| Baking cookies can be a joyous process, but often it | | | | Step 3: |
| can also be disorganized and stress-inducing, especially | | | | Make your dough. If you don't have enough time to |
| during the holiday season. The process can be much | | | | make the dough and bake on the same day, you can |
| less complicated if you take the time to organize | | | | freeze the dough for days (sometimes even weeks) |
| your baking procedure. Follow these simple steps for | | | | before you begin baking. Wrap each type of dough |
| a hassle-free cookie baking experience! | | | | into separate parcels, and identify each by writing the |
| Step 1: | | | | name of the recipe on the plastic wrap. |
| Do some research. Gather your favorite cookie | | | | Step 4: |
| recipes, and search books, family & friends and | | | | Bake your cookies. Some recipes call for dough to |
| the internet for recipes you'd like to try. (Be sure to | | | | reach room temperature, so be sure to leave enough |
| write down where you got each recipe, so if you | | | | time for frozen or refrigerated dough to get to a |
| have questions, the answers will be easier to find.) | | | | lower temperature. Start baking cookies whose |
| Print out the recipes or print them on index cards for | | | | recipe calls for the lowest oven temperature first. |
| easy reference. | | | | Then proceed to the next recipe, working your way |
| Step 2: | | | | up in temperature. |
| Compile a list of what you'll need. Make a list of all | | | | Cool cookies on a clean dish towel, wire cooling racks |
| the ingredients you'll need, compiling a rough list of | | | | or aluminum foil. Once the cookies are completely |
| how much you'll need of each ingredient. Before you | | | | cooled, line containers with wax paper and then with |
| go out to the grocery store, check your own supply | | | | layers of cookies. Cookies can also be frozen for up |
| of ingredients (and double check expiration dates), so | | | | to two weeks inside a container, or if you wrap |
| you'll know how much you need to pick up. Check | | | | them in small stacks, you can freeze them for even |
| your baking supplies for wear, as well. | | | | longer. Defrost the cookies by leaving them out until |
| Make sure you have enough containers to keep the | | | | they reach room temperature. |
| cookies in, and if you're giving them out as gifts, pick | | | | And that's it! Five simple steps to hassle-free cookie |
| up some decorative plates or tins to hold them. | | | | baking. All that's left to do now is enjoy the cookies |
| (Dollar stores have some great items for storing and | | | | and share them with friends and family! |
| giving out cookies!) | | | | |