My Tips and Tricks Save Time, Energy, Mess and Money!
This is a great idea for around Valentine's Day or any other Holiday. This tip and trick will help you save time and energy. Plus, it helps you bake smaller batches of cookies QUICKLY and WITHOUT ALL THE MESS, when you need them. How? Read on…and bake on...
Make a full or double batch one day. Bake just enough for today’s purpose, then freeze the rest to bake at a later date. It’s easy, and you only have to get that big mixer out once, then bake the cookies fresh when you need them. No need to mess up the kitchen again when you want to bake more cookies.
This is an excellent way to have fresh cookies anytime, especially when friends, neighbor kids or relatives “pop over.” Even if they come unannounced, just place a few frozen cookie dough balls on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, let thaw about 15-20 minutes and bake at the normal baking time and temp. The aroma of cookies baking will bring them running.
Step 1:
Mix up one, two or three batches of cookies, whatever amount your electric mixing bowl will accommodate. Then bake just enough for your immediate needs, one or two dozen, or even a half dozen.
Step 2:
Roll the rest of the cookie dough into balls and freeze on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet for about an hour.
Step 3:
Once the cookie balls are frozen, place them in one or more sealable plastic bags, squeezing out the air. Then put the bag(s) into another sealable plastic bag or into hard container and place in the freezer. Double “wrapping” them helps prevent freezer burn. I usually place a dozen cookie balls per each quart sized bag since 12 will fit on one of my cookie sheets. Then I can just grab one bag if I want to bake one sheet of cookies. It’s as easy as that!
Step 4:
Label the containers with the date, the name of the cookie dough and the quantity for each bag. I usually bake them up within a month or two.
Step 5:
To bake after freezing, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and line up your cookie dough balls for baking. Let them thaw on the countertop for 15-20 minutes. They can still be cool when you bake them, but should thaw somewhat otherwise they could run and bake unevenly. Preheat the oven to the correct temp before baking.
Get the kids involved!
Let the kids help you mix the BIG double or triple batch of cookies, helping you measure and pour the ingredients. Then have them help you roll the cookie dough into balls. A melon baller or cookie scoop (they come in different sizes) can help keep the dough balls a uniform size. Take this time to talk about the importance of rolling the balls in similar sizes so they all bake evenly. As a counting exercise, have them count out the dough balls into the bags and make the labels for each bag.
Baking with kids can be fun and educational, but don’t tell them that. Let them help you “Bake your own Memories!”
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