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Whether it be a classic chocolate chip cookie, or a buttery sugar cookie made just in time for the holidays, we all want to savor our cookies. But what if we want to keep them for a long time? Can we freeze them?
The answer is yes. Although it’s simpler to freeze simply the cookie dough, you can freeze baked cookies. You can store cookies other ways to keep them longer as well!
Reasons to freeze baked cookies:
- You simply made too many cookies (is that even possible?!)!
- The cookies are needed for a future date but you need to make them in advance.
- You want to save some cookies to easily snack on later- whenever you want so you don’t have to start a whole new baking project when all you want is a cookie!
Did you know you can also freeze no-bake cookies to extend their shelf life?
As mentioned above, freezing baked cookies is entirely possible. Although it’s a viable option for keeping your cookies stored for a long time, it’s actually better just to freeze the cookie dough (if possible).
Freezing the cookie dough will store longer than freezing the baked cookie, and it’s easier to form cookies with the frozen dough. You can store it as a disc, as a cylinder, or in a container and all you need to do is remove it from the freezer, form the cookie dough balls, and stick it in the oven.
With freezing baked cookies, you need to be careful not to break the frozen cookies when removing them from the freezer (which is easy to do) and you have to let them thaw before warming them up again.
Benefits of freezing baked cookies:
- They store for a long period of time – They can freeze for up to half a year!
- It’s easy to remove them, let them thaw, and stick them in the oven.
- The cookies are already formed and baked, so there’s no mess to clean up.
Drawbacks of freezing baked cookies:
- Thawing the cookies may take a long time.
- You have to be careful not to break the frozen cookies when you remove them from the freezer (this is very easy to do, as the cookie is delicate when frozen solid).
- When warming them up again it’s easy for them to burn, since they are already baked and reheating them cooks them again (the cookies may come out dry).
Do you know about the different ways to keep cookies from getting soft?
How to store cookies in the freezer
To store cookies in the freezer, you have multiple options. The first is using a Ziploc bag. Simply put the baked cookies in the bag, seal it, and put it in the freezer to be used at any time.
Another way to store the cookies is in a sealed container.First, put a layer of cookies on the bottom of the container. Take a sheet of wax paper and lay it over the cookies, and place more cookies on top.
Continue to do this until the container is full. This separates the cookies, ensuring they don’t stick together while freezing.
One more way to store cookies in the freezer – although it may take up more room – is to leave them on the tray, cover with plastic wrap, and leave in the freezer. This is fine for storing the cookies for up to a month, but longer than that the cookies may become freezer-burned.
All of these methods work, but I would suggest using a container to prevent any air from entering and to separate the cookies so they don’t all stick!
Helpful tip: use a microwave instead of an oven to warm up frozen cookies as the oven may over bake them.
Other Methods for Storing Cookies
Freezing the cookie dough (explained above) – freezing the dough keeps longer than the frozen cookie and it’s easier to reform the dough and simply bake it instead of waiting for it to thaw and risking breakage.
Sealed Container – perhaps the simplest way to store cookies, this method has the cookies stored in a container (a sealed container prevents any air getting inside to make the cookies stale).
This keeps the cookies for up to three days, so if you only need the cookies stored for that long, this is the way to go. The cookies retain their shape and texture if left in the container at room temperature.
Using a Tortilla – lining a container with a tortilla and then putting the cookies inside is a fun method to store cookies. Using the tortilla keeps the cookies soft and safely stored for a long period of time.
Did you know it’s possible to make cookies without using an oven?
Final Thoughts
Freezing baked cookies is a good way to store cookies if you want to store your cookies for a long time. All you have to do is remove the cookies whenever you want, let them thaw, and stick them in the oven.
Again, I’ve found that freezing the cookie dough provides a much better result and is just as easy, but either way you’ll be able to store your cookies for quite a while! If you only need to store your cookies for a week, the other methods also work just as well!
Sarah Bridenstine
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.
