Baked Cookie Doneness
To avoid overbaking cookies, check them at the minimum baking time. If more time is needed, watch carefully to make sure they don't burn. It is usually better to slightly underbake than to overbake cookies. The following are some general guidelines that describe doneness tests for many types of cookies. Based on the type of cookies you're baking, apply one of these tests:
Fudgy
Bar Cookies: The surface appears dull and a slight imprint remains after touching the surface with a fingertip.
Cake-like
Bar Cookies: A wooden toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and dry.
Drop Cookies: The surface is lightly browned and a slight imprint remains after touching the surface with a fingertip.
Refrigerator Cookies: The edges are firm and the bottoms are lightly browned.
Rolled Cookies: The edges are firm and the bottoms are lightly browned.
Shaped Cookies: The edges are lightly browned.
Many cookies should be removed from cookie sheets immediately after baking and placed in a single layer on wire racks to cool. Fragile cookies may need tfo cool slightly on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Bar cookies and brownies may be cooled and stored in the baking pan.