Cookies are a common sight on dessert menus and in bakery display cases because they are popular, easy to make, and ship well. You know the drill: mix, scoop, bake, serve. But are all your cookies evenly sized, and do you have trouble scooping out the dough? In a restaurant or bakery, saving prep time while presenting beautiful food is a must, which is why investing in cookie scoops will take your cookie-making skills to the next level.
Shop All Cookie ScoopsHow to Use Every Cookie Scoop Size
Discover the proper use for every cookie scoop size. From scooping jumbo muffins to tiny truffles, there is a cookie scoop for every application.
What Is a Cookie Scoop?
A cookie scoop is a handheld, spring-loaded kitchen tool that scoops uniform sizes of dough and batter. Using a cookie scoop helps maintain product size consistency and even baking. Cookie scoops are very popular in bakeries and restaurants where food presentation and taste are both essential.
How to Use a Cookie Scoop
The best way to use a cookie scoop is by scooping the dough into the bowl of the cookie scoop until it’s full, press the dough (no need to do this for batter as it is much looser) into the bowl to get rid of air pockets for a uniform, rounded edge. Next, flatten the exposed edge of the dough or batter so it’s completely level. Then, with the spring-loaded handles, squeeze out the dough or batter onto your sheet tray or into your muffin or cake pan.
Cookie Dough Scoop Sizes
Cookie scoops come in many different sizes to accommodate various types of cookies, cupcakes, and muffins. Larger cookie scoop sizes are perfect for those big bakery cookies, while smaller cookie scoop sizes are great for drop cookies or making truffles. Play with the different sizes to see which cookie scoop size works best for your recipe.
Cookie Scoop Sizes
Below are various cookie scoop sizes listed by their number, weight, and volume measurement. Cookie scoop numbers are determined by how many scoops the cookie scoop would take to measure out a quart container. Because of this, larger-sized cookie scoops have a smaller number, while smaller-sized cookie scoops have a bigger number.
The Best Cookie Scoops for Large Cookies
If you want to make those iconically big cookie cakes, using a #6-10 numbered scoop will do the trick. These cookie scoop sizes can be used to measure your jumbo muffins or cupcakes, make very thick cookies (as long as they have a much higher flour-to-butter ratio), or serve an equal amount of dough into your cookie skillets before they're baked and served.
#6 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 5.33 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 10 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. of cookie dough (5/8 cup)
- Bowl Diameter - 3" diameter
#8 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 3.7 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 7 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. of cookie dough (1/2 cup)
- Bowl Diameter - 2 7/8" diameter
#10 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 3.2 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 6 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. of cookie dough (3/8 cup)
- Bowl Diameter - 2 5/8" diameter
The Best Cookie Scoops for Medium Cookies
When making medium-sized cookies, most bakers aim for approximately 2-tablespoon-sized mounds, so look for #20-36 sized cookie scoops. Going above or below is up to you, and also based on how much your cookie dough recipe usually spreads. These cookie scoops are also great for making cookies for ice cream sandwiches, or you can use them to measure out meatballs and falafels and get quick, consistent sizes.
#20 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 1.8 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 3 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. of cookie dough
- Bowl Diameter - 2" diameter
#24 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 1.3 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. of cookie dough
- Bowl Diameter - 1 7/8" diameter
#30 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 1.13 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 2 Tbsp. of cookie dough
- Bowl Diameter - 1 3/4" diameter
The Best Cookie Scoops for Small Cookies
The best cookie scoops to use for small cookies are #60-100. These cookie scoops are also a great size for measuring truffles, protein balls, and drop cookies with accuracy and precision. You can also use it to quickly put the perfect amount of frosting on cupcakes or a scoop of sour cream or guacamole on Mexican food.
#60 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 0.54 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 1 Tbsp. + 1/3 tsp. of cookie dough
- Bowl Diameter - 1 3/8" diameter
#70 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 0.5 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 1 Tbsp. of cookie dough
- Bowl Diameter - 1 1/4" diameter
#100 Cookie Scoop
- Weight - holds 0.375 oz. of cookie dough
- Size - holds 2 1/4 tsp. of cookie dough
- Bowl Diameter - 1 1/8" diameter
What Size Scoop for Cookies?
To figure out the size cookie scoop that you should be using for your cookies, visualize the approximate size you would like your cookies to be. If it’s on the large end, try using cookie scoop sizes #6-14. If you would like a more medium-sized cookie, reach for the #16-36 sized scoops. If you would like a smaller-sized cookie, your best bet is to choose between cookie scoop sizes #40-100.
Why Do Cookies Spread?
Cookie dough will spread if it contains a high butter-to-flour ratio. This is why the same cookie scoop might produce finished cookies of different sizes. Every cookie dough recipe has its own ingredient ratio. Some cookie doughs have a higher butter content and lower flour content, which will make them spread out much more than a lower butter content and higher flour content dough. Therefore, do not treat your cookie scoop sizes the same for every recipe. Try baking off a practice round beforehand with two scooped-out cookies to see how much they spread and if you like the size of the finished cookies.
The Benefits of Using a Cookie Scoop
Using a cookie scoop for your recipes can be very beneficial for your restaurant or bakery. Here are the benefits of using a cookie scoop:
- Consistency - Using the same cookie scoop size to shape your cookies into rounds will make sure that they bake evenly and uniformly so you can sell consistent products.
- Shortened Prep Time - The act of using a cookie scoop will greatly reduce your prep time compared to weighing out balls of dough one by one, or when using two spoons to extract a ball of dough.
- Simple to Use - Because a cookie scoop is a one-product operation, there is less fuss when creating uniform sizes and transferring the dough to the cookie sheet. The bowl creates the perfect size each time, while the spring-loaded handle and inside scooper help transfer the dough out of the bowl and cleanly into place on a cookie sheet.
- Even Bake Time - When your batch of cookies is uniformly scooped, that means the bake time will be consistent for all cookies on the sheet tray.
- Eliminates Food Waste - Cookie scoops are designed with a sweeper blade in the bowl to carve out the batter or dough more easily and cleanly than scraping dough out of a measuring cup. This consistency creates less wasted dough or batter when scooping, giving you more portions from your batch.
What Else to Use a Cookie Scoop For
Besides cookie dough, cookie scoops are handy for so many other measurements around the kitchen. Keep in mind that cookie scoops work best for softer foods such as:
- Muffin batter
- Cupcake batter
- Cake batter
- Pancake batter
- Waffle batter
- Falafels
- Meatballs
- Chicken salad
- Vegetables
- Mashed potatoes
- Gravy
- Scooping out melon seeds
- Mini guacamole or sour cream topping
Cookie Scoop Tips
Before you get started scooping out cookie dough, keep these tips in mind to remember before and during your portioning:
- Do a test trial and bake off one or two cookies to see how much your recipe spreads.
- When scooping your dough, be sure to pack the dough in to get a completely rounded top and a flat bottom. Wipe away any excess or overhang.
- Sometimes recipes will call for you to make your cookie dough into balls before baking them. Be sure to measure out your cookie dough properly with the cookie scoop, then roll that measurement of dough into the cookie dough balls if the recipe calls for it.
- It’s a lot harder on your cookie scoop if your dough has been refrigerated for a long time, so be sure to portion the dough right after mixing and before letting the dough rest in the refrigerator or freezer.
Cookie Scoop Size Chart
Use our cookie scoop size chart to figure out the sizing for your next recipe. We've provided cookie measurements in ounces, quart container size, and volume for your convenience.
Printable Version
Back to Top
Now that you’re armed and ready with all of the knowledge, tips, tricks, and best practices of using cookie scoops, it’s time to go back into the test kitchen and perfect all of your cookies big and small. Whether you’re making small coconut macaroons or using the biggest cookie scoop to portion out your dessert menu’s cookie skillet, you’ll be thankful that you invested in a cookie scoop to ensure consistency in your bakery or restaurant.
