There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked cookies filling your kitchen—unless, of course, those cookies turn out flat, burnt, or rock-hard. If you’ve ever peeked into the oven expecting golden perfection and instead found a baking disaster, you’re not alone. Cookie baking can feel like a delicate balancing act, but the good news is that most common problems have simple fixes.
In this post, we’ll walk you through how to troubleshoot the most common cookie-baking issues, from cookies that spread too much to dough that’s impossible to work with. Whether you're baking from scratch or just want to understand what went wrong last time, we’ve got your back.
Of course, if you want to skip the guesswork and get perfect cookies every single time, there’s an easier way: use My Better Batch cookie mix. Our mixes are made with clean, simple ingredients and tested to deliver consistent, delicious results with minimal effort. Just add butter and an egg - no stress, no surprises, just bakery-quality cookies in minutes.
Problem: Cookies Spreading Too Much
You’re excited for a fresh batch of delicious cookies, you think all you have left to do is bake the dough, you pop your dough balls into the oven, and a few minutes later, they’ve flattened into sad little puddles. We’ve all been there. If your cookies are spreading way more than you expected, a few common culprits might be to blame.
Why It Happens:
- Your butter was too soft or melted.This is the #1 cause of overspreading. Melted butter makes the dough loose and runny.
- There’s not enough flour in the mix.
- Too little flour means there’s not enough structure to hold the cookie together.
- You overmixed the dough. This can break down the structure and make cookies spread more in the oven.
- You used a greased baking sheet. Greasing the pan adds extra fat, which encourages spreading.
How to Fix It:
- Chill your dough for at least 30 minutes. This is an important step if your kitchen is warm or your butter was overly melted.
- Use a light-colored, ungreased baking sheet. Line it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Measure flour properly. Use the spoon-and-level method or, even better, a kitchen scale.
- Try adding a tablespoon or two of flour. If your dough seems very soft or sticky, adding flour can help.
Problem: Cookies Not Spreading at All
On the opposite end of the spectrum: your cookies come out of the oven looking exactly like the dough balls you put in, maybe a little puffier, but not the classic round, golden cookies you were expecting.
If your cookies aren’t spreading, here’s what might be going on.
Why It Happens:
- Too much flour. Over-measuring flour (especially by scooping straight from the bag) leads to dry, dense dough that won’t spread.
- Your dough is too cold. If it’s straight from the fridge or freezer, it may not have time to soften and spread in the oven.
- The oven temperature is too low. A cooler oven means the cookie sets before it has a chance to spread out.
How to Fix It:
- Double-check your flour measuring method. Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off, or use a scale for precision.
- Let the dough sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before baking. If you’ve chilled your dough for a long time, it needs to sit at room temperature for a bit.
- Use an oven thermometer. Ovens can and do malfunction - if you’re having issues baking and everything else seems to be in order, double-check the temperature of your oven.
- Gently press down the dough balls before baking. While you don’t want to flatten the dough, a gentle press can encourage spreading if the dough is particularly firm.
Problem: Cookies End Up Too Hard or Dry
Everyone wants a soft, chewy cookie, but instead, you’ve found that you’ve ended up with something closer to hockey pucks. Dry or overly hard cookies are usually the result of one or two missteps, and thankfully, they’re easy to correct.
Why It Happens:
- You overbaked them. Even just a minute or two too long in the oven can turn soft cookies into dry, crunchy ones.
- Too much flour. Over-measuring flour leads to a drier dough that bakes up hard.
- Not enough fat or sugar. Both ingredients contribute to a moist, tender texture.
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Lack of moisture in the dough. Some doughs need a touch of extra liquid or an additional yolk for softness.
How to Fix It:
- Take the cookies out of the oven when the edges are just set. The centers should still look slightly underbaked. They’ll continue cooking on the baking sheet as they cool.
- Stick with light brown sugar for added moisture and chewiness.
- Don’t over-measure your dry ingredients. This is especially important when it comes to flour.
- Try adding an extra egg yolk or a teaspoon of milk. If your dough seems dry before baking, egg or milk could help.
Problem: Cookies are Soft or Underbaked
Soft cookies can be delicious, but there’s a fine line between perfectly gooey and just plain raw. If your cookies are falling apart, feel doughy in the center, or don’t seem to set even after cooling, they’re likely underbaked.
Why It Happens:
- The oven temperature is too low. A cooler oven can cause cookies to bake slowly and unevenly, leading to underdone centers.
- Baking time was too short. Even 1–2 minutes can make a big difference.
- Cookie size is too large. Oversized dough balls take longer to bake through.
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Too much moisture in the dough. This can come from ingredients like eggs or added milk.
How to Fix It:
- Use an oven thermometer. Ensure your oven is reaching the correct temperature. Many ovens run cooler than the setting shows.
- Slightly flatten the dough balls.
- Bake 1–2 minutes longer. Only if needed, but keep a close eye to avoid overbaking.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Do this before transferring them to a wire rack, so they continue baking from residual heat.
Problem: Burnt Cookie Bottoms
There’s nothing worse than biting into a cookie and hitting a burnt, bitter bottom. If your cookies are burning before they’re done, the problem often comes down to your baking setup or oven placement.
Why It Happens:
- Using dark or thin baking sheets. Dark pans absorb more heat, causing bottoms to cook faster and potentially burn.
- The oven rack is placed too low. Cookies too close to the heating element can burn on the bottom before the tops are done.
- Baking without parchment paper or silicone mats. Direct contact with the pan increases the chance of burning.
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Sugar-heavy doughs. Sugars caramelize and burn more quickly on hot surfaces.
How to Fix It:
- Switch to light-colored, heavy-duty baking sheets.
- Position your oven rack in the center.
- Always line your baking sheets. Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to protect the cookie bottoms.
- Keep an eye on the baking time. Rotate the pan halfway through if your oven bakes unevenly.
Problem: Unevenly Baked Cookies
Some cookies are golden and perfect, while others on the same tray are pale, underdone, or crisped beyond recognition. Uneven baking is frustrating!
Why It Happens:
- Uneven oven heat. Most ovens have hot spots that can cause cookies to bake differently depending on their placement.
- Cookies aren’t the same size. Larger cookies take longer to bake, while smaller ones can overbake.
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Too many cookies on one sheet. Overcrowding limits airflow and can lead to inconsistent baking.
How to Fix It:
- Use a cookie scoop. Portion the dough evenly so all cookies bake at the same rate.
- Bake one tray at a time. Place the tray in the center of the oven for the most even results.
- Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking to offset any hot spots in your oven.
- Leave space between cookies. This allows for proper air circulation and spreading.
Bake With Confidence
Cookie baking doesn’t have to be a guessing game. Most problems, whether it’s too much spreading, dry texture, or uneven baking, come down to just a few key factors like ingredient measurements, oven temperature, and dough handling.
Once you know what to look for, troubleshooting becomes simple, and your cookies start turning out just the way you imagined.
But if you’d rather skip the trial and error and head straight to perfectly baked, crowd-pleasing cookies, My Better Batch cookie mix is the way to go! Our mixes are made with clean, simple ingredients and tested for reliable results, so you can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying warm, homemade cookies fresh from the oven.
Ready to bake smarter (and faster)? Stock up on your favorite flavors and get recipe ideas!
