My dear, sweet, friend Jessica, who is not gluten-free but reads this blog, is not what you would call a baker. Or even a food enthusiast. A few years ago we were joking about cookies and she mentioned her favorite way to make cookies: slice and bake.

This got me thinking. What if your favorite way to make cookies is slice and bake? And now that you are gluten-free, grabbing a log of cookie dough at the store isn't an option. So, during all of my baking classes, I teach my students how to make homemade slice and bake cookies. I'm surprised Jessica hasn't received love letters for inspiring this part of my class. More than one person has told me how happy slice and bake cookies make them!

Now I am not going to pretend making homemade slice and bake cookies is as easy as picking up a tube at the store. However, it isn't that hard. Even Jessica could do it! (One time while making a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies, she preheated the oven with the bag of chocolate chip cookies sitting on the oven. Cue melted chocolate chips!)

Here is how you do it:

1. When you have some free time, make a batch of your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough. (Of course, my recipe is my favorite. Give it a try. I think you will agree:)

2. Divide the dough in half.

3. Cut two pieces of parchment paper into 13x18-inch rectangle.

4. Plop half the cookie dough near the long edge of one of the pieces of parchment paper.

5. Starting at edge, roll the parchment paper paper around the dough. (Your goal is to make the log look like a roll of cookie dough that you'd find in the grocery store.)

   

6. Twist the edges of the parchment to seal.
7. Wrap the cookie log in foil and label.
8. Freeze for up to three months.

How to Bake

1. When you are ready for cookies, preheat your oven.

2. Remove the cookie log from the freezer.

3. When the oven is preheated, slice dough into even pieces.

4. Place cookie dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown.

   Yum!

PS Here is a video on how to make gluten-free chocolate chip cookies!