I quickly realized that this was a great way to show Joe love in a way that spoke to him, using my own top love language, Acts of Service. But fresh, homemade cookies are a process and sometimes take a lot more time I have when Joe's cravings hit. I found that one of the easiest ways for me to serve my husband in a way that he loves is to mix up a batch of cookie dough, roll it into individual cookie dough balls, and freeze them. Then we have fresh dough that we can pull out and bake at any time.
One of the things I’ve found that Joe loves is to always have one of his treats of choice on hand. It’s easy for him to pick up a case of of his favorite soda so that there’s always one in the fridge. But there are things that I know he appreciates that I can do for him as well. Joe loves to eat a bowl of ice cream at the end of the day. So keeping a few flavors in our house and restocking when we run out is something that he loves. He also gets spontaneous cravings for fresh cookies. Fresh baked cookies, hot from the oven are his very favorite.
I quickly realized that this was a great way to show Joe love in a way that spoke to him, using my own top love language, Acts of Service. But fresh, homemade cookies are a process and sometimes take a lot more time I have when Joe’s cravings hit. I found that one of the easiest ways for me to serve my husband in a way that he loves is to mix up a batch of one of our favorite cookie dough recipes, roll it into individual cookie dough balls, and freeze them. Then we have fresh dough that we can pull out and bake at any time.
Related: Using the Love Languages to Give the Perfect Gift
My husband is a simple man who appreciates when things require him to put forth as little effort as possible. Especially when it comes to baking something. If I have a handful cookie dough balls sealed in individual bags, all stored in one big freezer bag with the oven temperature and bake time written on the front, he is one happy man! He doesn’t have to bring a big bag of cookie dough up from the basement freezer and then return the remaining dough after he’s done. We simply grab one of the smaller bags, heats up the oven, throws the dough on a pan and then wait for hot, fresh cookies. It’s even better if I bake the cookies for him.
There are three different cookie recipes that I have found bake well after being frozen. I rotate between them each time I restock the freezer. I love the recipe with oatmeal in it. And it tastes especially good if you’re eating a frozen cookie dough ball, which I would obviously never do. Joe will eat cookies that have oatmeal in them, but he prefers them without. The second recipe that I make is a tried and true family. It is always delicious and we’ve been making for a lot of years. The chocolate cookies are just the second chocolate chip cookie recipe with cocoa added into the dough and white chips instead of chocolate.
Disclaimer: I have no idea who Melanie and Jan are. Their names have always been part of the recipe title. So I keep them there because I figure they deserve credit for these amazing cookies.
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups oatmeal
6 ounces chocolate chips
Cream butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Add oatmeal and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Roll dough into 1″ balls (I like to use this size cookie scoop) and bake at 350° F for 12 minutes.
Makes: 6 dozen cookies
2 cups butter
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
2 Tbls vanilla
6 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 cups chocolate chips
Option: Add 1/2 cup cocoa and 2 cups of white chips to half of the dough.
Cream butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Stir in chips. Roll into 1″ balls and bake at 350° F for 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown.
Whether your spouse appreciates fresh homemade cookies like mine. Or something else like having their car cleaned. Or taking a day off of work just to hang out with each other. Find a way to speak to them in your language.
I appreciate love languages and that people have those specific things that speak love to them stronger than anything else. But I also believe that we all enjoy being loved with each of the five love languages, in one way or another. Receiving gifts is at the bottom of my love languages list. But I know that there are certain things that I have on my wish list that I would be thrilled to get spontaneously. And I love gifts that are well thought out and centered around my love language.
Related: The Secret to Success with The Five Love Languages
Think through the five love languages; quality time, acts of service, physical touch, gift, and words of affirmation. Come up with two or three things for each that you know your spouse appreciates. Use that list, along with the things that you have already been doing to show your spouse that you care. That they are a priority to you and that you are thinking about them often. Then watch to see how happy your small gestures make them. Those little moments of intentionality can go a long way.
Related: Five Secrets of The 5 Love Languages
What is one way that you’ve shown love to your spouse in your language recently?