What is the reason a cookie recipe requires parchment paper lining the baking sheet?

I'm making some peanutbutter chocolate chip cookies and the recipe calls for parchment paper, to line the baking tray. It's the only thing I don't have in the kitchen and as I live in the middle of the Canadian wilderness it's quite a drive to get some. So then, how important is it to the baking process? Many thanks to any and all who answer even if you goof on my question, that can be funny if not entirely helpful to the matter at hand which is of course my attempt to make delicious peanutbutter and chocolate chip cookies to share with my lovely wife, the woodland creatures who frequent our homestead, lost hikers, displaced alien abductees, forest rangers and their companion hat wearing picknik basket stealing bears, wandering minstrels, Jehovah Witnesses (I always wonder how they stay so clean in their polyester suites back here in the bush, astounding!), drunk lumber Jacks, and door to door fuller brush sales persons . It is so important to have something to serve unexpected guests!

What is the reason a cookie recipe requires parchment paper lining the baking sheet?
It must be an old recipe before non-stick baking sheets were prevalent. You should be fine just using a non stick cookie sheet, and if you dont have one just spray some pam on there and evenly distribute it with a paper towel. Im sure it will be ok.
Reply:So they don't stick.
Reply:The paper helps to keep the cookies from sticking, and makes them nice and brown on the bottom. It certainly isn't necessary. Make sure to grease your cookie sheet, and you should be fine.
Reply:It stops the cookies from sticking to the baking tray.
Reply:So the cookies don't stick to the baking tray. Simple as that and no other reason whatever anyone else says!! You could lightly grease instead.
Reply:Laz's Mouse here-lol, what a wonderful tale with which to begin a new day! You sound like a very congenial host indeed. Nickledon got it right, parchment in your case would be to absorb excess oil/fat from the dough, you certainly don't need to add more. Laz says as well the parchment will make for a thinner crust down bottom of the cookie.-p%26amp;l, smile and enjoy the day
Reply:To absorb the cooking oils and keep the cookies from being soggy and to keep the cookies from sticking to the pan.
Reply:So the cookies don't stick.





Parchment paper makes them easier to remove from the cookie sheet also. So you can cook batches of cookies faster.





And the clean-up is a snap! You simply throw away the parchment paper and wash the cookie sheet. No scrubbing involved.
Reply:To stop the cookies sticking to your tray?





Try geasing up the tray before cooking, this might work. Alternatively I have some I could post to you!?
Reply:The reason is: if you get a diorrhea after the meal you'll not stay without peaper...
Reply:Keeps cookies from sticking and browns the bottoms evenly without burning. The stuff is great. Or when you come out of the woods you can get a silicon baking pad.
Reply:Everyone is right. It is to keep the cookies from sticking without using any extra butter to grease the pan. You might want to invest in a silicon baking sheet. It takes the place of parchment, is easy to clean, and lasts for years.