about to give up on cookie baking in the UK!!!

ooh convection ovens are nice. I've worked in a couple bakeries here in the states, but I was always in the back making the dough and batter. I tell you there is nothing quite like being up to your elbow, literally, with cake icing I was making for the decorating dept.

I'll have to see if any of my old recipes will work in the UK once I get the Celsius/Fahrenheit thing worked out.

Keep working on it. Failures help us learn, keep learning, and remember the unpresentable cookies are still good for snacking when the guests have gone.

But I don't WANT to use UK recipes!!!

Brain wave:  Are the flat ones from later batches (i.e. were you dropping them onto a hot cookie sheet)?  If you don't wait for the sheet to cool sufficiently between batches, they can spread too quickly and end up flat. 

No, they were from the first batch on a cold tray (and as I said, the whole tray didn't come out flat) thru to the last tray.

I might try strong flour next time. This is so odd, as I never have problems with US cake recipes.

I don't know if anyone has suggested this or if it would even work but maybe freezing them for 30 minutes?  I have a recipe that calls for doing that.  Roll them into balls freeze for 30 minutes then place on cookie sheet and smoosh slightly.

Keep working on it. Failures help us learn, keep learning, and remember the unpresentable cookies are still good for snacking when the guests have gone.

Philosophical about cookies!  Love it! 

Keeping trying. I like eating my way through trial and error. Yum!

Are you using butter?  Sometimes using just butter can make the cookies too rich and they will not hold their shape and just spread out flat.  Try using 1/2 butter and 1/2 trex or white flora, it should not affect the taste.

It's not just you ladies in the UK having this problem. I've been having it here in the states with my US recipes. I've been adding more flour and more baking powder when it calls for it and it's helping some, but other times I have no idea why. Driving me nuts.

i had problems in the UK when I first moved there and then I found out my oven wasn't the right temp, so all my cooking was off (think Turkey not done and all else is done for Christmas dinner, nightmare!).

Maybe have your oven checked and make sure it's the right temp. You're making me want to bake now