Freezer Slice and Bake Cookies

Making Christmas Cookies in South Florida, 1999

Forget the Pilsbury Cookie Dough!  Make homemade cookie dough rolls that you keep in the fridge or freezer.  This way you know exactly what's in the cookies you bake for your family and you always have a snack or refreshments on hand.  I've given rolls of cookie dough (including the directions) as gifts for visiting or home teaching.  You never know when you'll be called upon to provide cookies and I'm really surprised when folks don't expect home baked cookies--but they are always impressed!  I clipped these recipes from an old Southern Living Magazine and bake them often.

Chewy Chocolate Cookies

1-1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. sugar

1 c. firmly packed brown sugar

3 eggs

2 t. vanilla extract

4-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1 c. chopped pecans

1 (6-oz) package semisweet chocolate morsels

Cream butter; gradually add sugars, beating until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.  Combine flour, soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture, beating just until blended.  Stir in chopped pecans and chocolate morsels.  Shape dough into 3 long rolls, 2 inches in diameter.  Wrap each in waxed paper, and freeze overnight.  Unwrap rolls, and cut into 1/4-inch slices; place on ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14  minutes or until lightly browned.  Yield: about 7 dozen.

I really like cookies made with shortening.  The texture is beautifully crisp.  Sometimes if a recipe calls for butter I might use half butter and half Crisco.  I never use margarine because it doesn't bake well.

Lemon Pecan Dainties

1/2 c. shortening

1 egg, beaten

1 T. lemon juice

1 T. grated lemon rind

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 t. baking powder

pinch of salt

1 c. chopped pecans

Cream shortening; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.  Add egg, lemon juice, and grated lemon rind; beat well.  Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture, beating just until blended. Stir in pecans.  Shape dough into a long roll, 2 inches in diameter; wrap in waxed paper, and chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm.  Unwrap roll, and cut into 1/4-inch slices; place on lightly greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.  Yield: about 3 dozen.

This cookie is chock-full of healthy goodness.

Oatmeal Nut Crispies

1 c. shortening

1 c. sugar

1 c. firmly packed light brown sugar

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 t. lemon extract

1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

2 t. ground cinnamon

3 c. quick-cooking oats, uncooked

1/2 c. chopped pecans

Cream shortening; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add lemon extract, beating well.  Combine flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon; add to creamed mixture, beating well. Stir in oats and pecans.  Shape dough into 2 long rolls, 2 inches in diameter; wrap each in waxed paper, and chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm.  Unwrap rolls, and cut into 1/4-inch slices; place 2 to 3 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.  Yield:  about 7 dozen.

This is my favorite cookie of the bunch!

Double Peanut Butter Cookies

1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1/2 c. shortening

3/4 creamy peanut butter, DIVIDED

1/4 c. light corn syrup

Combine flour, sugar, soda, and salt; cut in shortening and 1/2 cup peanut butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Stir in corn syrup and milk.  Shape dough into a long roll, 2 inches in diameter; wrap in waxed paper, and chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm.  Unwrap roll, and cut into 1/4-inch slices; place half of slices on ungreased cookie sheets, (I use Reynolds parchment to line my cookie sheets).  Spread each with 1/2 teaspoon peanut butter.  Top with remaining cookie slices, and seal edges with fork.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.  Yield:  about 2 dozen.  Doesn't make a whole lot, but they are big and filling and sooo good!