moist, I’ll decrease the amount of egg a touch by separating the yolk and decreasing it by half-ish. It’s one of those things that’s by feel though, I’ve yet to figure out a way to turn it into a precise measure because it’s all about his the flour feels before and during mixing. The difference is minor, but it seems to be the limiting factor in making sure the centers are crispy rather than crunchy or chewy.
I’d much rather have chewy sugar cookies than crumbly mess cookies. Though I’ve never been that big of a fan, so maybe it’s still a less “ideal” sugar cookie.
Tbh, if I can’t get them right, I’d rather have chewy than that half-ass crumbly texture too.
Sugar cookies need to be crisp, crystalline, not crumbly. The problem is that it’s all about getting that sugar/fat ratio perfect with the flour, and that’s hard to pull off since flour hydration varies based on environmental factors.
They’re one of those super basic kind of baked good that is so hard to really nail that it could be a test. It’s like omelettes; you have to really have your techniques and knowledge nailed down tight to make them great, and they’re easy to screw up.
But damn, when they do come out perfect, and they almost dissolve on the tongue leaving behind that buttery goodness, it’s a bit of magic. Not my favorite cookies by a mile, but still.
Reminds me of those cooking anime when they’re describing a perfectly cooked meal… ugh I’m too hungry. lol Pretty sure I saw poached eggs and omelettes as tests in real cooking shows, too. I want to taste a perfect sugar cookie. They might not remain at the bottom of my cookie list if it’s as good as you describe.
I wish I could pretend to get them perfect every time, but I kinda cap out at 7/10. I’ve gotten to the point where the edges are always great, but nailing the centers isn’t as reliable.
My omelette game is amazing though! Been working on that since I was a kid. Don’t ask about the poached eggs though lol.
This recipe is pretty close to the one I use; I haven’t gotten around to digitizing some of my older recipes out of laziness.
One of the biggest factors in getting the centers crispy is the thickness factor though. After I’ve got them cut, I take a cocktail or highball glass, dip the bottom into sugar and gently flatten them a little more. Not enough the edges split, but just before they would.
If the flour is running a little more moist, I’ll decrease the amount of egg a touch by separating the yolk and decreasing it by half-ish. It’s one of those things that’s by feel though, I’ve yet to figure out a way to turn it into a precise measure because it’s all about his the flour feels before and during mixing. The difference is minor, but it seems to be the limiting factor in making sure the centers are crispy rather than crunchy or chewy.