You may prefer them crisp or chewy, but no one can deny the fact that cookies are one of the most delicious treats ever created. They’re easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser – but just how long do cookies take to bake?
I’m Angie. I’m a self-taught baker who’s been baking cookies since I was in middle school, that’s a long time ago. I love all kinds of cookies and I’m here to answer your question about how long to bake cookies at 350 degrees.
The short answer is, you can expect to bake cookies at 350 degrees F for between 8 to 12 minutes. That said, a lot needs to be put into consideration when determining how long to bake your cookies – the type of cookies, the size of the cookies, and the content in the dough.
Keep reading to discover how long for YOUR cookies to bake!
Contents
Baking Time for Different Types of Cookies
There are in general five broad categories of cookies. Molded, dropped, rolled, pressed, and bar cookies. I will briefly explain each one and how long it takes to bake them.
Molded Cookies
As the name suggests, molded cookies are molded, either by hand or with a cookie mold. For the cookies to hold their shape, a chilled, stiffer-than-usual dough is used.
Typically speaking, a tray of molded cookies should be baked for around 15 minutes. Depending on how big the cookies are, baking time varies slightly.
Drop Cookies
Drop cookies are probably the easiest type of cookie to bake. You simply “drop” a spoonful of cookie dough or batter onto a baking sheet and bake them. Drop cookies are usually quite rustic in appearance and are chewy on the inside.
A dozen drop cookies take between 12 to 16 minutes to bake. Look for a darker edge to tell if they are done. For softer chewier cookies, bake for a shorter amount of time, and for crispier crunchier cookies, bake for longer.
Rolled Cookies
Rolled cookies are similar to molded cookies but come from a slightly heavier stiffer dough. The most common rolled cookies are sugar and shortbread cookies, both are rolled out before being cut into shapes.
Rolled cookies don’t usually have to be baked for long. At 350 degrees F, they will take around 12 minutes to bake.
Pressed Cookies
Pressed cookies are made with a cookie press. The dough is filled in the cookie press and extruded onto a baking sheet. The result is a tender crumbly cookie with intricate designs.
Pressed cookies are to be chilled to keep their shape. They are baked at 350 degrees for around 8 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown.
Bar Cookies
Picture a slab of brownies or blondies, but a little less tender. What you’re imagining is a bar cookie. Bar cookies, aka cookie bars, are baked in trays and then cut into pieces. They are softer and thicker compared to most regular cookies.
A typical bar cookie recipe baked in an eight-inch tray takes about 20 minutes to bake.
FAQs
This depends on the cookie recipe you are following. Baking at 350 results in a softer and chewier cookie while baking at 375 would make your cookies crispier and they will spread less as well.
Baking cookies at 300 degrees will result in softer cookies. Since the temperature is low, you would have to bake your cookies for longer than usual to ensure that it is cooked through. Look for golden edges and a matte surface.
Cookies are high in fat, usually containing large amounts of butter and chocolate. These ingredients tend to melt when exposed to high temperatures, which will result in the cookie spreading.
Using or incorporating brown sugar in your cookie recipe makes your cookies chewier.
Final Thoughts
Once you get the hang of it, you won’t be able to stop baking cookies. Rule of thumb, follow the recipe and watch for a change in color, specifically a golden edge, to know when your cookies are done because baking time can vary.
How long do you bake your cookies? And is 350 degrees the temperature you like to go with? Share with us your tips in the comment section below!
About Angie