When that cookie craving hits or last-minute company drops in, having frozen cookie dough on hand is perfect for a sweet treat in minutes!
So it’s Friday night, you’ve had one hell of a week at work and all you want in life right now is your pajamas, a glass of wine, a great movie, and ohhhhhhhhhhhh… YES! A fresh-hot-from-the-oven-cookie. Just a single (or 2) awesome cookie. But you look at the clock and it’s late and you’re tired.
BUT… what if I told you there was a way to have one (or 4) cookies and all you had to do was take them out of your freezer, plop them on a pan and bake? They’d be just as amazing as the day you made the dough.
Yeah I thought that would get your attention!
What I’m talking about is called “Flash Freezing”. I have been doing this for eons and at any given point in time I will have at least 3-4 different types of frozen cookie dough balls in my freezer for unexpected company, late-night cravings, or when Mr. Fantabulous informs me that “there is nothing in this house to eat”.
Most folks will make the cookies and freeze them. I’m sorry but that’s just nasty. Yes, it saved time BUT when I took them out they defrosted they lost their cookie awesomeness. I hated the taste. They were NOT my cookies.
Making the dough, portioning the dough out (seriously don’t freeze a block of dough as it’s a nightmare to deal with later on). and then freezing it is KEY!
What Is Flash Freezing?
In this case, you’re doing the following:
- Make up your cookie dough and portion it out onto a parchment-lined cookie tray
- Put the tray (uncovered) in the freezer for an hour or until rock solid.
- Once the raw dough portions are frozen, put them then in a freezer-tight container or plastic bag.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
So when you want a hot & fresh cookie-from-the-oven just preheat your oven for whatever the recipe temp calls for, line your tray with parchment and pop a few frozen cookie portions onto a tray, and put them puppies into the oven. In 8-12 minutes you have freshly baked cookie awesomeness!
Pretty simple, huh? Trust me, do this! So unless your oven is broken you have no reason to not be able to have a cookie on a Friday night at midnight ever again (well okay unless you’re on a diet or whatnot).
PrintHow to Flash Freeze Cookie Dough
When that cookie craving hits or last-minute company drops in, having frozen cookie dough on hand is perfect for a sweet treat in minutes!
Ingredients
- Your favorite mixed cookie dough
- Cookie Tray
- Parchment Paper
- Containers or plastic bags
- Plastic wrap for log, slice and bake cookies
Instructions
Drop or rolled cookies
- Once your dough is all mixed up, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop out your individual cookies and place them closely on the paper. Do your best to get them close to one another without touching.
- Place the whole tray in the freezer for at least an hour or until the cookies are frozen solid.
- Once frozen, place the dough balls in a freezer safe container or plastic bag marking the outside of the bag with what the cookie is, the temp you cookie at and how long.
Log, slice and bake cookies
- Once your dough is all mixed up, get out a baking sheet, some plastic wrap or parchment paper
- Place the dough in a log form in the plastic wrap or parchment paper and shape into a log.
- Twist the ends of the plastic wrap or parchment paper and place onto the baking sheet.
- Place the whole tray in the freezer for at least an hour or until the logs are frozen solid.
- Once frozen place the logs in a freezer safe container or plastic bag marking the outside of the bag with what the cookie is, the temp you cookie at and how long.
- When you’re ready to bake, slice and bake away!
Notes
I would advise adding 1-3 minutes additional baking time to your frozen cookies. Don’t touch the temperature though.
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