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If you’re anything like me, then food is a major avenue through which you show people that you care about them. I once made a cake for my husband’s (who was my boyfriend at the time) roommate because none of those clowns (who I have nothing but love and affection for) were going to make him a cake. Everyone needs cake on their birthday! I cooked dinner for my husband’s birthday after we had been on just one date. I liked him, ok!? Someone is sick? Soup to the rescue! Surgery? Lasagna. Your friend had a bad day? BREAK OUT THE FREEZER COOKIES!
There truly are countless reasons to reach into your stash of freezer cookies. Celebrations, thanking someone who helped you out, your kids are begging you for cookies on a Tuesday afternoon, etc. Instead of having to haul out the mixer every time one of these occasions arises, you just reach into your freezer, throw some cookies in the oven, and thank your past self.
What You’ll Need
- Cookie dough- I recommend a double batch of my chocolate chip cookie recipe, although you can use any drop cookie dough you’d like. A double batch of my chocolate chip cookie dough makes 5 dozen cookies. Only do a double batch if you know your mixer (or your arms) can handle it, otherwise, do a single batch.
- A #40 cookie scoop.
- A half sheet pan, or large cookie sheet.
- Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Gallon sized freezer bags.
- Your freezer.
How to Make Freezer Cookies
- Prepare your cookie dough of choice.
- Line a half sheet pan or large cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Using a #40 cookie scoop, scoop the dough out of the mixer and drag the scooper along the edge of the bowl, flattening the bottom of the scoop. I like to pack mine a little too.
- Place your scoops very close together on the baking sheet, so that you can get as many as possible on there. Repeat for all of the cookie dough.
- Place the cookie sheet full of cookies in the freezer for about one hour, up to overnight, until totally firm.
- Transfer the frozen cookies to a gallon sized freezer bag. One gallon bag holds about 2 and 1/2 dozen cookies. Store for up to 3 months.
- Bake on demand.
Baking Your Freezer Cookies
The rule of thumb for baking cookie dough out of the freezer is take 50 degrees off of the normal baking temperature (according to the original recipe), and add a few minutes to baking.
For my chocolate chip cookie recipe, bake the frozen cookies at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (instead of 375 like the recipe calls for) for about 12 minutes (instead of 9 or 10), or until the edges start to brown slightly.
I hope you enjoy making freezer cookies as much as I do! I love having frozen cookies on demand for the many cookie emergencies we seem to have around here. When you try this, will you please tag me in your pictures? You can tag me at @at_home_test_cook or #athometestcook.
