My first attempt to make Chai Spiced Meringue Cookies didn’t work out. At all. I tried to modify my Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies and had disastrous results. I am just glad I used a jelly roll pan to bake the cookies on or I would have ended up with the batter overflowing on to the bottom of the oven.
A Glimpse at My Supportive Family‘s Reaction
My daughter: Wow, that is an amazing disaster.
Me: Thanks.
My daughter: I’m really enjoying this. Your recipes rarely fail, but this is an unmitigated disaster.
Me: I’m glad you find this amusing.
My husband: Don’t you mean a total and unmitigated disaster?
My daughter: No, I just meant an unmitigated disaster.
My husband (imitating Churchill): “We have sustained a total and unmitigated defeat”. (In his voice) Oh wait, he said defeat in that quote not disaster. (Resumes Churchill imitation) “We are in the presence of a disaster of the first magnitude”.
My daughter: I wasn’t quoting Churchill, I was quoting Sheldon.
My daughter: Mmmm, these may look awful, but they taste great. They are a delicious disaster.
My husband: They are good. Is there some way that you can repurpose them?
Me: You’re proud that you used repurpose in a sentence, aren’t you?
My husband: I’m proud that I said it in a sentence with a straight face.
7 Ways to Saalvage a Cookie Failure
Most cookie failures can be salvaged in some way.
1. If you burn cookies, scrape the bottom off with a serrated knife.
2. If your cookies end up too crunchy or dry. Crumble them up and use them to top yogurt or ice-cream.
3. Ugly cookies, can be crushed up and used as a topping on coffee cake.
4. Dry cookies can be used in cake batter or cookies to create a unique flavor.
5. Ugly cookies can be broken up and used as a layer in a trifle.
6. If your cookies turn out too soft, top them with ice-cream and no one will know that it wasn’t the ice-cream that made them mushy.
7. If all else fails, frost them. Frosting covers a multitude mistakes.
Or you can just eat them from the pan while making fun of the cook.
Liezl says
I made chocolate chip cookies for the holiday only to taste, once out the oven, they have to much baking soda in. I can’t get myself to throw it all away. Any suggestions? I am toying with the idea of braking them all up with melted butter, for a crust for a lemon meringue. My thinking, and hope this works, the acid from lemon gives it some balance…
Sarah says
I’m sorry your cookies didn’t turn out, and that your family wasn’t supportive. At least they tasted good, though, so all wasn’t lost!
Darlene says
When I burn the bottoms of cookies, I wait for them to cool and then use the pointy side of a box grater- so much faster and neater than a knife – and I have had to do it quite a few times!
Darlene
Alea says
Great tip! I will use it next time I burn cookies.
Kelly says
Thanks for the laugh (completely sympathetic and understanding laugh, of course).
Bryce says
Cookies and icecream.
Cookie Tiramisu
Alea says
Cookie Tiramisu sounds fantastic!
April @ The 21st Century Housewife says
I really, really enjoyed this post! Your family sounds a lot like mine – I don’t get away with anything! I like your ideas for recovering from a cookie failure too – I especially like the idea of using crumbled cookies in a cake batter.
Lisa Herman says
(((Hugs))), sorry your cookies didn’t come out right. About half the time here in Minden, NV, my cookies don’t come out right. Sometimes, I hide the awful results. Othertimes, I just let them eat the cookies anyways. It has to be harder for you, though, since you are gluten free….we are just peanut free in my house:( Enjoy the springlike weather.