For cookies that have already been baked, the following is how to successfully freeze them for up to two months. Make sure the cookies are completely cool before freezing. Place cookies in an airtight container covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. For best results, wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap.
The good news: Most cookies and cookie dough with little or no moisture freeze well. Water expands when frozen and contracts again when thawed. That expansion and contraction can ruin the texture of frozen foods, but most cookie doughs do not have this problem.
To thaw frozen cookies, remove them from the container in which they were stored and spread them out until they come to room temperature. From there, you can decorate or serve them as desired, or refresh them in a 325 degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes if desired.
Editor: Jen, I would probably vote for cookie dough, since nothing really beats freshly baked cookies. However, we recommend scooping the dough and freezing it hard on a cookie sheet, then bagging and sealing the frozen chunks for long-term storage.
Freezing is the best way to store cookies for the long term. Freezing freshly baked cookies preserves the flavor and texture of freshly baked cookies and can be enjoyed at any time. For best results, freeze cookies immediately after they have cooled completely. You must make sure the cookies are tightly wrapped and protected from the air.
Cookies are easy to freeze and taste great once thawed.
There are multiple options for storing cookies in the freezer. The first is to use Ziploc bags. Simply seal the baked cookies in the bag and place them in the freezer for use at any time. Another way to store cookies is to place them in an airtight container.
Wrap – Preventing freezer burn is all about blocking out air. Once all cookies are sandwiched between sheets of parchment paper, wrap the plastic wrap around the top of the container and place a lid over it. Plastic wrap will help make the container airtight.
Can I refreeze the cookies? Yes, but you must consider whether it is worth it. If you refreeze thawed cookies, they will be crispy on the second thaw, and if left on their side for a little longer, they will taste almost stale.
If stored properly, most cookies will keep in the freezer for up to three months. As long as you follow Test Kitchen’s tips on freezing dough above, you should be ready to enjoy those delicious cookies whenever the craving strikes. It’s time to start planning your Christmas cookie lineup.
For cookies that have already been baked, here is how to successfully freeze them for up to two months.
- Make sure the cookies are completely cool before freezing.
- Place cookies in an airtight container covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
- For best results, wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap.
As a general rule of thumb, “drop cookies,” which include oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, and “cut-out cookies,” such as gingerbread and sugar cookies, are best suited for the freezer.
Baked chocolate chip cookies can simply be sealed in freezer bags, but individual packages are better for texture and taste. Wrap each chocolate chip cookie tightly in plastic wrap.
Most cookies and cookie dough freeze nicely, but there are a few things to avoid. The basic rule is that cookies made with liquid dough do not hold up well in the freezer. These are usually thin, delicate cookies like tuiles, Florentines, and pizzelles.
You will find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made one to six months before December 25. (See this handy how-to guide on the subject!) In general, most recipes are best baked and then frozen.
As mentioned above, most cookie recipes will last up to 3 months in a freezer bag or container if cookies are stored without thawing. Get all the freezing information here.
Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 weeks or in the refrigerator for 2 months. Cookies will retain their quality if stored in the freezer for 8-12 months.
When thawing, leave them in the frozen container. This will cause condensation to form on the outside of the container, not on the cookies. Depending on the environment, this may take 1-3 hours.
My tips on how to freeze decorated cookies are as follows Instructions.
- Seal cookies in cello bag with heat sealer.
- Place cookies in airtight container.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To thaw, store cookies in airtight container at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
To prevent cookies from sticking when stored, place cookies in a single layer and add parchment paper or waxed paper between layers. (And here’s why you should bake cookies on cooking paper!)
Temperature can be a big factor when storing cookies. Do not store cookies in the refrigerator unless otherwise noted. Cold air can dehydrate cookies and dilute their flavor. In general, cookies should be stored at room temperature or frozen as described above.
Tip #1 Allow icing to dry before freezing Once cookies are decorated, allow icing to dry for 18 hours. Store decorated cookies in a cool oven overnight before packing and freezing.
Typical homemade cookies will last 4 to 5 days when stored at room temperature in an airtight container and up to 9 months in the freezer. However, this is a generalization and different cookie types will have different answers, so please read below for more information on how long cookies will last.
Place the cooled cookies in an airtight container. Line the bottom with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or wax paper. Separate each layer of cookies with aluminum foil or wax paper. Seal container and label with contents and date before freezing.
Cookies can be frozen in freezer bags or hard containers. Rigid containers prevent cookies from being crushed or damaged in the freezer. If a rigid plastic container is not available, place cookies first in a freezer bag and then in a cookie tin or heavy cardboard box for safe storage.
Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use the dough, transfer the wrapped dough to the refrigerator and thaw for 24 to 48 hours until soft enough to roll or slice.
1. freezing the wrong kind of dough. Most cookie dough freezes well, but there are a few exceptions. Thin, delicate cookies such as tuiles, florentines, lace, and pizzelles usually have a liquid dough that does not set particularly well when baked, so these types of cookies are best baked fresh.
How long before you can bake the cookies? If you freeze them I would say a month or two. If not, about a week, a little more.
Baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 3 or 4 weeks. After baking, allow cookies to cool completely. Freeze in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and store in a freezer-safe zip-top storage bag labeled with name and date.
Unpackaged chocolate chip cookies not properly stored can last up to 2 months. If opened, they can last up to 3 weeks. Packaged store-bought cookies will last significantly longer than homemade cookies.
Store them flat in a Ziptop freezer bag with a layer of parchment paper between them. This allows them to be easily separated for serving with minimal breakage. It also makes for more organized storage in the freezer. Cookies should be thawed at room temperature outside the bag for 10-15 minutes.
As freezing is good, refrigeration is bad, except for cookies with cream or custard fillings. They should definitely be refrigerated as soon as they become cool. All other cookies should be stored at room temperature or frozen.
Keep these cookies crisp by storing them in an airtight container. Some people toss the pan with cookies to absorb excess moisture. You can also recreate them by baking them on a wire rack in a 300 degree F oven for a few minutes.
Placing a slice of fresh white bread in a container with cookies will soften the cookies. Fresh bread is moist and its slices will give up moisture and better yet. Do not allow the cookies to dry out. White bread is recommended to prevent the flavor from transferring to the cookies.
In the freezer, decorated cookies can also be expected to last up to 3 months. Refrigerating the cookies before bringing them to room temperature will help avoid condensation that could cause the decorations to bleed.
Once the Sugar Cookie recipe is fully baked and decorated, store them properly “when cool”.
Cookies in unsealed cookie jars usually do not last longer than three days. Cookie fat tends to harden and flour will make unsealed cookie jar cookies stale. Bacteria, humidity, dirt, and dust can reach the cookies, making the cookies moldy and unpleasant.
Layer cookies between sheets of waxed paper or parchment paper. This ensures that they do not stick together or lose their crispiness. Metal tins keep cookies firmer than plastic bins. Allow cookies to cool before storing.
If you plan to eat the cookies within a few days, place them in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. You can also place slices of sandwich bread inside the container. This will absorb excess moisture and keep the cookies soft. If you want to enjoy the cookies later, bake and let cool.
When baking frozen cookie dough, there is no need to thaw the cookie dough. Place the frozen, pre-scored cookie dough on a baking sheet and bake for 2-3 minutes longer than the original recipe recommends. And that’s it!