Take and Bake Cookie Doughs: Move Over Pillsbury!

From the basic to the grown up, there are new companies jumping into the prepared cookie dough game, and it’s about time! The Ice Box Bakery out of Boulder has some wonderful flavors of all natural cookie dough: Cherry Pie, Ginger Spice in addition to Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Sugar Cookie.

Another company out of Mill Valley California is Sables which is on the gourmet side with a texture reminiscent of Pecan Sandies. I tried their Hazelnut Chocolate Chip which was like something you would serve at a fancy tea party. Both of these are found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. My guess is that Whole Foods and other gourmet outlets are where you will find these. The Immaculate Baking Co. of North Carolina offers Better Bakes, which are also all natural.

 Bittersweet Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Of course you can always make the cookie dough and freeze it in a log yourself. I find that making twice as much dough and freezing it keeps us cookie dough at all times. Here is one of my classic recipes.The wheat germ isn’t essential but it does add vitamin E, protein and fiber.

1/4 lb. butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar (I prefer Wholesome Sweeteners brand)
1 egg
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup oat flour
(You can make this by grinding oat flakes in your food processor, otherwise Arrowhead Mills has a very good one)
1/8 cup wheat germ
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup nuts of your choice (I like chopped pecans)
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer. Add the egg and vanilla. Sift together the dry ingredients and add them slowly and 1/2 cup at a time to the butter mixture. Mix until just mixed together. Fold in the nuts and chocolate chips. Place all the dough on to a large sheet of parchment paper. With floured hands, shape into a log that is about 3 inches in diameter. Roll up in parchment, then wrap in plastic wrap and then foil. Place in freezer. Slice and bake as you would any other frozen cookie dough (or eat it raw).