Did you cook a test cookie yet? I'll bet they were flat and crispier than usual. Baking soda (and corn starch) is not a flavor ingredient, it only helps the cookie to rise.

It's probably only a teaspoon so I wouldn't worry about it. Given the current chocolate chip predicament of flattening and spreading, they're most likely fine.
Now, if you had said sugar instead of baking soda!

If you have not yet cooked them, then just add the baking powder or baking soda now! They would be really flat without it but you would be able to eat them unless they turn out really hard or something. They will most likely just be real flat. So just stir the bs in now.

Baking soda would just be to make them rise and corn starch would not have any taste.

ok, so the first batch, when the timer went off, they looked undercooked, so cooked them a bit more. wrong. 2nd batch took them out at timer, like usual. they looked so under-cooked. but, they are done. kids think they taste funny.
so corn starch adds no flavor??
I know either baking soda or baking powder makes them rise, but I am not sure what does which.
yes, only 1 teaspoon of corn starch!
i'm done for today, as I am all out of sugars, stick butter, and i have NO baking soda. Think my kids used it in an experiment!!!
and the corn starch is going back to the other side of the cabinet!!!! :)

thanks!! I was pretty sure it was edible, but....

Nope, no flavor in corn starch

I actually have cookie recipes that call for part cornstarch, part flour--and they're delicious. Actually I like the taste better than all flour for cookies and sometimes do that even in recipes that don't call for cornstarch. But a teaspoon or two of cornstarch wouldn't make any difference in the taste. Either the kids are reacting to your telling them something is different, or you maybe made another mistake, too?

As to the baking soda you left out of your cookies--yes, it's Baking Soda in CC cookies because they're made with brown sugar (baking soda is used in recipes that contain acid--Brown sugar does). Cookies don't rise that much. Many have no leavening agent at all. Leaving the baking soda out will not ruin your cc's--I never use more than half of it, because the full amount gives that awful, chemical baking soda taste. Your cookies may be more shortbreadlike, but definitely don't throw them away--they're still edible.

Even if the cornstarch had absorbed an odor or flavor or was contaminated (you suggest you suspect the kids, maybe they contaminated it?) I still don't think 1 tsp could make that much difference in a batch. As for the kids thinking they taste "funny", very possible the psychological suspicion was placed there and they were expecting them to be different. You didn't say they said they were bad.

End result, what's the difference. Toss them if you're uncomfortable. Not worth it over a couple dollars worth of ingredients. Many bigger things in life to get worked up over. Go buy a box of cookies and you'll likely appreciate the next batch a whole lot more.

I agree, cornstarch has no flavor to speak of and my favorite shortbread cookie has no baking soda or other leavening and takes cornstarch in addition to flour.

The difference, of course, would be texture. If your kids don't like them because of that difference I'd chop them up and make a pie crust similar to graham cracker crust, or maybe use them as an addition to ice cream or pudding.

Annie

That psychological stuff will get you every time. My 78 year old Dad is extremely susceptible, so, consequently, we never have leftovers and everything is tasty! Wonderful! Amazing! The best ever!

Once, I had a pair of pants for him to wear that were just a little damp. Really, not hardly at all and they would have dried while wearing shortly.
Yet, I made the mistake of telling him this, and and after I got him dressed, he made me take them off. He said his pants were soaking wet and wouldn't wear them. Since then, he has worn ever so slightly damp pants every once in a while and never noticed, or been informed ahead!

Cornstarch has no flavor, but baking soda definitely does have a flavor - and not a good one. I would think they would taste better without the baking soda, as the BS can give them a bit of a bitter taste - or even a salty flavor because it creates a salt during the baking process. Anyway, these flavors were missing from your cookie batch, and that's why they taste different - not because of the cornstarch. It's very important never to add to much baking soda as it can definitely give an off flavor to baked goods. I generally omit salt in cookie recipes that have baking soda because I do not like a salt flavor in cookies, but I'm overly sensitive to salt. That doesn't mean I don't like salt - I just don't like it in sweets. Baking soda can also taste a bit metallic.

Lars

OMG I just did this today! the cookies are still fantastic they just didn't spread like they were supposed to. It was a new recipe I was trying and I never even realized I did it until reaching for the cornstarch to make supper tonight Recipe sharing with Spoonful of Sweetness