Tips for better holiday baking

11/26/2001

For best baking results:

Read entire recipe and prepare special handling ingredients ahead of time, such as softening butter or chopping and toasting nuts.

For baking success, butter must be softened, yet slightly firm.

Use a shiny, aluminum cookie sheet that is open on one, two, or three sides for evenly browned cookies rather than an insulated or dark colored cookie sheet.

Preheat oven 10 to 15 minutes before baking.

To avoid soggy pie crust, try using glass or dull aluminum pan.

If your cookies are crumbling, most likely the cookie dough is too dry. Try adding one to two tablespoons of cream or milk to the dough.

Store crisp cookies in a container with a loose-fitting lid, and soft cookies in a container with a tight-fitting lid to maintain textures.

Source: Land O'Lakes Holiday Bakeline at 800-782-9606.