How do you make cookies come out softer?

Question

every time I make cookies they come out hard or not chewy. what do i need to put on them?

Answer 1

You just need to shorten the cooking time. If you normally bake them for 10 minutes only bake them for 8.

Answer 2

underbake them a bit, and use shortening instead of butter

Answer 3

Put a bit more liquid in them. They will come out more like cake.  

Answer 4

There are two things that could be contributing to your hard cookies:

1.  You're cooking them too long.  I always bake my cookies about a minute less than recommended.

2.  The recipe could be bad (or just not what you want).  Don't go with the first recipe you find.  Give several of them a try.  Some people like hard or crispy cookies, so some recipes will yield those kinds of cookies.  I always stick with recipes that use butter instead of shortening.  They produce softer and tastier cookies.  Did you ever notice that some cookies leave your mouth feeling like it's coated with something?  That's from the shortening.  Butter melts in your mouth, shortening does not.

Answer 5

add yogurt. low-far. its a lot healthier and dont cook them so long  

Answer 6

You may want to try not cooking them as long and also you can store them with the heel from a piece of bread.  The cookies will pull moisture out of the bread and become softer.

Answer 7

I've found that if I make cookies the way my fore-mothers have, by hand, not in my Kitchenade mixer, that this makes a big difference in how moist they stay.

This sounds too simple.  Believe me, it works.

If cookies seem hard, not just dry, it could possibly be a temperature problem in your oven.  Try an oven thermometer and adjust the setting accordingly.

Answer 8

When you are ready to mix in the butter melt it first. The when the dough is mixed put it in the fridge for half and hour. Then take out and bake as always. Works like a charm.

Answer 9

sometimes when i make cookies i lower the temp a little and put some butter on the pan and sometimes in the mix.

Answer 10

Does your recipe call for water?  I've noticed that some recipes suggest adding a little water to make the mixture stick together before shaping the cookies.  If so, DON'T add water!  If the mixture needs to be a little stickier, add a little melted butter instead.  I have no scientific evidence for this advice, but I know it works for me!

Answer 11

When I made Toll house cookies I used to put 1/4 cup LESS flour and the would come out softer & greasier.  Good if you like that.  Otherwise your oven may be off, so try a little less baking time as well.    

Answer 12

Leave all your ingredients out for 30 minutes. Every thing at room temp, makes the BEST cookies.

or take your cookies out 2-3 minutes before they are supposed to be done (for chewy cookies)

Answer 13

Underbaking them slightly should do the trick. =)