Is it possible to bake cookies on aluminum foil? (What to Look For)

Baking is a regular occurrence in my house, and one of my favorite things to make is cookies. Light and crisp or chewy and gooey? Chocolate chip, peanut butter, gingersnaps, or oatmeal raisin are all options. Cookies may be round or bar in shape. All of these are favorites in my house.

I’ve come up with unique ways to bake cookies over the years, and one of the approaches I’m often asked about is whether you can or should bake cookies on aluminum foil.

You’ll find out whether or not this is a good idea, as well as some advice for baking properly using aluminum foil, below.

Why Bake Cookies on Aluminum Foil?

Several cookie recipes ask for a well-greased cookie sheet. Some recommend baking cookies on parchment paper. Both have advantages, and it is largely dependent on the sort of cookie you are creating.

Baking on a buttered cookie sheet produces crisp cookies that bake fast. Cookies cooked on paper are soft and moist, with a lighter hue on the bottom. Baking on aluminum foil results in a cookie that is both crunchy and soft, with a beautifully browned bottom.

Easy Clean Up

In addition to baking a cookie that is perfectly browned but remaining moist, I use aluminum foil in my kitchen when I want quick clean up and no trouble.

Nothing beats taking the cookie sheet out of the oven, transferring the cookies onto a cooling rack, and removing the foil from the cookie sheet. Voila. The only items that need to be washed are the baking bowls and utensils; no washing of cookie sheets is required.

This simple cleanup is especially useful when preparing gooey, sticky cookies like Chocolatey Birds Nest Cookies or cookies with a lot of chocolate or caramel.

Do You Need to Lower Oven Temperature When Baking on Foil?

When I bake cookies using aluminum foil, I reduce the oven temperature by 5 degrees. Why? Since the heat is transferred via the foil, the cookies will bake quicker and hotter. This may result in a dark cookie, and it is easier to burn biscuits on foil at a higher temperature!

I also check for completion sooner. The baking time for my Double Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is 10 to 12 minutes. When I bake on foil, I modify the time and check after 8 minutes to see whether they are well browned and ready to remove from the oven.

Do You Need to Grease Aluminum Foil?

Nothing is more frustrating than craving cookies only to have them stick to the foil as they bake. As a result, I always grease the aluminum foil before placing the cookie dough on top. This eliminates the possibility of sticking.

When it comes to greasing, I like to use butter rather than baking spray, and you won’t need much. Only barely grease the foil; if you use too much butter, it may burn.

Always Use Heavy Aluminum Foil

When purchasing aluminum foil for baking, always get the thickest weight. This may include avoiding the dollar shop, which often sells weak foil that shreds easily. At kitchen specialty shops, look for robust baking foil.

Place Aluminum Foil Over Oven Racks

Another option to use aluminum foil to bake cookies is to wrap it around the oven rack, omitting the cookie sheet entirely. Just remove the rack and add a sheet of foil on top, gently greasing it.

Place the dough on the foil and return the whole rack to the preheated oven. Lower the baking time and check after 7 minutes to avoid scorching.

Keep in mind that cookies cooked directly on the rack will bake crispy and brown, thus this approach may not work for delicate biscuits like shortbread or sugar cookies.

Making Aluminum Foil Cookie Sheets

Forming aluminum foil into a tray to serve as a cookie sheet is similar to baking directly on the oven rack.

This is something I often do when I’m making a large batch of cookies and my other two cookie sheets are already in use. To avoid sticking, gently oil the pan with butter.

While you’re camping, you can also bake cookies on an aluminum foil sheet! Just set the foil tray over a hot grill.

Bar Cookies

Aluminum foil is ideal for baking bar cookies like Ginger Molasses Bars or Oatmeal Shortbread Bars. If the pan is not properly prepped, these cookies will stick. Grease and gently dust a square baking pan before baking.

Next line the pan with heavy quality aluminum foil, allowing a two-inch overhang so you can easily remove the whole bar after baking.

Be sure to grease all four corners of the foil. Bake the batter within, remembering to reduce the baking time slightly.

Remove the pan from the oven and set it aside to cool. Pull the cookie-cake from the pan while it is still warm by holding onto the foil. Let to cool fully on a rack before peeling off the foil. Cut into bars to make the ideal cookie treat for family and friends.

Meringue Cookies Are Best on Aluminum Foil

Meringue cookies are a Christmas favorite of ours. This is one cookie recipe that requires baking on aluminum foil to achieve a perfect bake.

Since the foil is flexible, you can simply peel the whole sheet of foil off the cookie sheet. Next, without using a knife that may harm the bottom of the cookie, delicately remove each miniature meringue cookie away from the foil.

The aluminum foil also reduces clean-up time since meringue cookies often adhere just a little to a naked cookie sheet, requiring washing before you’re done in the kitchen.

Last Words about Baking Cookies on Aluminum Foil

Now that you know how simple it is to bake cookies on aluminum foil, you’re ready to utilize it more regularly while making your favorite kind of cookie.