Cookie scoop

A baking glossary describes dropped cookies as a makeup method in which portions of dough are measured with a scoop or spoon and dropped onto a baking pan. The scoop makes the portions the same size, so the cookies bake evenly.

Scoops are sold by number. A college baking text gives a table in which the number tells how many level scoops fill a quart: a No. 16 scoop holds one-quarter cup and yields 16 servings per quart. A No. 8 scoop is one-half cup, a No. 12 is one-third cup, a No. 20 is about 3 1/5 tablespoons, and a No. 40 is about 1 3/5 tablespoons. Smaller numbers mean larger scoops. Choosing the right scoop size lets a baker control cookie size and portion count from batch to batch.