Saturday, April 9, 2016

Cool and Freeze

I actually did get some time in the studio this week, but it was a 2 steps forward 3 steps back kind of a situation that we will leave in the dark, and hopefully by next week it will only be a bad memory!

Last week there were a couple of requests for my favorite cookie recipe, so I thought that would be a good topic for the day.   Like most recipes I use, it was not originally my own, but over time I have made it my own with a few very minor changes to please my family.

 I ran across this book many years ago.  The basic idea is that you make your own mixes, (duh, the title!) However there are also many bulk recipe for the freezer in there.  One of them is for  Slice and Bake Oatmeal cookies, and that is the recipe that I use almost exclusively for my family and friends.

The recipe says that you can take the cookie dough and roll it into 4 logs and wrap them up and freeze them.  Then when you need some cookies you slice and bake as many as you need.  I tried that a couple of times, but I found that I did not like working with the dough to get it in log form, and I wasn't sure how big the frozen pieces needed to be to get my regular sized cookie.

What I found however, was that the baked cookies freeze wonderfully!  I usually get around 7 dozen cookies when I make a whole recipe. ( I have made just half  of a recipe before)  Once they are cool, I pop them in freezer bags by the dozen or two, and when I need some cookies, I pull out what I need and let them warm up about 20 minutes and they are just like fresh baked!  (just not warm)


Here we go!

Slice and Bake Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups butter or Margarine (I use butter)
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar, packed
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
5 cups rolled oats
(1/2 to 1tsp Cinnamon)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 nuts (I omit)
1 to 2 cups raisins (I omit and use Chocolate chips)

(I noted my changes in parenthesis)

Combine butter and sugars, beat until smooth
Add eggs, beat until incorporated
Add vanilla and blend

Combine flour, oats, (cinnamon), salt, soda, baking powder, blend well
(when I have time I grind some fresh flour to use)

Add dry ingredients to wet, and combine well, add nuts, raisins and chocolate chips as desired.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and spoon out the dough using a small spoon.

Bake at 375 F for 10 to 11 minutes depending on the size of your cookie. (watch carefully until you know how your oven and cookies play together!)

(Cool and freeze) Yield 7 dozen more or less

I compared the ingredients in this recipe with other similar ones, and  I found that this is about 4 times the size of a normal recipe, so that really you can take your own favorite recipe and it just might work for that one too!  Imagine 7 dozen cookies of your favorite recipe in the freezer just waiting to be used!
(Don't forget that frozen cookies are just the treat your looking for to go with your afternoon coffee!)

Until next time, Happy Baking!  Tina

2 comments:

LA said...

Thank you for letting us have your recipe! I have several oatmeal cookie recipes, and it's fun to compare.

Theresa said...

Next oatmeal cookie batch we're going that one a go!