Most ovens have two or three racks. But, when it comes to making cookies, there is no reason to take a bet on which one will ensure the superior bake. We have all the information you need on best oven rack position for baking cookies.
(Love chocolate chip cookies? Here’s the swag you need.)
Where should I bake my cookies?
The simple answer to this question is, meet in the middle. Cookies should (almost) always be baked on the middle rack of the oven. The middle rack offers the most even heat and air circulation which helps cookies bake consistently.
The bottom rack of the oven is closest to the heat source (ovens heat from the bottom unless you have the broiler on), so it can result in burnt bottoms. The top rack of the oven is the furthest from the heat and can result in cookies that spread a little too much.
To make sure your oven is in pristine condition, follow our maintenance tips.
Ideally, cookies are baked one sheet at a time, placed horizontally across the middle oven rack. You should also rotate the pan about three-quarters of the way through the bake time.
What if I’m baking two batches at once?
But we don’t all live in that ideal world. Sometimes you have to bake quick! When you need to get two sheets done at once, here’s our recipe for cookie success:
- Place one sheet on the middle rack and one sheet on the top rack.
- Add two minutes to the total bake time.
- Switch the two sheets halfway through.
So, if the recipe called for a 10-minute bake time, you’d bake the two sheets for 12 minutes total, swapping their location at the 6-minute mark.
If your sheets fit on your oven racks vertically (going from front to back of the oven on the rack), place one sheet on the left side of the oven and one sheet on the right side of the middle and top racks. This helps with air and heat circulation and will keep the tops of the cookies on both sheets and even golden brown.
Oven location isn’t the only cookie quandary you’ll run into! We talked to an expert about the tips for getting perfect cookies every time.
Now that you know where to put your cookie sheets in the oven, try out some of our favorite simple cookie recipes.
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Oat-Rageous Chocolate Chip Cookies
My aunt gave me this recipe, and my family thinks these cookies are delicious. We enjoy all different kinds of cookies, and with this recipe, we can combine three of our favorite kinds—oatmeal, peanut butter and chocolate chip—in one! —Jaymie Noble, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Amish Sugar Cookies
These easy-to-make, old-fashioned sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! This is one of the best Amish cookie recipes I've ever had. I've passed this one around to many friends, and after I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won the best of show prize! —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri
No-Bake Cookie Butter Blossoms
Chewy and sweet, these easy treats mix Rice Krispies, cookie spread and chocolate in an unforgettable spin on an old favorite. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
Oatmeal Crispies
My husband, who normally isn't fond of oatmeal, thinks these old-fashioned cookies are great. With a hint of nutmeg, their aroma is wonderful as they bake...and they taste even better! —Karen Henson, St. Louis, Missouri
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
I'm one of the cooking project leaders for my daughter's 4-H club, where these soft, delicious cookies were a great hit with the kids. —Marietta Slater, Augusta, Kansas
Chewy Chocolate Cookies
This cookie recipe—a favorite of our four children—has been in my collection for years. Sometimes I'll substitute mint-flavored chips for the semisweet chocolate ones. Either way, the cookies disappear quickly. —Sheri Ziesemer, Olympia, Washington
White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
White baking chips and macadamia nuts are a fantastic duo in these buttery cookies. They are a nice change from the classic chocolate chip ones. —Cathy Lennon, Newport, Tennessee
Butterscotch Toffee Cookies
With its big butterscotch and chocolate flavor, my cookie stands out. I like to enjoy it with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. It’s my fallback recipe when I’m short on time and need something delicious fast. —Allie Blinder, Norcross, Georgia
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
This soft and chewy low-carb cookie recipe calls for canola oil instead of butter to reduce the saturated fat. It's hard to eat just one! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies
Cookie butter and ground ginger add a new layer of flavor. The recipe makes about 18 cookies; they go fast so you may want to make a double batch. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
Winning Cranberry Chip Cookies
Chock-full of cranberries, chocolate chips and nuts, these cookies are fun to eat. They offer a change of pace from traditional Christmas cookies...but don't wait until December to make them. My family requests them all year-round. —Betty Albee, Buhl, Idaho
Popcorn Cookies
It's so much fun to surprise people with the crushed popcorn in these yummy cookies. They're definitely a distinctive treat on the cookie tray! —Leigh Anne Preston, Palmyra, Indiana
Chewy Maple Cookies
My husband, Bob, and I have a small sugaring operation with Bob's father. I love to put some of our syrup to use in these golden cookies. —Reba Legrand, Jericho, Vermont
Brown Butter Spice Cookies
If you like spice cake, you’ll love this recipe! Browned butter, dark chocolate and a splash of rum produce an unconventional spice cookie that’s guaranteed to please. —Kristin Kenney, Newport Beach, California
Sour Cream Chocolate Cookies
These soft chocolaty sour cream cookies can be easily altered to make several different varieties —I've added everything from mints to macadamia nuts to them. —Tina Sawchuk, Ardmore, Alberta
Oregon's Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookie
Oregon has an abundance of nuts, and these nutty cookies are popular with the ladies at my craft club. Growing up during the Depression, my mother taught us to use what was available and said, "It doesn't have to be expensive to be good." She was right! —Selmer Looney, Eugene, Oregon
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
My husband loves homemade cookies, and these are probably his favorites. The wheat flour and oats give these cookies a distinctive flavor. —Linda Fox, Soldotna, Alaska
Ginger Drop Cookies
My mother shared the recipe for these soft spice cookies, and I've been making them ever since. That the recipe was my mother's makes them all the more special. —Bethel Walters, Willow River, Minnesota
Apricot Almond Blondies
My mom shared this recipe with me after sampling these cookies at a bed-and-breakfast. For a little variation, I sometimes substitute cranberries and pecans for the apricots and almonds. —Amy Forkner, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Super Chunky Cookies
Chocolate lovers will go crazy over these cookies that feature loads of chocolate! When friends ask me to make "those cookies," I know exactly what recipe they mean. —Rebecca Jendry, Spring Branch, Texas
Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies
These rich, fudgy cookies are chewy and studded with tangy dried cherries. It’s a good thing the recipe makes only a small batch, because we eat them all in one night! —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Cranberry Pecan Cookies
Each delightful little cookie is loaded with cranberries, nuts and a sweet hint of vanilla. But these little gems start with ready-made cookie dough! Let that be your little secret. —Louise Hawkins, Lubbock, Texas
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
Here's a different version of a traditional cookie. Add peanut butter to the traditional chocolate chip cookie, and you get the best of both worlds. —Clarice Schweitzer, Sun City, Arizona
Almond Toffee Sandies
I knew after sampling these cookies from a friend that I had to add the recipe to my bulging files! —Vicki Crowley, Monticello, Iowa
Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Dotted with cranberries, orange zest and vanilla chips, these cookies are so colorful and fun to eat. They look lovely on a dessert tray and would be a great addition to your Christmas cookie lineup. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
Peanut Butter Jumbos
Oats, peanut butter and chocolate make these soft, chewy cookies hearty and nutritious. My whole family agrees this recipe is a real winner. —Deborah Huffer, Staunton, Virginia
Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
I packed chocolate chips, raisins, nuts and cinnamon into my oatmeal cookie recipe. These soft cookies are easy to make. Best of all, our kids love them! —Janis Plageman, Lynden, Washington
Cheery Cherry Cookies
With a tall glass of ice-cold milk, a couple of cherry cookies really hit the spot for dessert or as a snack. The coconut and bits of cherries provide a fun look and texture. —Judy Clark, Elkhart, Indiana
Soft Ginger Puffs
These spice cookies loaded with raisins and walnuts really do appeal to all generations—I found the recipe in a 1901 South Dakota cookbook! Sour cream adds a wonderful, unusual flair. —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon
Blueberry Oat Cookies
It's fun to make these blueberry cookies at the height of the season when folks are looking for tasty ways to serve that juicy fruit. A hint of cinnamon adds a special touch. —Elaine Gelina, Ladson, South Carolina
Cookies in a Jiffy
You'll be amazed and delighted with how quickly you can whip up a batch of these homemade cookies. —Clara Hielkema, Wyoming, Michigan
Wyoming Whopper Cookies
These big country cookies are made to travel—in fact, I came up with this recipe while trying to match a commercial cookie that was good, but too crumbly to carry. —Jamie Hirsch, Powell, Wyoming
Toffee Chip Thins
In an attempt to create the "ultimate" cookie, I took the best features from my favorite recipes to create this sweet, crisp cookie. My family can't get enough of them. —Lynae Lang, Wolf Point, Montana
Chocolate-Covered Raisin Cookies
My family loves these moist, chewy cookies. They're a year-round treat at our house...a batch never lasts long. —Karen Bourne, Magrath, Alberta