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Friday, September 8, 2023

Oatmeal Cookie Dough for the Freezer. Including 7 Flavor Variations!

Be prepared for drop-by guests or snacks for after school with Oatmeal Cookie Dough, for the Freezer. And with the different flavor variations, you will never get tired of homemade cookie again! Because who doesn't love warm cookies fresh from the oven?



Frozen dough in the freezer, is one easy way to be prepared!

Even though I have been cooking and baking for over 50 many many years, I am still learning to be better prepared in the kitchen. Being prepared can have a different meaning for each cook, or for that matter the needs of your family. But being prepared is a skill worth having and developing to its maximum potential. Cookie dough tucked into the freezer is one such way to be prepared. Oatmeal Cookie Dough to be exact!

Why make up freezer dough?

As the years go by you will finding yourself learning to cook and bake more, because the family grows. Than as more years go by, less as the kids move out. I remember fondly that just a few years ago, I was worried that I was not cooking enough with two teens in the house! 

From time to time I would think how nice it would be to cook for only two. Boy was I wrong! Most recipes are geared for more than two, and leftovers are nice, but not all week...so the real trick is to revamp how you do things, including desserts and snacks which brings us to this recipe for Oatmeal Cookie Dough for the freezer


Baked cookies take up a lot of room in your freezer. If you have only a small freezer space, other foods hold more value for space in your freezer. But with this method, you can have your steak and cookies too! While we love cookies, we are only two people. And yes we could eat the whole batch of cookies, while they are still fresh and moist. But we usually prefer to act all grown up and as such, cookies and milk are not usually on the menu as dinner. But we still want cookies! Fresh cookies. Delicious cookies. Homemade cookies. Sound familiar?

Which got me to thinking....

Why not freeze cookie dough in portions to bake a dozen cookies at a time, kind of like on-demand TV, but with cookies! Personally, I think on-demand cookies are a much better idea! Plus the dough takes up so little space, it is easy to have two or three flavors of cookie dough, ready to bake. Simply pull out a portion of dough from the freezer, and let it thaw for a few minutes. Cut into 12 pieces and bake. 

For convenience, label each package with the oven temperature and baking time, and you are good to go! With this extra step, baking will be a breeze. Hey, it looks like you've got this!

Ingredients needed for this recipe:
  • whole wheat flour, pastry grind
  • egg
  • butter 
  • brown sugar, did you know you can make your own!
  • sugar
  • salt
  • baking soda
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • oatmeal
  • raisins
  • ingredients as needed for the variations offered below
You will also need the following:
  • stand mixer
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • silicone spatula
  • whisk
  • waxed paper
  • freezer storage containers/bags
Now we are ready to begin!


Oatmeal Cookie Dough, ready to package for the freezer.

Oatmeal Cookie Dough for the Freezer
adapted from: the Quaker Oats Barrel
makes 4 dozen cookies/4 packages
UPDATED: 09.08.2023

1 1/4 c butter ( 2 1/2 sticks) cut into 1/2 inch slices
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla
1 egg
1 T water - don't leave this out!

Cut butter into thick slices, add sugars and salt. Beat until creamy. Add vanilla and egg, beat until fluffy, beat in the water.


Combine and whisk together:

1 1/2 whole wheat flour, pastry grind 
1 t soda
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg

3 c oats
1 1/2 c raisins

Beat flour mixture into the butter-sugar mixture. When smooth, reduce beater speed and add the oats and raisins. Mixing gently until oats and raisins are mixed in evenly.

Scrape the beater clean, smooth the dough into the bottom of the work bowl. Divide into 4 sections. 



Pack dough into your mold. Place a square of waxed paper over your mold, add 1/4 portion of the Oatmeal Cookie dough. 

Using another piece of wax paper, cover over the top of the dough, pressing firmly to make a compact evenly shaped "slab". 


Remove top piece of waxed paper, fold the extended portion over dough, turn out. Repeat this process with the remaining cookie dough.


Packaged for the freezer.

To bake, remove one portion from the freezer, let thaw a few minutes (or remove the day before and place in refrigerator), cut into 12 pieces, form into more of a ball shape, if desired, then bake. Consider these flavor variations, you won't be sorry. Plus could there be an easier way to get your oats?

How about Chocolate Chip?
To make chocolate chip cookies, eliminate the spice and raisins, add 1 1/2 - 2 c chocolate chips. Proceed as shown above.

How about Maple Walnut?
To make Maple walnut, substitute real maple flavoring for the vanilla, eliminate the raisins and spice, add 1 1/2 - 2 c. walnuts.

How about Cranberry and White Chocolate?
To make Cranberry White Chocolate, substitute 1 c each dried cranberries and chopped pure white chocolate for the raisins.

How about GORP Cookies? 
To make GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) Cookies add 1/2 c peanut butter along with the butter. Eliminate the spices and add 1 c each raisins, and chocolate chips.

Since this recipe was originally developed and shared, we have come up with two additional flavors, Mocha Chocolate Chip Chip Oatmeal Cookies, and Toffee and Walnut Oatmeal Cookies! I hope you give these delicious flavors a try!


You may also enjoy: 


#WholeWheatThat’sGoodToEat!

#wholefoodingredients

#scratchmadefoodforyourfamily


Oatmeal Cookie Dough for the Freezer has been featured at Making a Home Link up at Linda's Lunacy Blog.
Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household was featured at Linda's Lunacy!

Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household featured at Busy Monday Link-up and Blog Hop
Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household featured at Busy Monday Link-up and Blog Hop 


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Printable "copy and paste" version:


Oatmeal Cookie Dough for the Freezer
adapted from: the Quaker Oats Barrel
makes 4 dozen cookies/4 packages
UPDATED: 09.08.2023

1 1/4 c butter ( 2 1/2 sticks) cut into 1/2 inch slices
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla
1 egg
1 T water - don't leave this out!

Cut butter into thick slices, add sugars and salt. Beat until creamy. Add vanilla and egg, beat until fluffy, beat in the water.

Combine and whisk together:
1 1/2 whole wheat flour, pastry grind 
1 t soda
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg

3 c oats
1 1/2 c raisins

Beat flour mixture into the butter-sugar mixture. When smooth, reduce beater speed and add the oats and raisins. Mixing gently until oats and raisins are mixed in evenly.

Scrape the beater clean, smooth the dough into the bottom of the work bowl. Divide into 4 sections. 

Pack dough into your mold. Place a square of waxed paper over your mold, add 1/4 portion of the Oatmeal Cookie dough. 

Using another piece of wax paper, cover over the top of the dough, pressing firmly to make a compact evenly shaped "slab". 

Remove top piece of waxed paper, fold the extended portion over dough, turn out. Repeat this process with the remaining cookie dough.

To bake, remove one portion from the freezer, let thaw a few minutes (or remove the day before and place in refrigerator), cut into 12 pieces, form into more of a ball shape, if desired, then bake.


How about Chocolate Chip?
To make chocolate chip cookies, eliminate the spice and raisins, add 1 1/2 - 2 c chocolate chips. Proceed as shown above.


How about Maple Walnut?
To make Maple walnut, substitute real maple flavoring for the vanilla, eliminate the raisins and spice, add 1 1/2 - 2 c. walnuts.


How about Cranberry and White Chocolate?
To make Cranberry White Chocolate, substitute 1 c each dried cranberries and chopped pure white chocolate for the raisins.


How about GORP Cookies? 
To make GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) Cookies add 1/2 c peanut butter along with the butter. Eliminate the spices and add 1 c each raisins, and chocolate chips.

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Would you like to comment?

  1. Love the sound of these, and the idea of just having some dough in the freezer just because!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the convenience and of course the freshly baked cookies!

      Delete
  2. What a great idea! I do a lot of freezer cooking, and usually freeze cookies after baking. I am going to give this a try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My favorite part is that the dough takes up less space than baked cookies, and then the freshly baked part!

      Delete
  3. This is a great idea! For some reason, I've never thought to freeze cookie dough, but what a nice thought to be able to pull some dough out of the freezer and have some homemade cookies in a hurry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pam, my favorite part also! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

      Delete
  4. Definitely a yummy idea! I like to omit the raisins and use butterscotch chips in my oatmeal cookies. We've also made plain oatmeal cookies with nothing added into the dough and made little sandwich cookies with frosting-- that was a huge hit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne, I too love the plain oatmeal cookie made into a sandwich cookie with a bit of frosting, always a delicious treat! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!

      Delete
  5. I love this idea!! I love freezing ahead of time as well as using different add-ins for different varieties of the cookies. How great. Sounds so yummy, too. The cranberry and white chocolate sounds good. Visiting from Tell it To Me Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer it is a great space saver in the freezer and the perfect solution for smaller families and those who prefer fresh baked!

      Delete
  6. What a great idea-I need to make some cookie dough. My husband is a cookie hound! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party - Hope your week is going great.

    ReplyDelete
  7. We will be in that same situation in 3-5 yrs. Still, KI am picking the idea of making my cookie dough ready for baking today. Thanks for sharing with us at the SSPS #278. Visiting from #13, 14 & 15 ~ Julie Syl

    ReplyDelete
  8. Judee from GF A-Z Blog: Having cookie dough in the freezer does make it much quicker and easier to serve homemade when the unexpected stop by. Such a great idea especially for the winter when you don't mind heating up the house.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judee, We love cookies, and this method works best for the 2 of us. Have a great week, and thanks so much for stopping by.

      Delete
  9. On demand cookies made me chuckle. But that's a great idea for when craving something sweet and don't feel like whipping up a batch. Just pull some out of the freezer and bake. Great variations too.
    Thanks bunches for sharing this recipe with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paula you are so welcome, thank you for hosting, I appreciate sharing with your readers at Sweet Tea and Friends!

      Delete

Comments always appreciated, at Scratch Made Food! Thank you for stopping by!