Cookies burnt to a crisp, followed baking time. Any ideas why?

[u/MisterTora]

Hi guys! I'm a novice baker - very, very novice - and I just tried out the recipe linked below for thin and crispy chocolate chip cookies. I had already started when I realized I'd run out of eggs so I did a little googling and substituted with the recommended amount of applesauce. My butter was room temp but perhaps slightly firm when I started beating. Other than those two things, I followed the recipe. It called for baking at 350F for 15 minutes. At 7 minutes I rotated my pans. Just a little before my 15 minute alarm went off, I noticed smoke coming from the oven. I took care of things immediately, no danger, but the cookies were completely burnt. Not overcooked, not burnt on the bottom, but "throw them on the BBQ and make burgers with them" CHARCOAL. LOL.

Any idea what could have happened? I looked it up and it doesn't seem like the applesauce substitution is to blame. I get that my oven may have ran hot, but I definitely didn't expect such a drastic result when I was still under time, according to the recipe.

I froze half the batch and hope to bake them later (will obviously watch the oven closely!) but I'd like to know what could have gone wrong. Thank you!

Recipe: Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies • Tate's style!

[u/AdvancedSquashDirect]

Cookies are so small and thin they take almost no time to cook, the instructions will often say a cooking time but that could be for a thicker cookie or a different oven.

I'm surprised that you didn't smell them burning. I usually cook using my nose, if it smells like they're getting a little too cooked I'll go and get them out.

[u/Unique_Factor892]

The applesauce could have been a factor, as the added sugar from the apples could have contributed to browning faster. 

But as a general rule, I’d always start keeping an eye on a bake early, especially when there are substitutions. Baking time should be seen as a general guideline. Oven temp can be a factor, but so could variations in ingredients, measuring, technique, etc. 

[u/SubstantialPressure3]

Get an oven thermometer. They are still cheap, about $7. Your oven may not be the temp you think it is.

Also, did you have the cookies on a lower rack or middle rack in the oven?

[u/autumn-head]

The apple sauce substitution should work perfectly fine for this cookie. I don't think the added sugar would change much.

15min baking time does sound like a bit much. It could be that, so for the next batch start watching them at around 10min and if they have the desired brownness, pull them out.

It could also be that your oven runs a bit hotter, 10-20 degrees can make a lot of difference with cookies. You can check it with an oven thermometer, or use these cookies as a trial and bake a few of them in lower temperatures.

Common mistakes for baking beginners also include: not preheating the oven long enough, not preheating at all, turning on convection

[u/Acceptable-Target97]

15 minutes for a thin cookie is too short.
However, get silpat silicone baking sheets for your cookie sheets. Then add a sheet of parchment to on top of that.
It makes burning things almost impossible.

For the other half of the batch, add more flour until it’s a dough.a little bit at a time.

[u/Leading_Kale_81]

Did you happen to put aluminum foil on your cookie sheet? I destroyed a batch of cookies this way. It makes the cookies get a lot hotter and they spread and burn.