EASY FREEZY Basic Vanilla Cookies + variations

"Easy freezy. Enjoy an oven-fresh cookie for afternoon tea, and freeze some dough for later."

Source: "Super Food Ideas Magazine December 2009/January 2010"

Ingredients

• 150grams  butter, softened
• 3/4 cup caster sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cups  plain flour

Method

1. Preheat Oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add egg. Beat to combine. Sift flour over butter mixture. Stir to combine. Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into two 15cm long logs. Wrap each log in plastic wrap. Twist ends to seal. Freeze for 2 hours or until firm. (Not having my electric mixer accessable during the reno, I threw it all in my food processor and it worked a treat)

4. Remove logs from freezer. Set aside for 5 minutes. Trim ends. Slice into 1cm-thick rounds. Place rounds, 3cm apart, on prepared baking trays. Bake for 16 to 18  minutes, swapping trays after 10 minutes, or until light golden. Cool on trays for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool. Serve.

VARIATIONS

TRIPLE-CHOC COOKIES
Makes 40

Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted, 1/4 cup dark choc chips and 1/4 cup white choc chips after adding flour in step 2. Roll into two 20cm-long logs.

WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA COOKIES

Makes 40

Add 1/2 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts and 1/2 cup white choc chips with flour in step 2. Roll into two 20cm-long logs.

RAINBOW CHOC-CHIP COOKIES

Makes 40

Add 150g tub rainbow choc chips with flour in step 2. Roll into two 20cm-long logs.

STORAGE TIPS

To freeze - You can freeze dough logs at end of step 2 for up to 2 months.

To thaw - Remove logs from freezer. Set aside for 5 minutes to soften slightly.

To Bake - Follow step 3 of Basic Vanilla cookies. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

I baked, all the flavours in one sitting, just doing half of one batch as vanilla and the other roll as the white choc and macadamia. With three batches I had 6 rolls, I baked only 4 and have 2 left in the freezer for that drop in visitor or late night treat. I managed to almost fill my large cookie jar.

I did find that the longer they were out of the freezer the easier they were to cut, however.