Monday 9 February 2015

Frozen Cookies??


Chinese New Year is around the corner and this year, the cookie baking bug did not bite me. So I have not baked any festive cookies as the mood just didn't hit me. Maybe except for this one.



You know how I walloped 50% of the cookies I baked after they came out of the oven. That is not good behavior. Oh no. So I exercised some restraint when I baked some about 3 weeks ago. I ate only 2 (yes, self-control) and kept 8 in an airtight jar. Then I set aside 6 for an experiment. I read that cookies can be frozen. I was quite intrigued.

Now, these cookies are super awesome when they are fresh from the oven. Those of you who bake can attest to the fact that freshly baked cookies are really good when still warm.



Sadly my cookies, even though I cooled them completely and kept them in an airtight container, became soft. I hate soft cookies. I prefer them crispy and crunchy. Maybe it is because I reduced the sugar too much? Don't know.

Anyway, I decided to test by putting them into the oven again to see if I could refresh them. I put 4 cookies in a single layer on a baking tray and then put them in the oven. After that I preheated the oven to 160C. By the time the oven hit 160C, the cookies were already hot and crisp. I took them out to cool on a wire rack. Once the were cool enough (but still warm), lo and behold! They were as fresh as the day they were baked. 


My cookie jar in the fridge.

Then I moved the cookie jar to the fridge to extend the shelf life of the remaining cookies. I did the same thing when I wanted some cookies. Straight from the fridge into the oven and then preheat. Except that this time I baked them for 2 minutes when the oven hit 160C because they were cold from the fridge.


Straight from the fridge on to baking tray.

You must be wondering why I put the cookies in first and not preheat the oven first. Simple. It is faster that way. I learnt this trick from my auntie.


Into the oven first, then preheat to 160C. Then bake for 2 minutes.
Now let's get on to the frozen cookies. In a tropical country like Malaysia where humidity is high, our cookies go soft very fast when exposed. So it's great if I can freeze and then refresh my cookies in the oven. That way, I can pace out my consumption hee..hee... For these frozen ones, I baked them for an extra 1 minute i.e. 3 minutes after the oven hit 160C.


Fresh cookies placed in freezer bags and stored
in airtight container and kept in the freezer.


Straight from freezer to baking tray. Into the oven and
preheat to 160C. Then bake for 3 minutes.
Cool on cooling rack. 
I love to eat these cookies while they are still warm. Look at that... Imagine that these were frozen for 3 weeks and resurrected in the oven. But of course, this method only works for certain types of cookies.



I'm really glad that these worked out so well. Now I can bake a batch of cookies and freeze them in batches of 3. It may seem not so energy efficient to warm only 3 cookies in the oven. It may be better if you own a toaster oven. I used to have one which I bought on special offer from Guardian Pharmacy for RM60. That was years ago but that oven kaput already.


Look at the ooey goey goodness. 
Well, so there! This is the best experiment ever. I get to test what I read from the internet and eat cookies at the same time. Cool!


46 comments:

  1. Frozen cookies? At first I thought you freeze the cookie dough, then when you wana use it, just thaw, and then roll into balls and bake again.. But no wor, it's actually you put the (baked) cookies in freezer, then "reheat" using oven, just like freezing, then reheating our food, whoa, I like.. Dear, I love all your cooking and baking ways, macam-macam ada, and never boring! Look at those chocolate oozing out, let me lick it, lick lick lick :)

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    1. Louiz, I have also frozen the cookie dough. Very convenient lah. When feel like baking, just take out, defrost and bake. Tak payah bersusah payah. I like the frozen cookie idea because I can take out and eat bit by bit.

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  2. aaaahhhhh!!! it's THAT Nutella stuffed chocolate chips cookies with sea salt!!! my favorite!! and also PH's favorite I supposed, hehe!! nice way to "preserve" them in the freezer, you can bake a load at one go, and then heat them up later whenever you feel like eating.. just like last time in Uni days, some friends would cook fried rice for a week's supply, put into containers and keep in the fridge, microwave when need to eat again.. haha!!

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    1. Yes, it is my favourite! Keeping it in the freezer is very convenient. I can take out bit by bit and not end up wallop the whole lot :)

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  3. I didn't bake anything, if i bake, sure will finish up before CNY start, hehe...

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    1. Sharon, most of the time it is like that lah. Can't wait till CNY.

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  4. I can see it's as good as fresh from the oven.. I mean both also fresh from the oven, just whether it's frozen and rebaked, hehe!! look at the oozing Nutella from the center, this proves how fresh tasting the cookie is!! and I wonder how many a time PH reheat the cookies?? haha.. but true, it's not energy efficient if you bake like only three at a time, time to invest in another toaster oven?? hihihi~~ :p

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    1. I'll consider the toaster oven. See first if got any special offer. Don't worry lah, I reheat only 3 at a time hee..hee...

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  5. Too much work lah, better just wallop them all and make new ones next time. That way I won't be tempted to eat cookies every day! :D

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    1. Not really all that much work. In fact I find this convenient. It's nice to have a stock of cookies which I can take time to enjoy :)

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  6. I think it works best with large cookies....so that reheating won't dry out the cookies....and those with chocolate...so that you can make it gooey again! :D

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    1. Yup, that's right Kris! I think this is probably the only cookie that I will freeze.

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  7. Huh Frozen cookies? New idea wor. Yes, cannot eat so much at one round too coz can be quite heaty leh

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  8. Phong Hong, this is one good idea. Even though its not energy efficient, but at least we get to have fresh oven baked (or re-baked) cookies whenever we want it.

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    1. Nancy, that's the whole idea. It works really well and I can ration myself hah..hah...

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  9. Any of your soft cookies, you can pass to me. I like soft cookies. Hehehe

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    1. Lina, sure can. I don't like soft ones, feels like masuk angin.

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  10. It looks kind of sweet...and seems quite a hassle to serve to guests dropping by, come CNY.

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    1. Oh no, these are not for CNY. They are all for me, me, me muahahaha!!!

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  11. Hi Phong Hong, thanks for sharing your experiment with frozen cookies. But I'm not keeping any frozen ones for myself cos' of space constraint and I'm not that hardworking to reheat them, hehehe! I'll keep the tip in mind.

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    1. Kimmy, this is possibly the only cookie that I will bother to freeze as this method is not suitable for all types of cookies. I resorted to this method because the cookies don't stay crispy after one or two days.So it is best to freeze them and then eat them warm over a period of time. Then I don't have to bake so many times :)

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  12. Soft cookie is a real problem. Yours is a very good experiment and now we all benefit from it. Thanks.

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  13. PH, next time if you have plans to open bakery or confectionery, please let me know... :) The melting chocs inside the cookies is extremely tempting,.. right at this moment!! No wonder you walloped half of them.. I can imagine how fragrant they smell right out of the oven!

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    1. Claire, just tell me when you are coming to KL and I can bake for you :) Serious!

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  14. Hey Phong Hong! walloped 50% ?! Can't resist the temptation of yummy bakes. Frozen cookies ... maybe next time ... I'll keep 3 pieces chocolate chips cookies to try as my freezer is rather compact :(

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    1. Hi Karen, my freezer is always compact so I bought a standalone freezer. Now that one also almost full. LOL!

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  15. Good to know the freezing method works for you. I don't dare to eat cookies just out of the oven even though after 1 or 2 hours beccause afraid of yit hei - getting a sore throat.

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    1. Mun it works very well for this cookie. So far I have not had any problems after eating cookies warm from the oven :)

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  16. Oh ... the cookies looks so good!

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  17. Hi Phong Hong,

    No wonder that you have been quiet lately... just quietly nibbling your re-heated cookies :p Really no Chinese New year baking for you this year???

    Zoe

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    1. Hi Zoe! The lazy mood hit me :( Really, no CNY cookies from me :( But I am enjoying my frozen ones LOL!

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  18. Oh my goodness, that worked out so well! I seriously need to do this!

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    1. Cathleen, it is quite a practical method and I love it!

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  19. Cookies like this are even better for CNY, compared to those traditional ones.

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    1. Yah Hayley, something different which the younger generation will like.

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  20. wow.. that's something new to me... i wish i have time to try this before CNY... thanks for sharing.. i wanna eat that ooey goey goodness !!!!

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    1. ahlost, this method works perfectly and you can have warm cookies anytime you want!

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  21. Hi Phong Hong,
    Frozen cookies sound interesting! Yours workout so well.
    Are you sure you are not baking any CNY bakes this year?
    Homemade cookies is always the best! :D :D
    mui

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    1. mui mui, really I am not baking and CNY cookies. No mood :(

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  22. Hi Phong Hong, these frozen cookies look great and irresistible. Have been trying my hands in baking cookies this year but wont't be blogging on it as I am still learning. Happy baking to you and cheers :)

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    1. Ivy, I am sure you are doing great with cookie baking! Show, show!

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  23. Phong Hong, these nutella stuffed cookies looked so yummy to me. I bet my two girls would love these, but I have too little time and I have a list of cookies to be bake before CNY. Hehehee!

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    1. Hi Yannie! I would imagine that you are baking like crazy to meet with the deadline hah..hah...

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