My Frugal Neighbor Gift this Year…Frozen Cookie Dough!

Here’s what I did:

• Chose a recipe: I doubled the recipe below in my 6 qt mixing bowl. Portioned all of the cookie dough with my 1Tbsp scoop and easily got 9 dozen. Then froze the dough balls. (I also considered making Killian Corn.)
• Chose a container: Later, I wrote on the qt-size gift bags and filled each with 1 dozen frozen dough balls. Wrapped a ribbon around each of them to try to up the cute-factor.
• Delivered them to my neighbors.

The recipients can just stick it in the freezer, then bake fresh cookies whenever their hearts desire! A nice perk if all of the other neighbors are delivering treats too. They can wait to enjoy these once they are recovered from the delightful sugar rush of Christmas-time!

These particular cookies are a slight twist on a classic and have already become one of the classics at my house. I even know a few not-a-fan-of-coconut people that love them.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with Coconut

from melskitchencafe.com

• 1 c old fashioned oats (not quick)
• 2 1/4 c flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 c butter, room temperature
• 1 1/4 c light brown sugar
• 1/2 c dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 1 c coconut
• 12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

Put the top 4 ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend about 30 seconds until coarse. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter for 30 seconds until light in color. Add the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Next, add the dry ingredients then add the coconut and chocolate chips.

Shape cookie dough into balls (I used my cookie scoop) and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. (If you don’t have room in your freezer for a cookie sheet, you can put them on a plate or something smaller.)

To Bake Without Freezing: Preheat oven to 350. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before removing them from the pan to a wire rack.

To Freeze: Place the cookie sheet with dough balls on it into the freezer for an hour or two. Once frozen, you can transfer the balls to a ziploc bag, or other freezer-friendly packaging. Keep them frozen until you want to bake them.

To Bake from Frozen: Do not thaw. Preheat oven to 325. Place frozen cookie dough balls on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Bake for about 12-15 minutes, until edges are set and just beginning to brown.

I just wrote the baking instructions on the gift bag itself, but you could get all cute and print the instructions on a card, gift tag, label or pretty paper.

There are lots of other container options too!

I used quart-size Holiday Ziploc bags. These will probably be on clearance next week. Snag some for next year! Find Ziploc coupons here.
Or buy simple plastic containers at your local grocery store deli counter for cheap.
Glad or Ziploc tupperware-type containers can be another inexpensive option.
Or you can dress things up a bit with a cute tin or box.
You can put the dough in a ziploc, then put that inside the cuter container too.

(Thanks to MelsKitchenCafe for the great recipe and ideas!)

Find more coupons in our Coupon Database!

Learn more about Freezer Meal Cooking:

• Benefits of making freezer meals
• Freezer Meal Recipes
• How to start a Freezer Meal Group
• How to Shop for Freezer Meal Recipes
• How to Prepare Freezer Meals
• What Foods Don’t Freeze Well

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