The Dessert Routine That Keeps Me Sane.
Welcome back — I'm so happy you're here!
Does your day feel complete without a little something sweet? Mine sure doesn't. And while dessert might not be the first thing that comes to mind when talking about health and wellness, I'd argue it absolutely deserves a seat at that table.
Here's the truth: health isn't just about restrictive diets and endless kale salads. True health is balanced and well rounded — everything in moderation, including the joy that comes from a perfectly warm chocolate chip cookie.
My Journey Through Diet Culture
I've been down the rabbit hole of "healthy" eating trends more times than I care to admit. Juice cleanses? Check. Veganism? Tried it. Sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free — sometimes all at once because why torture yourself with just one restriction when you can go all out?
Spoiler alert: none of them stuck.
(Quick disclaimer: if you have a medical condition that requires a specific diet, this isn't for you — keep doing what works for your body! This is for my fellow friends who once survived on nothing but leaves for months at a time.)
The Restriction-Binge Cycle Is Real
Here's what I learned the hard way: the more you restrict yourself, the more intensely you'll crave what you're "not allowed" to have.
All that mental energy spent thinking about “bad” foods? That's still brain space devoted to obsessing over them. Avoidance is just another form of preoccupation, and frankly, I had better things to think about than whether eating a cookie would somehow derail my entire existence.
Instead of driving ourselves crazy with arbitrary food rules, what if we celebrated balance? A truly balanced approach helps you develop intuitive eating skills, leaving you energized, satisfied, and actually enjoying your food.
My Cookie Dough Solution
So back to dessert.
Every week or so, I make a big batch of chocolate chip cookie dough. Nothing fancy — just classic, comforting, chocolate chip. Once it's mixed, I roll the dough into a log (think those Toll House tubes from the grocery store), wrap it in plastic wrap, and stash it in the freezer.
Craving something sweet after dinner? Slice off a piece, pop it in the oven, and ten minutes later you have a freshly baked, perfectly warm cookie. Zero mess, maximum satisfaction, and surprisingly budget friendly.
It's like having a personal bakery in my freezer, ready to deliver happiness on demand.
My Go-To Recipe
Want to join me in this delicious ritual? Here's my tried and true chocolate chip cookie recipe:
Ingredients:
1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
¾ tsp baking soda
10 tbsp salted butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 dark chocolate bar, roughly chopped (or 1 cup chocolate chips)
Method:
Sift flour and baking soda together in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, cream butter, both sugars, and vanilla with a hand mixer until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
Beat in the egg until well combined.
Gradually fold in the dry ingredients, stopping just before the flour is fully incorporated — you want to avoid overmixing.
Gently fold in the chocolate chunks.
For freezer prep: Roll dough into a log, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze.
To bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice frozen dough into ½-inch rounds and bake for 10 minutes. Pro tip: sprinkle with flaky sea salt while they're still warm.
The Real Secret Ingredient
The best part about this routine isn't just the convenience or the money I save by not buying expensive bakery cookies. It's the permission I've given myself to enjoy something sweet without guilt, restriction, or the need to "earn" it.
Some weeks I eat cookies every night. Other weeks, the dough sits untouched in my freezer. Both scenarios are perfectly fine because I know it's there when I want it, which paradoxically makes me want it less.
That's the beautiful irony of food freedom: when nothing is forbidden, the craving often disappears. When cookies aren't the enemy, they're just... cookies.
So here's to dessert routines, balanced living, and the radical act of enjoying your food. Your future self will thank you — probably while eating a warm cookie.
