Cookie Exchanges for New ParentsWhile making my cookies for my family cookie exchange, I decided to put these together for my daughter, who is pregnant with twins! I happened to have regular and small cookie cutters of gingerbread figures and just wanted to give anyone with children or pregnant the idea that they can do so as well!
High Volume Holiday Cookie BakingI often bake up to 100 dozen cookies around the holidays to give as gifts. For the drop or rolled out type cookies, I start the day after Thanksgiving by making various cookie doughs, and freezing in zip bags.
Freezing Cookie DoughI was making cookies the other day and decided that I didn't want to bake the whole batch of dough. So, using my cookie dough scoop, I put the dough onto a baking sheet, and placed the whole sheet into the freezer until the dough was frozen.
Meat Tenderizer For Peanut Butter CookiesI spray the meat tenderizer with Pam and dip in sugar. This tool will give you a wonderful imprint on your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe.
Mesh Bag for Cleaning Cookie CuttersUse the mesh bag from your next turkey to throw your cookie cutters into. Place the mesh and cookie cutters in your dish washer making sure that the end is closed and placed over a prong.
Save Cookie Crumbs For Ice Cream ToppingThe next time you bake cookies and use a wire rack to cool them on or you have some that have fallen apart, keep all those loose cookie crumbs. Be sure to store them all in an airtight container.
Extra Eggs in BrowniesI have been making Toll-House cookies for years, it's always my standby for chocolate chip cookies, and almost always make a double batch to have cookie dough in the fridge. The other day I was in the middle of making a batch, and realized too late that I'd doubled the amount of eggs...
Use Cookie Cutters as Decorating StencilsPlace cookie cutters on top of frosted cakes or cupcakes then pour candy sprinkles or colored sugar inside the shapes. Remove the cookie cutters and you have a nice decoration.
Melon Ball Scoop for Perfect CookiesTo get the perfect size cookies, use a melon ball" scooper". Works every time.
Shaping Crescent CookiesInstead of individually shaping each crescent cookie when baking, roll into a long log and cut whatever size is needed. Then bend each one into the crescent shape. You can do this right on the cookie sheet.
Make and Freeze Extra Cookie DoughI have found most cookie dough can be made ahead of time and baked later. Be sure to tightly wrap the rolls of cookie dough in plastic wrap, chill in the refrigerator, and then freeze.
Use Muffin Tin for BrowniesIf you want to make brownies like the new perfect brownie pan, but don't wish to invest $20.00 for the pan, use your muffin tins. The brownies will be round but have crunchy edges on each one.
Slice Roll Cookies with Cheese SlicerWhen baking tons of cookies at Christmastime, I discovered that the easiest way to slice "slice-and-bake" cookies was to use a wire cheese slicer. The wire cuts right through the cold refrigerated cookie dough without distorting the round shape of the log
Scrape Burned Cookie Bottoms OffDon't throw out burned cookies! Scrape off the blackened bottoms with your cheese grater, since it is much faster than using a table knife.
Chill Counter Before Rolling Out Cookie DoughTo cool down the counter top when rolling out pastry and cookies or when making candy, chill it with ice packs. You can make your own by filling gallon-size freezer bags halfway with water. Force out as much air as possible, seal, and place them in the freezer on a cookie sheet.
Dry Metal Cookie Cutters in OvenInstead of towel drying metal cookie cutters, put the washed cookie cutters on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for a few minutes. You can even do this right after the oven has been turned off. Your cookie cutters will soon be dry.
Use Cereal Inserts for Cookie Sheet LinersI save the wax paper bags from cereal boxes. When the cereal is gone, I cut the bottom off and split the seam open making a sheet of wax paper. I then cut it to the size I need for lining cookie sheets or cake pans.
Cut Rolled Cookies With Pizza CutterHaving spent many years watching my mom bake cookies I've come upon a near perfect way to do so: Make your cookie dough any way you like, but be creative. Throw in chocolate chips, nuts, cereal, even shredded coconuts.
A Cookie Assembly LineCooking lots of cookies in a hurry can be challenging. Create as much counter space as you can. If you need to, you can use the dining room table with a piece of cardboard under each sheet of aluminum foil.
Different Cookies from Cake MixesThis afternoon, I spent less than 40 minutes making 3 batches of cookies, all using cake mix. I used all white cake mix, but you can use yellow or chocolate if you like depending on the type of cookies you want to make.
Use a Water Spritz to Stick Sprinkles on FrostingWhen frosting cookies or cakes with butter cream frosting, and you want to put sprinkles on, they roll right off! I had a moment of inspiration, went and grabbed my water spray bottle from the ironing board, put fresh water in, and gave the remaining cookies a spritz.
Roll Cookie Dough in Wax PaperWhen making cut out cookies, such as sugar cookies, take a portion of the dough and roll it between two pieces of waxed paper. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour and then peel off the top piece of waxed paper and cut out.
Fix Overly Brown Cookies with ZesterI got my cookies a little too brown on the bottom again. This time I took my file I use for zesting, and just filed off the burned part on the bottom of the cookie. As long as they don't look like charcoal, this works great!
Start Baking Christmas Cookies After ThanksgivingJust after Thanksgiving I start making my Christmas cookies. Each weekend I'll make a triple batch of one type of cookie. I'll scoop the cookies onto wax paper lined cookie sheets and cover with foil.
When Making Cookies, Cook Half and Freeze HalfWhen a particular baking item, such as chocolate chips, is on sale, I buy it and make a large batch of cookies. We enjoy half right away, and I freeze the other half for when friends drop by or we just feel like a home baked treat!
Bake Christmas Cookies in StagesI just finished baking Christmas cookies and I realized how easy it was because I do it in stages. Saturday evening, I made the dough for 3 batches. Then I refrigerated it until today.
Drinking Glass to Emboss CookiesI found a heavy drinking glass that has a star shaped pattern on the bottom. I use it to press down peanut butter cookies at Christmas time. But you could use that kind of embossing on almost any kind of rolled cookie to leave an impression.
Make Cookies on an Electric GriddleI'm recycling this tip, but thought it was so good I had to submit it! Take your store bought or homemade (yummy) cookie dough and "bake" it on a electric griddle. Especially good when you don't want to heat up the kitchen on a hot day or just want a few cookies.
Freeze and Bake a Few Cookies at a TimeMy husband are what I call "cookie pigs"! If I make 30 cookies, we'll eat 30 cookies. Needless to say, we don't NEED 30 cookies. What I do now, since we came to our senses, is make a double batch of our favorite cookie recipe, bake a few for now, and put the others in the freezer.
Saving Money on CookiesTips for saving money on cookies as suggested by the ThriftyFun community. Supermarkets with bakeries in the store, regularly mark down cookies. After a holiday is especially good, they seem to be cheaper. Store them in the freezer.
Combine Gingerbread and Sugar Cookie RecipesIf you somewhat like gingerbread cookies, but the taste is a little to sharp with spices, try combining it with your favorite sugar cookie recipe. I tried this and the flavor is really good.
Swap Cookies With a FriendBaking time short? Find 1 or 2 friends to swap cookies with you. Do a double or triple batch of your fav and she does the same, and you swap. Great when you don't have time to do a lot of variety or go to a big cookie swap party!
Making Consistently Sized CookiesFor cookies that are a consistent size when you bake them, roll your cookie dough into a log and wrap with plastic wrap. Place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Cut the log into slices using dental floss and place them on your cookie sheet.
Bar Cookies for the HolidaysTo simplify my baking I make a lot of bar cookies. I bought some extra pans at the thrift store, so now I can leave the cookies in the pans until I am ready to cut them and arrange the gift trays.
