Cookies begin as dough but bake into soft, chewy treats. Discover what must happen for this change to take place. Indulge in these 12 cookie recipes to practice your baking skills, learn some science on the side, and have fun all at once.

Let your baking skills rise -- Apricot shortbread -- Flourless peanut butter cookies -- Flying butterfly cookies -- Chocolate covered fortune cookies -- Two-for-one cookie dough brownies -- Chocolate meringues with raspberry sauce -- Cranberry pistachio biscotti -- Almond crescent cookies with fruity garnish -- Lemon-frosted sour cream cookies -- Gingery molasses cookies -- Microwave oatmeal cookie -- Butterscotch pecan snow-topped mountains -- Cookie help.