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Watch an Animated Video on the 'Mad' Science of Cookies

by Hillary Dixler Canavan
Hillary Dixler Canavan is Eater's restaurant editor and the author of the publication's debut book, Eater: 100 Essential Restaurant Recipes From the Authority on Where to Eat and Why It Matters (Abrams, September 2023). Her work focuses on dining trends and the people changing the industry — and scouting the next hot restaurant you need to try on Eater's annual Best New Restaurant list.

Here's a fun animated video from Ted-Ed which dives into the chemical reactions that happen as cookies bake. "Bakers are mad scientists," the video says before proceeding to show how evaporating water, melting butter, carbon dioxide, the Maillard reaction, and caramelization work together to make a cookie everything that it is. There are several comparisons made to illustrate how it all works, including: "a monster coming alive"; "chest-bursting aliens"; "mud baking in the sun"; and "a Northeasterner on a beach vacation." Go, watch:

Video: The Chemistry of Cookies

· The Chemistry of Cookies [YouTube]
· All Cookie Coverage on Eater [-E-]

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