I don't get it. I follow the recipe to a T and expect lovely chunky cookies, yet they always spread out and go flat. I'm doing everything I should - the butter isn't too soft, I don't overmix, I chill the dough, I've even tried rolling them into balls and freezing before baking - but they never wind up like the ones I can buy at a bakery.
I used to make great cakes too, but now they just sink! Again, I'm following the recipe and I've recently replaced my baking powder and bicarb of soda in case that was the problem, but they still dont rise. Banana bread is about the only thing I make that does rise - everything else rises a bit and then sinks.
I did wonder if the oven was a problem and bought an oven thermometer to check if it was getting up to temperature and it is. It can't be the recipe as the same thing happens with any cake I make, apart from he aforementioned banana bread. That's made with oil and the cakes and cookies with butter but surely that couldn't be the reason?