Put together a basket of baker's treats, sure to please anyone who could use a shortcut in the kitchen.
Use a pretty pie plate or gleaming tart pan as the container. Consider adding several baker's tools, such as pie weights, pastry cloth for rolling dough out on, candy thermometer or high-quality vanilla. Then tuck in some fun stuff, too: several small jars of brightly colored edible glitter, assorted cookie cutters and a pretty plate for serving cookies.
The best part of the basket? The rolls of homemade cookie dough, made by you, which create an easy, delicious treat for the recipient.
Simply make a batch or two of your favorite cookie doughs, such as chocolate chip peanut, white chocolate macadamia, peanut butter or chocolate mocha.
Prepare the cookie dough and refrigerate for at least an hour or until chilled. Working with about half a batch at a time on a lightly floured surface, shape each portion into a log shape. Tightly roll the dough in parchment paper. Twist the excess parchment paper on the ends and tie with ribbon or string. Cut wide swaths of ribbon or colored tissue paper a few inches shorter than the log shape and wrap around, securing with tape. Attach a label (Chocolate Mocha Cookie Dough. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, slice dough into 1/4-inch slices and bake on ungreased baking sheet for 7 to 9 minutes) to the cookie dough log.
The cookie doughs can be refrigerated for a week or frozen for up to three weeks.
Just before delivering the baskets, remove a log of dough from the refrigerator or freezer and place in the basket.
Finish the gift basket with a large bow and gift tag.
Classic Sugar Cookie Dough
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat until fluffy. A dd vanilla, flour and baking powder. Refrigerate until dough is quite firm. Shape into logs as directed above.
To make cookies, work with about a quarter of the dough at a time, leaving the remainder refrigerated. Roll on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out cookies and bake at 325 degrees for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
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