I love a good weekend project, especially when that project involves my fingers in loads of cookie dough.
I’ll admit that I may be waaaay behind the times on this trick. It’s the sort of trick that super moms have on lock to make them look even more awesome than they already are. Since I haven’t yet produced other people with my body, this trick is just now hitting my radar.
The idea is this: one day… (say, maybe a lazy Saturday morning) whip up a couple batches of your favorite cookie dough. Dollop that cookie dough onto a cookie sheet, all close like. Throw the entire cookie sheet into the freezer. Freeze the dough balls, then throw them into a zip lock bag and back into the freezer. You know what that means? All you have to do is flick on the oven and throw in a few dough balls anytime you want fresh baked cookies! Dang this livin’ is easy!
This frozen dough ball situation is key and here’s why:
You and the family can have fresh baked cookies any and every night.
Surprise guests? No problem at all… you just happened to be whipping up a batch of fresh cookies. Taaadaaa!
Bake ’em directly from frozen…. do it!
Frozen dough balls in the middle of the night? I won’t tell a soul. Can I be honest? I eat the dough balls more often than I actually bake the cookies. In fact… be right back. Dough ball for breakfast.
Full disclosure: I’ve eaten three cookie dough balls in the writing of this post. I’m not done yet.
You might also try these recipes for you cookie dough freezing pleasure:
Oatmeal Cherry White Chocolate Cookies
Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
White Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies
adapted from King Arthur
makes 2 dozen cookies
2 1/4 cups white whole wheat flour, or regular whole wheat flour if you’re feeling extra nutty
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1-2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts, again… if you’re feeling nutty.
Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a bowl, whisk it together and set aside. Combine brown sugar, granulated sugar and softened butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract. Add eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute in between each addition. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts if using.
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Drop cookie dough by the tablespoonfuls onto the baking sheet. Place them very close together so that as many cookies balls as possible fit on the tray. Put the cookie sheet in the freezer and chill dough balls until frozen through, at least 3 hours. Remove the sheet from the freezer and place dough balls in a freezer safe bag and place back in the freezer until ready to bake.
When ready to bake cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place frozen dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave a few inches in between the cookies, giving them room to spread. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden and irresistible.
Indigo
I’m a huge fan of frozen cookie dough, and I’m definitely not a mum… uni student, anyone? If you can’t eat a frozen cookie dough ball for breakfast as a student, when can you?
I like them best when you put them in the microwave for a few seconds from frozen, and the outside goes soft and gooey and the inside’s still frozen. Try it, for real.
…Maybe this is where my freshman fifteen came from, now I think about it.
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes)
I’m ALWAYS freezing cookie dough! It’s just sooo much more convenient! And I’m usually substituting whole wheat flour in everything, but never thought to do so in cookies!
dana aka gluten free in cleveland
Joy, I see your frozen cookie dough balls and raise you homemade cookie dough ice cream.
As a gluten-free kinda girl, this idea is music to my ears (and death to my pancreas). Vanilla ice cream with chunks of cookie dough is one of those pleasures that’s fully lost on the gluten-free, but this just might bring it back into my kitchen.
Just… remind me how it’s okay to eat a little raw egg every now and then….?
Linda Y
no kitchen rut here! sweet…
Flapper Food
love. this. idea.
but wait: FROZEN dough balls bake normally into a regular cookie without burning??? that’s amazing if true. (and scary for me) :-O
Angela
I have been using this technique for a few months now for my little baking business and it has been a total life saver! Thanks for the yummy new recipes for my arsenal.
Kerstin
Great idea, I would need more room in my freezer though :) I’ve never attempted a whole wheat cookie dough before.
Meredith
I just started doing this. I do about 3 or 4 batches at a time, flash freeze on a baking sheet then stick in a labeled ziploc bag. It’s so easy and they taste so much better than store bought. Plus, if we’re having a party, I can pull out cookies and instant food.
Yolanda
I live by this. If you have a toaster over, then you don’t even have to heat the whole kitchen. I also do this with slice and bake cookie doughs. I keep them in the freezer, wrapped and stuffed into a tube from a roll of paper towels.
This is also a great idea for a cookie exchange. Let people take the frozen, ready-to-bake dough to bake at their leisure, instead of a box of cookies hat have to be gorged on immediately, lest they go stale.
stephchows
Seriously great idea!! And love the full disclosure :)
Food Hunter
Frozen dough is a great idea…thanks!
Jill
This is so AWESOME!!! I was just thinking about doing this, but haven’t gotten around to it. We love having warm cookies from dessert, but usually pull frozen baked ones out of the freezer and microwave them for a bit. They would be WAY better fresh from the oven!!!
Can’t wait to stock the freezer!!!
Micha B
ME TOO! In fact I quit freezing dough because of my tendency to eat it all.
In addition to the WW goodness going on here, I add ground flax. Clearly I like it nutty – and then I feel less guilty loading the neighborhood kids up on sugar.
Heidi
This is death to me – I have unfortunately discovered that I like to eat frozen cookie dough balls better than fresh baked cookies. It’s safer for me to bake them all at once and give them away.
The Duo Dishes
Freezing cookie dough in balls is what we do all the time! Saves so much time when all you want is a fresh cookie. Plus, you can avoid eating 5 dozen in one sitting. :)