Cookie baking tips by Serenity Unis:
To make the perfect snicker doodle, or any cookie for that matter, you need to first determine what kind of cookie you want. Crispy or soft baked?
If you're going for soft baked, then follow these tips: Follow the recipe, and when you get to the part where you add flour, stop. Believe it or not, but how you mix in the flour will determine how your dough will come out. For instance, mixing in too much flour at a time will result in a crumbly dryer dough. Instead, mix just a little bit at a time, and use the mixer real well. Keep repeating this until your done. The result should be a nice soft dough just right for baking. I don't even have to chill the dough.
If you want a nice big round soft cookie that's not too puffed up, roll a spoonful of dough and flatten it slightly with the back of a spoon. If you want them more puffed up, then just roll them and drop them on the cookie sheet.
To get a nice soft chewy center, I put them in for about 10-12 min always checking on them, and I take them out when they're light and not golden brown. You'll know when they're done just right. Try experimenting with different times. Sometimes you have to make adjustments to the recipe.
If you want them crispy, take them out when they're golden brown around the edges.
Enjoy!