Three things happen during baking that change the flavor of a cookie.
Maillard reaction, caramelization, and the melting of fats. There are more, but those are the three we're going to talk about.
The maillard reaction takes raw flour and turns it brown. It absorbs some of the sugar in the process, and creates a more complex, nutty flavor. Caramelization also browns some of the sugar, giving it a smoky, bitter flavor. They also give the cookie a firm or crispy texture.
You also melt any fats, like butter, that are in the dough. Melted butter separates and spreads throughout the cookie.
There's also often an egg that helps build structure for the baked dough, and sometimes baking soda for fluffiness.
This means uncooked dough is sweeter than a baked cookie. It has a soft, dense, and moist texture that disappears when fully baked. It's butter and sugar held together with flour and egg, and it's delicious.
You have your preference, I have mine. An underdone cookie is gooey and melty but still brown around the edges, best of both worlds.
Because they are yummy?
Because the chocolate chip cookie recipe they put on the back of the chocolate chip bag is already the scientifically best possible recipe. It can no longer be improved. That's why cookie influencers have to resort to stupid shit like this. All the good ideas have already been figured out so the best they can do is play pretend with the stupid ideas.
This is how I've loved cookies for my entire life. I'm just happy they are easier to find now.
Edit: I'm sincerely amused that someone downvoted me for expressing my opinion on the kinds of cookies I like. I didn't know this was a "ketchup on steak" level issue. 🤣
you can buy raw cookie dough thats meant to be eaten uncooked. and not some niche thing, its at all the big box grocery stores. its no stretch to imagine why a half-baked cookie might be a thing
One thing to consider is that delivery and takeout are significantly more popular than they were 4 years ago. Some of these chains either anticipate or encourage you to heat your cookies just before you eat them and halfway cooking them gives the best results. A place just down the road from me encourages 1 minute on high in the air fryer or 3 in a toaster oven before eating
The raw dough makes me slightly uncomfortable, so I’m entirely certain that I should violently impose my preferences on everyone who does not agree.
/s
I don't think it's the raw part that's the trend so much as big cookies are, and big cookies tend to be less cooked in the center.
But then again, raw cookie dough is delicious. 🤤
Hypothesis: Want chewy cookies. Try cookie recipe, they come out crunchy. Bake for less time. Cookies chewy now!
When you say trends, is it among people not baking long enough? I love gooey cookies as well, but that looks raw.
Recently I used store made cookie dough (because “safe to eat raw”!) in a cast iron pan to make it more like a brownie, maybe like this. Surprise, it’s much thicker than a standard cookie so needs to be cooked longer than the directions say
I suppose it's so you can take them home and cook them the way you like them.
That looks so tasty
Warm and soft cookies are the best cookies
Yet when my sourdough comes out this way, everyone acts like i shit my pants
I've never heard of such chicanery I'm my life
Terrible except when peanut butter.
Must be a local thing.
Brownies too, I am not a fan.
I had no idea this was a trend.
