This post contains affiliate links.
Do you love cookies? Who doesn’t, right? But have you ever stopped to think about why most cookies are round? It’s actually a pretty interesting story. And, no, cookies do not have to be round. In this article, we will explore the history of the cookie and discuss some of the different shapes that cookies can come in.
As a general rule, cookies do not have to be round in shape. Most cookies are round because the butter melts and spreads out from the heat of the oven while baking. This creates their round shape. Cookies can come in all shapes and sizes, including squares, rectangles, triangles, stars, and more.
While baking regular round cookies is great, baking cookies that are of different shapes and sizes is exciting. Here, I will be answering some related questions about shaping cookies. So read through to discover more about why most cookies are round, and what other shapes they can come in.
Why Are Most Cookies Round?
In general, most cookies are round because the butter inside the cookie dough pools outward while it melts. Since there is no barrier to stop the butter from pooling, it will keep going until the cookie is round. This is why cookies are mostly all shaped to be round.
It is also easy to bake round cookies than baking any other shape. All you have to do is make sure the dough is evenly spread on the baking sheet before putting it in the oven.
However, cookies don’t have to be round. They can come in all shapes and sizes, including squares, rectangles, triangles, stars, and more.
*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!
You can even make them into different animals or characters if you want to be creative with your cookie baking skills.
Can Cookies Be Square?
Generally speaking, cookies can be square in shape. Use square cookie cutters to shape cookies or bake a flat slab of cookie dough on a baking sheet and cut it into square pieces. Many people prefer to bake square cookies because they are easier to frost and decorate than round cookies.
All you have to do is make sure the dough is evenly spread on the baking sheet before putting it in the oven.
You can also bake a slab of cookie dough on a flat baking sheet and cut it into squares when they’re done baking. This is usually done with brownies, so why can’t it be done with 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!
You can also bake cookies in any other shape as long as you have the right baking pan or cutter. There are many different shapes and sizes of baking pans and cutters available on the market, so you can find one that is perfect for your cookie recipe.
What Kind of Shapes Can Cookies Be?
In general, cookies can be in a variety of different shapes including squares, rectangles, triangles, stars, hearts, and more. You can even make them into different animals or characters if you want to be creative with your cookie baking skills.
You will need cutters of different shapes to make cookies in these shapes. For instance, if you want star-shaped cookies, you will need a star-shaped cutter.
There are many different shapes and sizes of baking pans and cutters available on the market, so you can find one that is perfect for your cookie recipe.
You can also use your imagination to create designs on top of the cookie using frosting or icing. This can make your cookies look even more special and unique.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Bake Cookies Without A Cookie Sheet. I recently wrote an article that talks about What Can You Use To Bake Cookies Without A Cookie Sheet, which you can check out here!
Do You Shape Cookies Before or After Baking?
As a general rule, it is always better to shape your cookies before you bake them instead of after. This is because it is much harder to shape cookies after they have been baked. The cookies need to be molded when they’re soft so that they don’t break.
If you are using a cutter to cut out your shapes, make sure the dough is evenly spread on the baking sheet before putting it in the oven. This will ensure that your cookies come out looking perfect.
Also, shaping cookies before baking them will help them to cook evenly. If you try to shape cookies after they have been baked, they may end up being a little bit misshapen.
If you want to bake cookies with many different edges and corners, make sure that the cookie’s recipe is not too complicated. Baking cookies that are supposed to get much bigger can be difficult to shape ahead of time as they will grow out of their shape when baking.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Properly Store Cookies. I recently wrote an article that talks about all you need to know for Storing Cookies To Make Them Last, which you can check out here!
Why Do Square Cookies Bake Round?
As a whole, square cookies will bake round when the oven temperature is too high. When the oven temperature is too high, the cookie dough will spread out too much overtaking the previous shape that it was supposed to have. Make sure to regulate the oven temperature correctly.
You Used the Wrong Baking Pan
Using the wrong baking pan is probably the most common reason for square cookies turning into round ones. If you use a rectangular baking pan to bake your square cookies, they will likely spread out and turn into rounds.
This is because cookies need more room to spread out than squares do, so using the wrong pan will cause this to happen.
You Didn’t Chill the Dough
Another reason your cookies may turn into round ones is that you did not chill the dough before baking it. If you don’t chill the dough, it will be more likely to spread out while baking.
This is because when the dough is warm, it is easier to spread out than when it is cold.
Make sure that the butter inside the dough is chilled enough for the cookie to keep the shape that you want it to be while using cookie cutters!
You Didn’t Use Enough Flour
Not using enough flour is another major reason for square cookies turning out round. If you don’t use enough flour, the dough will be too sticky and will spread out while baking.
Using too many wet ingredients (butter) and not enough dry ingredients (flour) will make the cookies spread out past the shape you intended them to be.
Your Oven Temperature is Too High
Finally, another reason your cookies may turn into rounds is that you baked them at too high of a temperature.
If you bake your cookies at too high of a temperature, the dough will spread out and become round as it bakes.
This reason usually pairs up with “the dough was not chilled enough” reason. The butter in the dough should not be overheated as it will cause the cookie to pool past the shape that you gave it with the cookie cutter.
*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!
How Do You Keep Cookies in Shape?
As a general rule, the best way to keep cookies in their shape is by following the recipe. Following the recipe ratios precisely will prevent the cookies from not spreading or overspreading. You want to make sure the dough is chilled before you start to bake and that you don’t overbake them.
You can also use a cookie cutter to cut out your shapes. This will help to keep the cookies in shape while they are baking.
If you are not using a cookie-cutter, make sure the dough is evenly spread on the baking sheet before putting it in the oven.
*Side Note: Reheating your cookies the right way is no simple task, If you’re looking to know if you can Reheat Your Cookies In An Air Fryer, I recently wrote an article that talks about What To Expect When Reheating Cookies in An Air Fryer, which you can check out here!
How Do You Make Perfectly Round Cookies?
As a general rule, the best way to make your cookies are perfectly round is by using round cookie cutters to mold out your cookies before you bake. Make sure that the cookie dough is spread into even proportion by weighing out each one before placing them on the baking sheet.
If you are using a cookie-cutter, make sure the dough is evenly spread on the baking sheet before putting it in the oven. This will ensure that your cookies come out looking perfect.
Another way to get perfectly round cookies is by using cookies scoops or ice cream scoops. These tools will help you to make your cookies the same size and shape.
You can also roll the dough into small balls before you place them on the baking sheet. This will help them to stay round as they bake.
I avoid all of these issues by simply using a Digital Scale which is a lifesaver in my kitchen. I recommend using a Nicewell Digital Food Scale which runs on batteries making it a wireless, hassle-free option. You can find it on Amazon!
Finally, you can use this Digital Food Kitchen Scale to weigh every single cookie dough ball to make sure they’re even before placing them on the baking sheet to bake!
Final Thoughts
To break it down quickly, cookies become round because they spread out while baking. This is because the dough is easier to spread when it is warm than when it is cold.
You can keep your cookies in shape by following the tips I have given you in this post. Hopefully, these tips will help you start experimenting with the shapes and sizes of your cookies.
