Cookies are generally easy to make and one of the first things a beginning baker does. There are only six main types of cookies, each with its own particular methods. Below I’ve listed the six types (plus a seventh) and some features and tips to help you make each one.
Molded Cookies
Molded cookies are made by hand rolling the dough into balls. Like peanut butter cookies, they can be crushed with a fork. To prevent the dough from sticking, be sure to sprinkle your fingers and utensils with flour.
Dropped cookies
Dropped cookies are usually the easiest type of cookie to make. Drop a teaspoon of cookie dough onto a baking sheet. Make sure to leave enough space between the cookies for them to spread. Generally, a gap of a few inches is best. If uniform size is important, you may want to use a cookie scoop.
Rolled cookies
Cooked or rolled cut cookies are made with a fairly stiff dough. Roll the dough on a floured board and cut it with a knife or cookie cutter to shape it. Use only a small part of the dough at a time. And use only a small amount of flour, as too much will make the dough stiff. For soft and chewy cookies, keep the rolled dough thick but roll it up for more crisp cookies.
Pressed cookies
A cookie press is used to make pressed cookies like spritz cookies. The dough should be soft enough to run through a cookie press, but it should be stiff enough to hold the shape. If the dough is too soft, refrigerate it for a while. If the dough is too stiff, add an egg yolk and try again.
Refrigerator Cookies
To make these cookies, roll the dough into a thick bar. Then refrigerate it until you are ready to bake. Keep the bars wrapped to prevent them from absorbing the odors of other foods in your refrigerator. The dough will keep for about a week. When ready to bake, cut the dough finely with a sharp knife then bake.
Bar cookies
Bar cookies are more like cakes and are softer than most other brownies. They can be chewy or crunchy. And they can be padded or layered. A brownie is the best example of a bar cookie. The bar cookies are baked in a skillet with sides. To ensure that the cookies on the bar fit perfectly, be sure to use the correct size pan. After baking, cut them into squares. But make sure you let them cool first.
No-bake cookies
As the name suggests, these cookies do not need to be baked. To be honest, they are not actually a cookie. They are more like candy. A good example is a no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookie. They are made with a candy thermometer and a double boiler.
