Fix & Save Your Burnt Cookies: 4 Creative Hacks That Work


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It’s happened to the best of us. You’re in the middle of making a batch of cookies, and suddenly you realize that you forgot to set your timer. Before you know it, your cookies are burnt to a crisp! But don’t worry – we’ve got some creative hacks for you that will help salvage those burnt cookies and save them from being thrown away!

As a general rule, the best way to fix and save burnt cookies is to scrape off the burnt parts by using a hand cheese grater. Slowly grate off the burnt parts of the cookies, careful not to take too much of the cookie with it. Doing this will remove the burnt parts without taking off too much.

How To Fix & Save Failed Burnt Cookies

It’s definitely happened on many occasions so it’s ok! Keep reading as I dive deeper and give you more ways to fix and save your burnt cookies!

Can I Save Burnt Cookies?

As a whole, there are four main ways to save burnt cookies. Use a cookie cutter to cut off burnt bits, use a zester to grate it, scrape the burnt bits with a knife, or scrape with a cheese grater. Depending on what you have on hand, it’s best to save your cookies by scraping the burnt bits off!

In fact, there are a few different ways that you can go about doing it, and I will be discussing them below.

4 Creative Hacks to Fix Burnt Cookies

Ways to Prevent Burnt CookiesHow to Save Burnt Cookies
Line sheet with parchment paperUse a cookie cutter
Use an oven temperatureScrape with a knife
Bake one sheet at a timeUse a lemon zester
Place sheet in the middle or upper part of the ovenUse a cheese grater

*By the way, if you’re looking for some new cookie sheets/baking pans to replace for your kitchen, I recently came across the Perfect Nonstick Cookie Sheets / Baking Sheets Set that I got for myself and they work great! You can check out these Nonstick Cookie Sheet Set on Amazon!

Cut off the burnt parts of the cookies with a cookie cutter

Generally speaking, it is possible to use a cookie cutter to save your burnt cookies. Simply take a cookie cutter and cut off the burnt parts of the cookie. This is one of the easiest ways to salvage your burnt cookies because there is minimal risk of breaking the entirety of the cookie.

You, however, want to be careful not to cut off too much of the cookie. Start by cutting off the very edges of the burnt parts and then work your way in.

There was a time when I burnt the outer edges of my sugar cookies so I used a cookie cutter to cut them off. As I was cutting, I decided to make a flower design with it!

As your cookie cutter is circular, simply cut around the edges in a uniform pattern with the edges slightly overlapping. They removed the burnt ends AND added so much character to my cookies!

*By the way, I came across the perfect 24 Piece Set of Cookie Cutters that come in different shapes and sizes perfect for shaping your cookie dough the right way. You can check out these cutters on Amazon!

Scrape off the burnt cookie with a knife

As a general rule, a serrated knife can be used to salvage cookies by removing burnt bits. Just be sure to scrape very gently so that you don’t take off too much of the cookie. Hold it over a plate and angle the knife This method works best if your cookies are only slightly burnt.

Use A Knife To Scrape Off The Bottom Of Your Cookies
Scrape The Cookies Over The Sink So That You Won’t Make A Mess!

You can also use the knife to cut off the burnt bottom of the cookies. Again make sure to do this gently so you don’t end up messing up the whole cookie.

Scrape off the burnt cookie with a zester

As a whole, lemon zesters are a great tool to use for saving your burnt cookies. Simply flip over your burnt cookie and grate off the burnt parts of the cookie with the zester. This removes a thin layer of the burnt part, exposing the perfectly baked part.

This method is best if your cookies are only slightly burnt. If they are more burnt than just slightly, you might want to try one of the other methods discussed here.

If you have slightly overcooked your cookies and the bottom is a super dark brown or even burnt, simply take your zester and gently grate it. This will slowly start to expose the perfectly baked part of your cookie!

Scrape off the burnt cookie with a cheese grater

As a general rule, cheese graters are a great tool to use for salvaging burnt cookies. Take your grater, make sure it’s bone dry, and then grate off the burnt areas gently. Make sure not to take too much of the cookie with it. This method is best when your cookies are very burnt.

There were many times when I burnt cookies that look like I had to throw them out. After using a zester for many years, I wanted something with more surface area and thicker blades to get through all of those burnt layers!

Since zesters look similar to cheese graters, I decided to give them a go!

Use A Cheese Grater To Scrape Off The Bottom Of Your Cookies
Make Sure To Scrape Off Only The Burnt Part Of The Cookies!

*Side Note: I recently wrote an article talking about If Cookies Have To Be Round. This article breaks down why most cookies are round and how to bake cookies in different shapes. You can check out this article here!

As a result, I was able to take off the majority of my burnt cookie. My cookies became much thinner than I wanted but I was glad they were now presentable and, most importantly, edible!

What I also realized is that you are able to remove a good chunk of the burnt cookie and you end up with no burnt taste!

These are just a few of the ways that you can fix and save your burnt cookies. So, the next time you find yourself in this situation, don’t despair. Just try one of these methods and see how it goes!

How To Prevent Burnt Bottom Cookies?

As a general rule, the best way to prevent burnt cookies is to line your pans with parchment paper instead of just greasing the cookie sheet. This will help to create an extra barrier between the cookie and the heated cookie sheet, and it will also help to prevent sticking.

Here are some ways to prevent burnt bottom cookies:

  • Use the correct amount of ingredients: Sugar, for instance, is among the common culprits for burnt cookies. Too much sugar can cause the cookies to caramelize and burn.
  • Use an oven thermometer: This is a must if you want to avoid burnt-bottom cookies. Ovens are often not calibrated correctly, and this can lead to burning. By using an oven thermometer, you can ensure that your oven is set to the correct temperature.
  • Check on your cookies regularly: This will help to prevent them from burning. Take them out of the oven as soon as they are done and let them cool on a wire rack.
  • Bake one sheet at a time: Baking multiple sheets of cookies simultaneously can lead to uneven baking and burning.
  • Know where to place the oven rack: Placing the rack too close to the bottom of the oven can cause the cookies to burn. Be sure to place it in the middle or upper third of the oven.

*By the way, I recently wrote an article about Why Your Cookies Might Not be Spreading. This article speaks about all the reasons your cookies will remain in a ball instead of spreading into a cookie shape. You can check out this article here!

What Causes Cookies to Burn?

As a whole, one of the main reasons that cookies burn is because of oven temperature. Following a recipe’s temperature is crucial to ensure your cookies are neither burnt nor raw. If your oven is too hot, it will cause the cookies to burn. This is why it’s so important to use an oven thermometer.

Ovens have proven to be the most important baking vessel for the past few centuries. As a result, we have learned so much about them.

For instance, over time, ovens can cause a slight fluctuation in temperature. If you have a very old oven, I highly recommend getting an oven thermometer to make sure you are baking at the proper temperature.

Use The Right Oven Temperature
Your Cookies Will Burn If Your Oven Temperature Is Too High!

I read an article from Betty Crocker that explained:

It’s also a good idea to use an oven thermometer to check your oven’s temperature. A piece of advice, oven temperature gauges can be 25 to 50 degrees off.

Another reason cookies can burn is if they are placed too close to the heating element. Be sure to place them on a middle or upper rack to prevent this from happening.

Finally, cookies can burn if they are left in the oven for too long. This is why it’s important to check on them regularly and take them out as soon as they are done!

*By the way, you might also want to know What To Do With Broken Cookies. I recently wrote an article that talks about Creative Things To Do With Broken and Crumbled Cookies, which you can find here!

Can You Make Burnt Cookies Soft?

Generally speaking, you can make burnt cookies soft. One way to do this is to microwave them. Wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 20-30 seconds. The wet paper towel and heat introduce moisture which will help to soften the cookies and make them more pliable.

Another way to make burnt cookies soft is to dip them in milk, ice cream, or coffee. This will help to moisten the cookies and make them more pliable.

If you’re trying to soften your burnt cookies, I highly recommend removing all of the burnt bits by using any of the methods listed above.

Consuming burnt foods isn’t good for you so make sure it is removed before consuming.

*By the way, I recently wrote an article about Why Do Cookies Become Soft When Left Out. This article talks about why cookies get soft when they are left out over time. You can check out this article here!

Why Are My Cookies Burnt On the Bottom and Raw In the Middle?

As a general rule, one of the main reasons for having burnt cookies that are raw in the middle is that the oven temperature is too high. High oven temperatures can cause the cookies to burn on the bottom while not properly cooking them in the middle causing them to still be raw.

Another reason this can happen is if you used a cookie sheet that’s too dark. This can cause the cookies to brown too quickly on the bottom. Some cookie sheets come in a darker color which tends to absorb heat faster.

Check On Your Cookies Before Taking Them Out
Use The Toothpick Method In The Middle Of Your Cookies!

*By the way, I recently wrote an article about How To Harden Soft Cookies. This article breaks down several different ways to harden cookies that come out soft after baking. You can check out this article here!

Make sure to adjust the heat slightly depending on the color of the pan.

Placing your cookies too close to the element can also cause this to happen. Be sure to place them on a middle or upper rack to prevent this from happening.

Not using parchment paper is another common reason for this problem. Parchment paper will help to create an extra barrier between the cookie and the pan, and it will also help to prevent sticking.

Final Thoughts

Accidentally burning cookies definitely sours your mood. After a few encounters and lots of thrown-out batches, enough was enough!

You can save your burnt cookies by simply using any of the methods above. Happy baking!

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Fainna

My name is Fainna! I've been baking desserts ever since I was 10 years old with my grandma passing her baking wisdom down to me with every passing day. I hope you find these tips and tricks helpful here at my little Baking Nook!

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