General Cooling Instructions for Cookies

Most cookies should be removed from the pan as quickly as possible after baking to prevent further browning. Some cookies, however, are too soft to be removed immediately and should be allowed to cool briefly on the baking pan just until they have set enough to be transferred to a wire cooling rack. Cookies such as tuiles may be molded as soon as they are removed from the oven.

There are a myriad of shaping options for cookies and some of the recipes in this chapter can be adapted for different methods. Following are the six basic categories of cookies.