How to Make On-Demand Chocolate Chip Cookies

And you just want one. (Okay, maybe two.)

Rather than having to thaw an entire tub of dough (or worse, whip up an entire batch from scratch), what if you had a bag of cookies, ready to go?

In the newest episode of our YouTube series Today’s Special, Ashley Moore shows you how to treat yourself to a make-ahead wonder, pre-portioning a batch of cookie dough.

Our recipe for Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies is featured here, but this tip will work on any cookie dough you’d scoop to portion and roll into a ball, from Chocolate Crinkle Cookies to Brown Sugar Cookies.

As always, Ashley provides keys to make this tip as easy as possible.

1. Portioning out your cookie dough allows you to control the size of the cookies.
2. Freezing the cookie dough balls on a plate or sheet keeps them from sticking together later.
3. Transferring the cookie dough balls to a zipper-lock bag or any airtight storage container keeps them fresh in the freezer for up to two months (but will they last that long?).

These cookies can be baked right out of the freezer, no need to thaw. You may have to bake them for a minute or two longer, though, so keep an eye on them.

The next time you remember there’s leftover cookie dough in the fridge, imagine how much happier you’ll be knowing you can bake off just one (or two).