Tips for Using Cookie Sheets (2024)

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By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Created February 23, 2017

Learn how to choose – and use – cookie sheets to help this year's holiday cookies be the best ever.

Tips for Using Cookie Sheets (1)

You've picked an amazing cookie recipe. You've purchased all the ingredients. You're ready to go, right? Maybe not. You may be surprised to learn that your cookie sheet can sabotage the quality of your cookies. So check out our tips for using cookie sheets to get the very best results.

What's the best cookie sheet to use?

Choose heavy-gauge, dull aluminum cookie sheets.
These cookie sheets (also known as baking pans) may cost a little more in the beginning. But they're worth the investment, because heavy cookie sheets with a dull finish promote even baking and prevent overbrowning. Planning to bake lots of cookies? Get three cookie sheets: one can be baking in the oven while another is cooling off and a third is being filled with raw dough.

Choose a cookie sheet with low sides.
Or choose one with no sides at all. Cookie sheets with high sides keep your cookies from browning evenly. If you already own such a pan, don't despair. Just turn it over. Bake your cookies on the pan's bottom.

Choose a large cookie sheet.
We recommend buying a cookie sheet that is at least 15x12 inches. Why? Because cookies need room to spread out as they bake. Large cookie sheets let heat circulate around the dough and help prevent the cookies from connecting as they bake—which ruins their beautiful shapes.

Tip:
For a huge selection of our hand-picked cookie sheets, check out the Betty Crocker Store.

Cookie Sheets to Avoid—And Why

Dark or Non-Stick Pans
Dark cookie sheets absorb extra heat – which causes cookies to burn or overbrown.

Shiny Cookie Sheets
Shiny cookie sheets reflect heat, which prevents cookies from browning evenly.

Thin Cookie Sheets
Thin cookie sheets can warp, which means they'll heat unevenly.

Insulated Cookie Sheets
Their insulating nature causes cookies to spread before the dough sets, which creates cookies with thin edges. Insulated cookie sheets also keep cookies from browning.

Should I grease my cookie sheets?

Unless the recipe tells you to grease the cookie sheet, resist the impulse. The extra grease causes cookie dough (which already contains a lot of fat) to spread. If you're concerned about cookies sticking, line the cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone non-stick mat.

Can I bake more than one batch at a time?

Cookies need to bake on the middle rack for even baking. If you can fit two pans on the middle rack without touching, you'll get the baking results you want. If you add additional sheets of cookies on higher or lower racks, they might bake unevenly. You may save some time, but the cookies will suffer.

Do I need to cool a cookie sheet between batches?

Yes, wait until the sheet is completely cool before reusing it. Even the slightest residual heat can cause cookies to spread, making them flatter than you may want. If you need your cookie sheet to cool quickly, try one of these tricks. Stick it in the refrigerator or outside in the cool air for about five minutes. Or, run cool water over the bottom of the pan to cool it while keeping the top dry.

Why should I use parchment paper or silicone non-stick baking mats?

Parchment paper and silicone mats extend the life of your cookie sheets by preventing discoloration. Both products also make it easier to transfer delicate holiday cookies to cooking racks. Just-baked cookies can be transferred to a cooling rack on the parchment paper or mats themselves. Once cool, the cookies easily release from both materials without a fight.

BTW: What's the difference between a cookie sheet, baking sheet, baking pan, and cookie pan?

Don't get confused by the terminology. All these terms refer to a flat or low-sided pan for baking cookies.

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Tips for Using Cookie Sheets (2024)

FAQs

Tips for Using Cookie Sheets? ›

Rotate cookie sheets and rinse and wipe clean between batches. Cookie Sheets with little or no sides will allow the cookies to bake quickly and evenly. Grease cookie sheets with either vegetable shortening or unsalted butter. Don't use vegetable oil for greasing.

How do you keep cookies from sticking to cookie sheets? ›

Lightly spray cookie sheets with a no-stick cooking spray. After you are finished baking, make sure sheets are washed well – any cooking spray left on the sheet may discolor it. Lining cookie sheets with parchment paper prevents both sticking and spreading.

What is the best way to prepare a cookie sheet? ›

Cookie sheets can be greased with a non-stick cooking spray, butter and flour or lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent sticking. If your pan has a non-stick coating, you may not need to grease it at all.

Do cookie sheets need to be greased? ›

Should I grease my cookie sheets? Unless the recipe tells you to grease the cookie sheet, resist the impulse. The extra grease causes cookie dough (which already contains a lot of fat) to spread. If you're concerned about cookies sticking, line the cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone non-stick mat.

Do you spray a cookie sheet when baking cookies? ›

When preparing for baking, grease cookie sheet or baking pan only if recipe directs. To grease, use a paper towel to apply a thin layer of shortening or lightly spray with no-stick cooking spray.

How do you unstick cookies from cookie sheets? ›

Always use a large, wide spatula that is very thin to remove cookies from cookie sheets. If the cookie seems to crumple as you slide the spatula under it, let it cool a few more minutes to firm up, then remove from the sheet. Pay attention to cooling times for cookies.

How do you make a cookie sheet non-stick? ›

Take your baking pan and grease it with your oil of choice. You can use either a non-stick spray or olive oil spray, or butter/coconut oil. I prefer a spray because it's easier to get into the nooks and crannies without making a huge mess scooping out a chunk of coconut oil or butter and trying to spread it around.

Should I line my cookie sheet with parchment paper? ›

Line Your Pan with Parchment Paper for Baking Cookies

Line your cookie sheets and pans with Reynolds Kitchens® Stay Flat Parchment Paper or Reynolds Kitchens® Cookie Baking Sheets to prevent sticky messes between batches and—best of all—even your most delicate cookies slide right off the pan.

Should I put foil on cookie sheet? ›

Aluminum foil is safe for oven use, making it great for lining baking sheets. But you should not line the bottom of the oven with foil to catch spills and drips because it can melt in high heat and damage the oven.

What to line a cookie sheet with? ›

Whether your recipe calls for a greased pan or not, you can line your pan or cookie sheet with foil, parchment paper, or a silicone baking mat. Foil or parchment paper will enable you to lift the whole batch of bars from the pan at once when it's time to cut them.

Should I put butter on cookie sheet? ›

You need a very light layer of butter or shortening. This will prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheet. Keep in mind that the cookies themselves have some amount of butter/oil in them and that will serve to prevent sticking, as well.

When should you not use parchment paper for baking? ›

This means that if you're cooking in a skillet over medium, medium-low, or low heat, you'll probably be fine using parchment. Hill uses it in the oven all the time for any temps under 450°F, but never risks using it on the grill, with the broiler, or in a skillet over high heat because the temperature can exceed 500°F.

How do you grease a cookie sheet without cooking spray? ›

Use Butter or Lard

Butter and lard are great cooking spray alternatives. They're soft enough to spread into loaf pans and muffin tins with your fingers.

How should cookie sheets be placed in the oven? ›

The top rack of the oven is the furthest from the heat and can result in cookies that spread a little too much. To make sure your oven is in pristine condition, follow our maintenance tips. Ideally, cookies are baked one sheet at a time, placed horizontally across the middle oven rack.

Should you preheat a cookie sheet? ›

"To prevent the hot spots from unevenly cooking your food, you should always preheat the pan or baking sheet."

Can you bake cookies directly on sheet pan? ›

In a pinch, baking directly on an ungreased baking sheet will work fine; the cookies have enough fat in them to prevent severe sticking — although you might need a thin metal spatula to pop some of them off.

How to bake cookies without them sticking to the pan? ›

How to Prevent Cookies from Sticking
  1. Follow your recipe exactly. ...
  2. Grease the pan. ...
  3. Line your pan or cookie sheet. ...
  4. Preheat your oven and rotate the tray. ...
  5. Allow your cookies to cool just long enough. ...
  6. Always wash off your tray before starting the next batch.
Apr 29, 2022

How to get cookie dough not to stick to a pan? ›

The best thing I use to prevent cookies sticking to the cookie sheet is PARCHMENT PAPER. You can buy this at any grocery store in the same aisle as wax paper and tin foil. Most recipes will tell you if you need to grease the sheet (usually with butter). But greased or not, I always use parchment paper.

How to keep food from sticking to a baking sheet? ›

Line the bottom of your pan with nonstick parchment, then coat the pan's sides with nonstick pan spray. Some people espouse coating the bottom of the pan with spray before adding the parchment, then spraying the parchment as well; if you lean toward a “belt and suspenders” approach, feel free to do this.

How to package cookies so they don't stick together? ›

Wax paper or parchment paper: Place sheets of wax paper or parchment paper between layers of cookies to prevent them from sticking together.

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