Freezing Cookie Dough for the Holidays

If you're looking ahead to the holiday season and wondering how you're going to get all your baking done, consider freezing your cookie dough ahead of time. When the holidays get closer you can get that last bit of shopping done or that last present made instead of spending all your time in the kitchen.

Cookie dough will freeze well for 4 to 6 weeks. Rolls of dough should be sealed tightly in plastic wrap (chill in refrigerator first before freezing). Other kinds of dough should be stored in airtight containers. Drop cookies (unbaked) may be frozen on cookie sheets and transferred to freezer bags. Let stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.

Don't try to freeze soft meringue-type cookie dough. Chocolate, brownies, peanut butter, and sugar cookie dough (or anything similar) freezes well. Let the dough defrost in the refrigerator (about 2-3 hours). Make sure to label the container with the date and type of cookie dough.

Here are several cookie doughs that freeze well:

Peanut Butter Crackles

1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. peanut butter
Chocolate kisses or stars

Mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix together butter, peanut butter, and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and press chocolate kisses firmly into cookie.

M & M Cookies

2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. butter
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. plain M&M’s

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and M&M’s. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes.

Excerpted from Creative Homemaking's "Freezing Cookies and Cookie Dough" holiday e-book. For more information, visit www.creativehomemaking.com/products.html. For more holiday hints, recipes, gardening, organizing tips, home decorating, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at www.creativehomemaking.com.

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