Saturday, September 11, 2010

Chocolate Chip Cookies

What's lunch without a sweet at the end? A homemade cookie is always the perfect take along dessert. Not only are they delicious and popular with kids, but they're excellent lunchroom currency, too.


To be honest, I thought I would do a veggie wrap today. But since we had two kid-approved wraps earlier this week, it seemed more appropriate to bring our back to school celebration to a conclusion with that little sweet that makes the meal.

I've had this recipe for a long, long time. I think it's based on the original Tollhouse recipe. Over the years, I've played with it in many ways. I've substituted canola oil and pumpkin for the shortening. It worked but wasn't my favorite. I've used Spectrum organic shortening, which is made from palm oil, and that worked fine. I tried making it with all butter, but the cookies really do benefit from that bit of shortening. And, of course, I've made these cookies with Crisco, which works beautifully. Today I've substituted coconut oil for the shortening and the cookies turned out fine. I don't even taste the coconut.

One of the comments I frequently receive about The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, is that Sophie has a seemingly endless supply of cookies in the freezer. Yes, she does! Don't you? Aside from being a lovely recipe that tastes great, my favorite thing about this recipe is that it makes a huge batch of cookies. You can actually press the dough into a log shape (it doesn't have to be perfect) on waxed paper, roll it up, and stash it in the freezer to be used when you need cookies. The recipe makes about 40 or so cookies, so that means several rolls of cookies, which I slide into a freezer bag for storage.

When company arrives unexpectedly, I have freshly baked cookies in fifteen minutes. Perfect for midnight snacks (especially when characters are discussing a murder), after school snacks, lunch boxes, snow days, even those days when you're supposed to bring something for the whole class -- and you forgot about it. Cookies to the rescue!

Freezable Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

1/2 cup coconut oil (or shortening)
3/4 cup unsalted butter
2 3/4 cups light brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons vanilla
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/14 teaspoons baking soda
3-4 cups chocolate chips

Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. Cream the oil and butter. Add the sugar, mix well. Add the eggs, vanilla, and milk, and mix thoroughly. Gradually mix in the flour. Stir in the chocolate chips.

The dough is now ready to freeze or bake (or both!). Preheat the oven to 350. Drop the dough on a buttered baking sheet and bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Freeze unbaked dough in logs.

If frozen, slice a chunk off the end about 3/4 inch thick. Cut into four pieces. Place on a buttered baking sheet with the point up. Bake at 350 for 12 - 14 minutes.

Enjoy!



Have a kid who is too cool for a cutesy lunch box? Today's prize is a very sophisticated personalized lunch bag. Your choice of color with your child's name or monogram!


To enter, leave a message. The winner will be announced tomorrow!

GOOD LUCK!

31 comments:

  1. Such organization to have Cookie Dough ready at the drop of a hat. I always wonder how big is the freezer.

    The type of person that freezes cookie dough in advance must be the kind of person that freezes other things soups, bread, potroast, turkeys ... "Just in Case someone drops by".

    Then of course there is that once a decade clean out the back of the freezer day, when "just in case someone drops by", turns into a game of "I can name that food item in three guesses"...

    But then, anyone organized enough to make cookie dough in advance (and doesn't eat it one spoonful at a time in the perfect raw form) must be organized enough to mark the bag with what is inside.

    I will spend the rest of the day pondering your organized freezer. Me, i am stuck with a freezer jammed full of those bags of frozen vegetables my wife insist on buying because they are on sale... her personal "Just in case", and my cross to bear.

    I would rather have cookies in the freezer.

    BTW, a quarter teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper in the dough really Zings it up... seriously.

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  2. We're having a cold and brisk day here and it's perfect day for fresh-oven baked chocolate chip cookies with a tall glass of milk.

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  3. You can never go wrong with a chocolate chip cookie. These look delicious.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  4. My son frequently asks me if I have the stuff to make cookies. With freezable cookie dough I wouldn't have to say no so often.

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  5. I've never thought about freezing cookie dough! My kids are applauding you right now! Great idea for lunch, an after-school treat, whenever!

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  6. Dave, I wish I had a freezer full of pot roast! I did invest in a freezer a few years ago, so I have plenty of room for cookies, though these really do fit nicely in the freezer that is attached to the fridge. Yes, I do have a couple of turkeys in the freezer, but that's because they were on sale, which is one the big benefits of a standalone freezer -- plenty of room to take advantage of sale prices when they come along! And btw, I also have frozen spinach. Is it organized? Not like Natasha's freezer. ; ) She's always giving Sophie a hard time about her imperfect freezer.

    I bet cayenne pepper kicks up cookies. I bake cookies with black pepper around Christmas and love the flavor it imparts.

    ~ Krista

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  7. Dru, I hope you indulge! We're having the same sort of weather. Funny how it makes you want a warm cookie.

    Mason, chocolate chip cookies are always popular. I'm sure there must be people who don't like them -- but not many!

    ~ Krista

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  8. Bookwoman, this is the perfect solution for you. One batch will last you quite a while! Plus, it only takes minutes to pop them into the oven.

    I'm taking a bow, Elizabeth! I hope this means more cookies in your kids' future! ; )

    ~ Krista

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  9. This is just the recipe I need!!! I am raising two grandkids and they are use to Grandma having cookies but sometimes I just dont have the "get up and go" to make them every other day so this is perfect and when they get off that bus Grandma can have cookies ready for them!!Thank you
    Sue

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  10. Thanks for the freezable chocolate chip recipe, what a Great idea. The pictures look great, I can almost smell them! I am definitely going to try -- in fact it's okay to have cookies for breakfast, right?

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  11. Coconut oil! Yes! I have just begun using it and
    I'm always scouting new recipes for it. Choc chip cookies are perfect! Love the swank lunch boxes, too!

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  12. My kids would love these as an after school snack. It seems they always come home with a raging sweet tooth (just like mom). I'll have to try the coconut oil. It sounds like an easy way to make cookies a little bit healthier.

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  13. I am always tweaking my chocolate chip cookies recipes. I look forward to trying these. And I LOVE the freezing idea. So much easier on a number of levels, not the least of which is the slice and bake potential. Thanks Krista!

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  14. Freezable cookie dough is the best. Great recipe. And love the monogrammed lunch boxes. So cool.

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  15. I like the idea of making the dough ahead of time. There's nothing like the smell of fresh baked anything, but especially cookies. I think that's why I always buy the cookie dough from the fundraiser packets that always pass my desk. I like the cookies already cut until servings sizes. Just pop in the oven, as little or as much as you need. I do have to say my own recipes do taste better. Like you, I dink around with recipes to make them my own. It's a delicious hobby to have. Love your books!

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  16. Very close to my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but mine includes oatmeal. Friends who can't eat nuts like them because they taste nutty.

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  17. Chocolate chip cookies always hit the spot!!
    Cute lunchbox.

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  18. Sue, this is the perfect recipe for you. I know what you mean about not feeling like baking every day.

    Steph, cookies are always great for breakfast! : )

    Jenn, I love using coconut oil. The coconut flavor doesn't overpower other flavors, which makes it very easy to use.

    Janel, as you can tell, I'm always trying to make cookies a little bit healthier. I think the coconut oil worked fine in these. The pumpkin and canola oil were interesting but made them more cake-y.

    ~ Krista

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  19. Julie and Avery, I love having the dough in the freezer. It just simplifies life and makes it a little bit sweeter!

    Thank you, Ilive2rite! You're very kind. Unfortunately, you do have to cut these yourself, but it doesn't matter if you mangle them because they melt as they bake and who cares if they're not perfect rounds anyway?

    ~ Krista

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  20. CindyD, I never thought about adding oatmeal as a nut substitute. What a clever idea!

    Runner10, I agree -- chocolate chip cookies are a basic food group, aren't they?

    ~ Krista

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  21. LOVE the recipe. Thanks also for the giveaway. You gals are the best!

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  22. Thanks, LSU Reader! We have fun together!

    ~ Krista

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  23. Love the recipe. Always looking for new recipes and I adore Chocolate chip cookies.

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  24. I've never tried coconut oil in baking. I've always been a butter girl. It sounds interesting. Next time I'm at Whole Foods, I'll pick some up.

    I love having rolls of butter cookies in the fridge ready to bake when you're hungry for cookies.

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  25. Krista - I love your idea of ending our blog party week with a lunch box cookie (and your giveaway is adorable, too). Like Betty, I'm also jazzed about trying the coconut oil. Have a great weekend. :)

    ~ Cleo
    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  26. That's a great idea without the preservatives of store bought. Love it! :-)

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  27. Superb! Choc Chip are my family's favorite! Mmmm, thinking of some with a tall glass of cold milk and "If you give a mouse a cookie!"

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  28. Oh, there is nothing like the perfect choc. chip cookie right out of the oven! This recipe looks wonderful, and I will have my son test these out. For research purposes.

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  29. Oh, this looks so good! We have a deepfreeze and a 7 year old daughter who likes baking and eating cookies...perfect recipe.

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  30. I seldom bake in the summer -- too hot -- but once September hits I go to town. I try to keep both cookies and appetizers in my freezer at all times. These look good and your post serves as a reminder for me to get cracking.

    BTW, I started reading The Diva Paints the Town today. With alwyas having so much to do, it is pure decadence to be reading!

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  31. Susan E, glad I hit the spot with chocolate chip cookies!

    Betty, I like butter, too but coconut butter is supposed to be better for us.

    Cleo, I'm sure you'll be able to come up with some interesting new uses for coconut oil.

    Laurie, I'm a big label reader and I avoid preservatives at all costs.

    Yum! Pass the milk, Eileen!

    Jessica, research is so important. And I'm sure your son doesn't mind this kind of research at all.

    Vickie, these would be fun to make with your daughter!

    Oh, Pattie. I need some appetizers that that I can keep in the freezer. Maybe you'll share your recipes?

    I like that kind of decadence. Hope you enjoy the book!

    ~ Krista

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