It looks like I'm going to make four different kinds of Christmas
cookies this year, and I need some advice from our expert bakers.

Hubby says my MIL made all her cookies and candy in November, then
froze everything until Christmas day. I don't care for frozen and
defrosted cookies, so I'd rather not go that route, but I am looking
for shortcuts. Two of the recipes I'm making are bar cookies ("Hello
Dolly Bars" and "Cocoa Streusal Cheesecake Bars", both from the new
Penzey's catalog). These no big deal to make, I figure I'll bake
them on Christmas Eve.

But two are balled dough cookies (Snickerdoodles and Snowballs),
which take a bit more work. I'm wondering how far in advance I could
make the dough for these, then refrigerate or freeze it. Anyone have
any suggestions or experience with this? Thanks in advance...


--
j.j. ~ mom, gamer, novice cook ~
...fish heads, fish heads, eat them up, yum!

I know you said you weren't into frozen then defrosted cookies but if you
really want easy peasy type cookies your best bet is really to make the
cookie dough in advance, freeze it until you're ready to bake them and then
bake them. You really don't notice a difference for most recipes.

-- Compmouse
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Come join us at KittyRealm and talk about all things Sanrio!
http://pub37.ezboard.com/bkittyRealm
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"j.j." > wrote in message
...
> It looks like I'm going to make four different kinds of Christmas
> cookies this year, and I need some advice from our expert bakers.
>
> Hubby says my MIL made all her cookies and candy in November, then
> froze everything until Christmas day. I don't care for frozen and
> defrosted cookies, so I'd rather not go that route, but I am looking
> for shortcuts. Two of the recipes I'm making are bar cookies ("Hello
> Dolly Bars" and "Cocoa Streusal Cheesecake Bars", both from the new
> Penzey's catalog). These no big deal to make, I figure I'll bake
> them on Christmas Eve.
>
> But two are balled dough cookies (Snickerdoodles and Snowballs),
> which take a bit more work. I'm wondering how far in advance I could
> make the dough for these, then refrigerate or freeze it. Anyone have
> any suggestions or experience with this? Thanks in advance...
>
>
> --
> j.j. ~ mom, gamer, novice cook ~
> ..fish heads, fish heads, eat them up, yum!

Doh! I guess I didn't read your post well enough, my bad.

For freezing cookies most will last anywhere from 1 month to 3 months in the
freezer, so if you're going to make them for Christmas, if you start making
them now they'll be fine for Christmas day or even New Years!

Again, sorry about that!
-- Compmouse
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Come join us at KittyRealm and talk about all things Sanrio!
http://pub37.ezboard.com/bkittyRealm
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"j.j." > wrote in message
...
> It looks like I'm going to make four different kinds of Christmas
> cookies this year, and I need some advice from our expert bakers.
>
> Hubby says my MIL made all her cookies and candy in November, then
> froze everything until Christmas day. I don't care for frozen and
> defrosted cookies, so I'd rather not go that route, but I am looking
> for shortcuts. Two of the recipes I'm making are bar cookies ("Hello
> Dolly Bars" and "Cocoa Streusal Cheesecake Bars", both from the new
> Penzey's catalog). These no big deal to make, I figure I'll bake
> them on Christmas Eve.
>
> But two are balled dough cookies (Snickerdoodles and Snowballs),
> which take a bit more work. I'm wondering how far in advance I could
> make the dough for these, then refrigerate or freeze it. Anyone have
> any suggestions or experience with this? Thanks in advance...
>
>
> --
> j.j. ~ mom, gamer, novice cook ~
> ..fish heads, fish heads, eat them up, yum!

"j.j." > wrote in message
...
> It looks like I'm going to make four different kinds of Christmas
> cookies this year, and I need some advice from our expert bakers.
>
> Hubby says my MIL made all her cookies and candy in November, then
> froze everything until Christmas day. I don't care for frozen and
> defrosted cookies, so I'd rather not go that route, but I am looking
> for shortcuts. Two of the recipes I'm making are bar cookies ("Hello
> Dolly Bars" and "Cocoa Streusal Cheesecake Bars", both from the new
> Penzey's catalog). These no big deal to make, I figure I'll bake
> them on Christmas Eve.
>
> But two are balled dough cookies (Snickerdoodles and Snowballs),
> which take a bit more work. I'm wondering how far in advance I could
> make the dough for these, then refrigerate or freeze it. Anyone have
> any suggestions or experience with this? Thanks in advance...

Some cookies freeze very well and some don't. Maybe you're more
discriminating than me, but I can't tell the difference between most cookies
that have been frozen and then thawed. That said, I often make large
batches of cookie dough, portion out the individual cookies, freeze them for
a few hours, and then put them in freezer bags. When I want a few cookies I
take them out and bake them from the frozen state adding about 5 minutes to
the baking time. They should keep for at least 3 months in the freezer if
properly wrapped. The Snickerdoodles are a good example of a cookie that
will freeze well as raw dough. I don't know about the snowballs as that
might be one of a number of cookies.

Compmouse > wrote:
> I know you said you weren't into frozen then defrosted cookies but if you
> really want easy peasy type cookies your best bet is really to make the
> cookie dough in advance, freeze it until you're ready to bake them and then
> bake them. You really don't notice a difference for most recipes.

Yup, I agree. I don't make cookies often, but when I do, I like to make
the dough at least a day in advance and I form it into a log, wrap it in
plastic wrap and freeze it thoroughly. Then making cookies becomes as
simple as slicing the dough and placing the dough disks on a baking sheet.
The cookies do come out crispy this way, but I prefer crispy cookies to
the soft chewy kind so it works out well for me.

Hark! I heard (j.j.) say:

> It looks like I'm going to make four different kinds of Christmas
> cookies this year, and I need some advice from our expert bakers.

<snip>

Thanks to all for the replies -- I'll at least try freezing the
Snickerdoodle dough. I'm not sure now how much I'll be baking. Due
to interfamily tensions some of my guests are playing "will they or
won't they" on being here for Christmas. I wish people could just
get along, at least for the holidays. Ah well, could be worse...


--
j.j. ~ mom, gamer, novice cook ~
...fish heads, fish heads, eat them up, yum!