How to Fix Dry Cookie Dough

Dry cookie dough is hard to work with and produces brittle cookies. If your cookie dough is too dry, this simple solution helps moisten your dough allowing you to create soft and supple cookies.

Steps

1
Place your dough on a piece of baking paper.^{[1]
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2
Pour over a teaspoon of cooking oil.

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3
Knead and pull the dough together incorporating as much of the oil as possible.^{[2]
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4
Add more oil if necessary.
5
Continue to knead until smooth, soft and bouncy.
6
Wrap up in the baking paper and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.^{[3]
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7
Remove your dough from the refrigerator. It will be perfect to work with.

Community Q&A

Question

My cookie dough is crumbling, what can I do?

Community Answer

Add a dash of milk, but gradually, so as not to make the dough sticky.
Question

My cookie dough is dry and stayed in mounds while baking. It did not spread. What can I do?

Community Answer

Try letting the dough set at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before baking. This will soften the butter, which will then become even softer while baking, and should help them spread. Also, you could flatten the cookies with a spatula before you bake them.
Question

My dough for nut rolls is dry and crumbles when I try to roll it out. I'm using sugar and tried moistening it with drops of water. Any other suggestions?

Jerry Cat

Community Answer

Put the dough under a lot of pressure with floured hands, then gently mold it into a thick disk. Drizzle melted butter over the top. This will help get it moist and prevent it from being sticky. Then just sprinkle it with flour and roll it out as usual.