Sometimes when i make a square cookie, when i bake them they come out of the oven and it is no longer a perfect square and some of the sides have curved outwards.

I know it prob gonna happen no matter what, but is there any way to atleast minimize this happening?

Make sure your cookie dough is well chilled before baking. I generally leave my dough in the fridge till it's time to roll out and cut the cookies. Then once i've cut them out, i put the dough right back in the fridge if i have leftover.
Certain recipes spread more than others as well, especially ones with lots of butter in them. what recipe are you using?

suz

Oh ok i don't put mine in the fridge before i put them in the oven, so i might try that next time.

Oh i tried this chocolate sugar cookie recipe i found on the net for my last square cookies where they went wonky. But i usually use a really yummy almond biscuit recipe and it's good cose it doesn't spread for any of my other cookies and pretty much stays it's shape, but i think it still has the same problem of curving a bit at the sides but not as bad as the internet recipe one

Thanks for the tip about the fridge

If you haven't baked them on a stick, as soon as they come out of the oven, use the same cookie cutter on them again.

I did this when I made the t-shirt cookies for my granddaughter's soccer team. I cut the t-shirt shape out of fondant. I re-cut the cookies as soon as they came out of the oven. THen when the fondant was placed on the cookie, it was a PERFECT fit!

I do the same thing as Indydebi suggested with the same good results, but do re-cut before the cookies start to cool and harden.

that's a good idea too thanks

This happens with me with my circles occasionally.

I put my shapes in frozen and use NFSC recipe.

I think next time I will try cutting them when they are hot out of the oven.

I freeze the sheets of dough, then cut the cookies with cutter and place on cookie sheet, then I freeze again for about 5 minutes before they go in the oven. They hold their shape pretty good. I will also try the cut when hot technique, sound interesting.

Just so you can see the difference.....

Here are some flower cookies that I didnt' cut after baking (because of the sticks). I did trim the one side of the "M" because it was WAY outta whack. http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1363341

Then here are the t-shirt cookies that a cut after baking. THe fondant is a perfect fit and I think they look so much 'cleaner'. http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1377393

Now if I can figure out how to do this with a stick in there!

yeh that does look better

My prob would be when i would use a template i made for my cookies (as i often do) with a straight edge then i couldn't recut it to fix it up, i would just have to hope that putting them in cold into the oven will help them stay relatively straight

hey i just made a batch of biscuits that had some straight sides and i put them in the fridge before putting into the oven and it worked great on them! The edges didn't bulge or anything!

Great to hear Elise! Glad we could help. ;0)

sorry do you mind if i ask another question? I am having a problem with my biscuits actually shrinking after they are cooked because when i put my original template over the top afterwards, it is always too big.

Would this be because of my recipe or something else?