The cookies will still be soft to the touch, when they come out of the oven. They will continue to cook as it cools. Do not over bake as they will become rock hard once cooled.The cayenne pepper doesn’t not make the cookie ‘spicy’. It give a hint to warmth to the cookies and a subtle underlying zing that makes the cookies even more delicious. If you are a fan of cayenne pepper, you might skip adding it.