A cookie size chart is a necessity in every baker's kitchen. Cookie sizes vary wildly depending on both the recipe and type of cookie you're making. You don't want to use a ginormous #10 cookie scoop when the recipe writer intended a petite #100 scoop.
Why Do Cookie Scoop Sizes Matter in Baking?
Cookie scoops are key to making sure your cookies have a consistent appearance and bake evenly.
You don't want 8 giant scoops of cookie dough with four baby scoops of dough on the same cookie sheet. You could end up with 8 partially raw cookies and four over-baked or burnt tiny cookies.
Sometimes you'll see cookie scoops referred to as dishers.
Most good recipes will tell you what size cookie scoop to use or how much dough to portion out per cookie.
A #50 cookie scoop, for example, will hold approximately 1-¼ tablespoons of cookie dough giving you a baked cookie 3-½ inch in size.
What many home bakers find confusing is that the higher the number of the scoop, the smaller the amount of dough it holds.
Manufacturers label cookie scoops based on the number of scoops needed to fill a quart-sized volume.
The specific volume associated with each number may vary slightly among manufacturers, but usually, the numbering system used follows a similar pattern. Smaller numbers correspond to larger scoop sizes, resulting in bigger cookies, while larger numbers represent smaller scoop sizes, and thus smaller cookies.
What Size Cookie Scoop Makes One Inch Balls?
You'll want a #40 cookie scoop to make one-inch balls, which will give you approximately 2-¾ inch cookies.
However, if you're looking for a scoop to make tiny one-inch cookies once baked, try a #100 or a #110, if you can find one.
Does Cookie Type Matter For Scoops?
If you're making a drop cookie dough like Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies or Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, you definitely want to use a scoop. It will help with uniformity and even baking and a yield you can rely on.
If you're making a shortbread cookie like Double Chocolate Chunk Shortbread, no scoop is necessary. You'll be rolling the dough into a long cylinder and slicing the dough.
Cookie Size Chart
| Cookie Size | Scoop Size | Tablespoons | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | #100 | ½ | 7 | 0.25 |
| Small | #60 | 1 | 15 | 0.5 |
| Medium | #40 | 2 | 30 | 1 |
| Large | #30 | 3 | 45 | 1.5 |
| Extra Large | #20 | 4 | 60 | 2 |
| Jumbo | #16 | 5 | 75 | 2.5 |
What Other Ways Can I Use Scoops?
You can portion out:
- meatballs
- cupcake batter
- pancake batter
- truffles
- mashed potatoes
What Size Should A Cookie Scoop Be?
You can't go wrong with a #40. I have this one and like it a whole bunch. It's a medium size scoop to give you slightly under 3-inch cookies.
I use a medium cookie scoop for most all of my drop cookie recipes.
The number means the number of scoops needed to dish out a quart container, such as ice cream.
If you want more baking tips, see Cookie Baking Tools (Better, Faster Baking. You might enjoy What Should a Beginner Bake?
What kind of butter is best for cookies?
Leave a Reply