There’s a bit of lore around oatmeal cookies in my family. My mom wasn’t much of a baker, but she tried for many years to get us to like oatmeal raisin cookies. She probably baked dozens of different ...

I’m very sorry to report that if you want to bake exceptional cookies — perfectly round ones with caramelized edges and soft centers — there are no shortcuts. This is true of tall, tender shortbread ...