Baking Cookies In A Toaster Oven (Is It Possible?)

If you have limited kitchen space or are looking to downsize your appliances, you might be using a toaster oven and not a full-sized oven.

You can get away with using a toaster oven for many different things, and a toaster oven comes with a whole lot of benefits that a regular oven doesn’t. If you are wanting to bake a batch of cookies, you might be wondering if it is possible to do so in a toaster oven.

Is it possible to bake cookies in a toaster oven? It is possible to bake cookies in a toaster oven, and you can make some delicious cookies by doing so! There are a few changes you would have to make, such as batch size and cooking time, but with a few adjustments, the cookies will turn out just as delicious.

Keep reading to find out how to bake cookies in a toaster oven and some other helpful tips!

Baking Cookies In A Toaster Oven

There are many things that are similar between using a toaster oven and a traditional oven to bake cookies.

The one limitation that you will find is the size of the toaster oven. Most toaster ovens come with a baking pan which is the perfect size to place into the toaster oven.

This pan is usually much smaller than the one you would use in a traditional oven.

The other difference is the interior temperature fluctuation. Toaster ovens are not as good at regulating a set temperature as traditional ovens are, and it might be worth testing out your toaster oven first.

If you have a thermometer, you can set it in the toaster oven and set the oven to a certain temperature.

After heating for 10 minutes, check the thermometer and see if it reads the same temperature as the oven or if there is a variation.

If there is a temperature variation, make sure to take this into account when baking your cookies.

Make sure to use the pan supplied with the toaster oven, and spray it with some non-stick coating to make removing the cookies easier.

Most toaster ovens warn against using parchment paper, so avoid doing this.

How To Bake Cookies In A Toaster Oven

There really isn’t any reason why you cannot use your favorite cookie recipe to bake cookies in a toaster oven.

Just keep in mind that you might have to bake a few more batches than you would in a regular oven, so you could make a smaller quantity of dough if you do not feel like doing so.

Here is how to bake cookies in a toaster oven:

1. Prepare the cookie dough following your favorite recipe.
2. Leave the dough to rest for at least 30 minutes.
3. When you are ready to bake the cookies, place the toaster oven rack in the middle of the toaster oven and preheat it to 350°F. Choose the bake setting if there is the option. If you are using a convection oven, set it to 325°F.
4. Spray some non-stick oil spray onto the baking sheet.
5. Scoop the cookie dough into small balls and place them onto the baking pan, making sure to leave the cookie dough balls 2-inches apart.
6. Put the tray into the toaster oven to bake. They will need between 6 to 10 minutes to bake depending on your toaster oven. When the edges start to brown and the cookies are puffy, then they are ready.
7. Let the cookies rest on the pan for 5 minutes before placing them onto a rack.
8. Keep repeating from step 5 for each new batch of cookies until you have used up all the cookie dough.

Tips For Baking Cookies In A Toaster Oven

A few handy tips will help you bake some great cookies in the toaster oven!

Bake A Test Cookie

It is a good idea to bake a test cookie before doing a whole batch. You should test out the temperature of your toaster oven first with a thermometer, and once done, you should do a test cookie. Here is how to do so:

1. Prepare the dough using your favorite recipe.
2. Place one ball of dough onto the greased baking sheet.
3. Bake according to the time recommendation for the temperature set.
4. Check the cookie 3 minutes before the end of the time, to make sure it isn’t burning. 
5. Once the edge of the cookie is browning and it puffs up, it is ready.
6. Take note of the baking time and bake the next batch for this duration.

It is much better to risk burning one cookie rather than a whole batch, and this is an especially good idea if it is your first time baking cookies in the toaster oven.

Preparing The Pan

It is a good idea to prepare the toaster oven pan before baking cookies, which will help to make cleanup easier.

One thing to remember is that you cannot use parchment paper in a toaster oven, as there is a risk of burning. You should also not cut up silicone mats to size, as they might contain fibers that will get into the food.

If you find a silicone mat that fits your toaster oven pan, then that is perfect to use. Otherwise, grease the pan with a small amount of butter or non-stick spray.

Test The Temperature

You need to test the temperature in the oven using a food-safe thermometer (such as this one).

When baking cookies, you need to ensure the temperature is spot-on, and as toaster ovens can vary sometimes, you need to test to temperature to make sure you get it right.

Troubleshooting Cookies Baked In The Toaster Oven

Here are a few common problems experienced when baking cookies in a toaster oven, and how you can fix them:

Cookies Are Overbaked

If the cookies turn out burnt or seem harder than they should be, then you should reduce the temperature by around 20°F. Before placing in another batch, do a single test cookie first at the new temperature.

Cookie Bottoms Too Brown

Sometimes, the bottom of the cookies might brown quicker than the rest. If this happens, then you can try to move the rack up one position, which should help the cookies bake more evenly.

Underbaked Cookies

The cookies might not bake fully in the time that was recommended, and if this happens, then you can try to increase the temperature by 25°F. This will ensure they cook in a quicker time without burning.

The Benefits Of Baking Cookies In A Toaster Oven

Toaster ovens are pretty much just smaller versions of larger, traditional ovens, but this also means that they have some advantages that bigger ovens don’t have!

These are some of the benefits of using a toaster oven:

• Space-saving and do not take up much space in the kitchen
• Less power is used to run a toaster oven
• Less heat is emitted from a toaster oven, keeping the kitchen cooler
• Cook foods quicker than a larger oven
• Cost less money than a larger, traditional oven
• The small size means they are portable, so you can use them when camping or on holiday
• Less preheating time than a traditional oven

The downside to using a toaster oven is that they are smaller than a traditional oven, so you will not be able to make huge roasts and meals in one. This also means that the batch size of the cookies you usually make will have to decrease.

Related Questions

Now that we’ve gone over how you can bake cookies in a toaster oven, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!

What temperature should you bake cookies in the toaster oven?

A good temperature to bake cookies in a toaster oven is 350°F. However, if you are using a convection oven, the temperature is best set at 325°F.

You might need to adjust the temperature if the cookies overbake, or if they are underbaked.

Can you place aluminum foil in a toaster oven?

You can line a baking sheet with aluminum foil in the toaster oven, but you need to make sure that you are not coating the actual bottom of the toaster oven itself.

Just keep in mind that aluminum foil can cause the bottom of the cookies to cook faster, and the bottoms of the cookies will be browner and crispier than when not using aluminum foil.

Up Next: How Long To Cook Pork Tenderloin In The Oven At 375°F