Rolling out dough is often viewed as a messy task that requires lots of clean up, deterring many bakers from crafting homemade cookies. However, with the proper technique and materials, even the most novice baker can craft a perfect slab of dough without making a mess. Follow the easy steps below and you’ll be an expert in no time.
Read on or watch our video, “How to Roll Cookie Dough,” to learn more.
What You’ll Need
- Home-crafted cookie dough
- Rolling pin
- Parchment paper
- Flour
- Baking sheet
- Cookie cutters
- Small bowl
Steps
- Cut two pieces of parchment paper to fit your baking sheet. Place slightly chilled cookie dough between the two pieces of parchment paper and form the dough into rectangle using your hands.
- Using a rolling pin, start at the center and begin to roll the dough away from your body, rotating the dough 90 degrees every few rolls to ensure even thickness.
Once cookie dough reaches 1/4 inch-thick, place the dough in the fridge to chill for 20 minutes. Chilling cookie dough before baking solidifies the fat in cookies and helps retain your cookies’ shape. While the dough is chilling, set out a small amount of flour onto counter or place in a small bowl.
- Remove dough from fridge, place on counter and remove top piece of parchment paper. Dip your cookie cutter edge into the flour, then press firmly onto dough. Repeat until all cookie shapes have been stamped.
- Peel away the excess dough, leaving the cut-out cookies on the parchment paper. Place parchment paper with cookies onto baking sheet and place in the oven.
Pro Tips
- Ditch the flour: Many people sprinkle flour on cookies before they roll them out–that leads to tougher, drier cookies. Use the method above to maintain your intended cookie taste and texture.
- Dip before you cut: Dipping the cutting edge of the cookie cutter into flour allows for cleaner cuts and prevents dough from sticking to the cookie cutter.
- Reuse and reduce: Parchment paper is reusable–once one batch of cookies is done, remove them from the parchment paper and then use it again to roll, cut and bake another batch. You also can reuse excess dough up to two times. Simply knead excess together, re-roll the dough and cut cookies.
Practice rolling dough by trying our Banana Nice Cream Sandwiches, Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza or Berry Swirl Ice Cream Sandwichesand share your creations with us on Instagram. #BetterYourBake
