When you’re in the mood to try out a new cookie recipe, be sure to take seriously directions about chilling the dough, especially if the mixture is too sticky. Chilling the dough means placing it in the refrigerator for a while, before rolling and baking, as the cold temperature will firm the dough first, whilst enhancing the taste.
In case your cookie dough has been chilled for quite some time, let it rest at room temperature for approximately 10 minutes, before shaping them. If the dough is still too stiff to roll into balls, let it rest beyond the standard 10-minute rest period.
What Chilling Does to Your Cookie Dough
Chilling the cookie dough does not only help you easily knead or shape the mixture. There are actually other benefits to baking a chilled dough.
Prevents Overspreading – When placed in cold temperature, the fat content freezes. If so, the fat will take some time to melt under room temperature, and will not run off when placed in the oven and cause overspreading during baking.
Enhances the Flavor – While the dough is chilling, the dough dries a bit and brings out the flavor of ingredients. As the dough chills, the flour breaks into smaller parts that lock-in the flavor-enhancing sugar, This makes the cookies taste much sweeter even as they age during their shelf life. .
Promotes Change in Texture– As the dough dries during chilling and the flour breaks into small parts that lock-in concentrations of sugar, the dough’s texture changes. This will make the baked cookies crisp and chewy. .