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How to freeze all your favorite holiday cookies, from simple shortbread to royal iced and sprinkled cookies. Plus, which cookies you should never freeze!
How freezing cookies saves the holidays!
The problem: Right about now, I think most of us are super excited about holiday baking. We’re imagining pulling tray after tray of perfect cookies out of the oven, the wonderful aromas filling the house, and what fun it will be to frost, glaze, and sprinkle all those festive treats. But every year reality sets in pretty quick ~ carving out the time to shop for the ingredients, make the batter, bake, and clean up the huge mess is a challenge.
The solution: That’s why freezing cookies and cookie dough is such a smart idea. It’s especially genius during the holidays, when a leisurely Sunday afternoon of prep can set you up for the busy season ahead.
Table of contents
- How freezing cookies saves the holidays!
- Can you freeze cookies?
- how long can you freeze cookies for?
- How to freeze slice and bake (refrigerator) cookies
- How to freeze drop cookies
- How to freeze sugar coated cookies
- How to freeze cut out cookies
- How to freeze glazed cookies
- How to freeze royal iced cookies
- How to freeze sprinkled cookies
- How to freeze filled cookies
- How to freeze baked cookies
- Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- cookies you should never freeze!
- Easy Cocoa Meringues
Can you freeze cookies?
Heck yes! It’s a great idea. The good news: most cookies and cookie doughs freeze well because there is little to no water content in them.
Water expands when it freezes and then contracts again when it is thawed. That expanding and contracting can ruin the texture of frozen food, but most cookie doughs will not have this problem. Follow the tips below for your specific type of cookie and feel confident that your frozen cookies will come out perfectly.
how long can you freeze cookies for?
The window for freezing cookies is a little shorter than for most foods ~ it’s about 3 months for best flavor, texture, and freshness. That means you can start freezing Christmas cookies sometime in September if you like.
How to freeze slice and bake (refrigerator) cookies
Slice and bake cookies are a great choice for freezing, most of my shortbread cookies fall into this category. You have a couple of options with this kind of cookie…
- You can freeze the whole log of cookie dough ~ just wrap it in plastic, then put it in a heavy duty freezer bag and put in the freezer until needed.
- To thaw a log of dough, put it in the refrigerator overnight.
- You can freeze individual slices of dough, set them on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, then remove to a heavy duty freezer bag or freezer safe container.
- Bake from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.
- You can freeze the baked cookies, just be sure to let them cool completely so there’s no chance of condensation when they hit the freezer.
PRO TIP: ~ when storing frozen cookies in zip lock freezer bags, push as much air out as possible before completely zipping up the bag. Air is the enemy of your frozen goodies! Removing excess air helps keep the cookies fresher longer and helps prevent freezer burn.
How to freeze drop cookies
Most drop cookies like snickerdoodles,peanut butter cookies, oatmeal, and chocolate chip cookies freeze beautifully. Once frozen you can pull them outsinglyor by the dozen. Freezing can actually enhance the chewy texture of this kind of cookie so it’s a win win.
- UNBAKED: Scoop your cookie dough onto a parchment lined baking tray (to keep them from sticking) and freeze until solid. Then remove the balls to a freezer bag or storage container.
- Bake these cookies straight from the freezer, adding a couple of minutes to the baking time.
- BAKED: Drop cookies freeze well after baking, too!
PRO TIP: You don’t have to thaw unbaked frozen cookies before baking. Cookies are small enoughthat they thaw quickly in the oven and bake normally. They generally need an extra minute or two of baking time.
How to freeze sugar coated cookies
You can freeze classic Christmas cookies that get coated in powdered sugar (like Russian Tea Cakes) but it is best to freeze them before baking and coating, here’s how:
- Form the cookies and then place on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to freezer baggies.
- When ready to bake, thaw the unbaked cookies on the counter. While most frozen cookies will bake right from the frozen state, we need to thaw these so that the powdered sugar will adhere to them.
- When the dough is mostly thawed, coat them in the appropriate coating and then bake as per the recipe.
PRO TIP:the bakers at Pillsbury suggest using separate containers for each type of cookie to avoid mingling flavors. One rogue peppermint cookie can do a lot of damage to an assortment!
How to freeze cut out cookies
For cookies that you roll out and then cut out with a cookie cutter, you have a few options…
- You can make your dough, form it into a disk, and freeze the whole batch of dough in one piece. Be sure to wrap it well.
- Thaw the dough overnight in the refrigerator. Roll, cut, and bake when you’re ready.
- You can also pre-cut your dough and freeze the unbaked cookies on a baking sheet. Lay them out on a parchment lined pan to prevent sticking and put in the freezer until they are solid. Then transfer to a freezer safe container. Note: cut out cookies are more delicate than most, make sure to stash them in a safe spot in the freezer where they won’t get jostled.
- When ready to bake, bake these cookies straight from the freezer.
- Finally, cut out cookies can be frozen after baking, and decorated whenever you have the time!
PRO TIP:freeze baked sugar or gingerbread cookies ahead of time for a cookie decorating party. Thaw them on the counter for an hour or so and they’re ready to decorate!
How to freeze glazed cookies
Glazed cookies like my Maple Glazed Oatmeal Cookies freeze beautifully.
- Be sure to let the glaze set completely. It should not be tacky to the touch.
- Put the cookies on a baking sheet and freeze for an hour.
- Place the cookies carefully in zip lock freezer bags, or stack in a freezer safe container.
PRO TIP: place waxed paper between layers of glazed or decorated cookies to avoid marring the surface and to prevent sticking.
How to freeze royal iced cookies
Freezing royal iced cookies is a little tricky, but they can turn out alright. Some bakers find that the icing colors can run, or spot, after freezing, but others do not. You might try freezing a test cookie to check.
- Make sure your frosting is completely dried/set before freezing.
- Arrange the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for an hour.
- Carefully pack the cookies, either individually, or layered between waxed paper, to protect them in the freezer.
- Iced cookies do best in a sturdy freezer container so they won’t break.
PRO TIP: yes you can freezebaked cookies decorated with royal icing. Put each cookie in an individual freezer bag, and then stack the bags in a freezer container for extra protection. Thaw the cookies in the bags, in the container, at room temp for several hours before unwrapping.
How to freeze sprinkled cookies
There’s much debate on this question. Some cooks do it successfully, some recommend against it. I think the answer is that it depends on your sprinkles; some are made with dye that tends to run if exposed to any type of condensation or moisture, which can happen during freezing and thawing. You can feel safe freezing cookies with decorative sugar, and white or silver sprinkles and nonpareils.
- If you must freeze colored sprinkled cookies, take care when thawing them. I suggest thawing in the packaging in the refrigerator overnight. Then bring to room temperature on the counter, still in the packaging. Unwrap carefully.
- Do a test! Freeze and thaw a cookie or two to see how they fare.
PRO TIP: ALWAYS give your sprinkles a freshness check before using: stale or rancid sprinkles that can ruin a batch of cookies!
How to freeze filled cookies
Sandwich cookies, thumbprints, and other filled cookie are problematic to freeze because the filling texture can be affected by freezing. It kind of depends on the filling. Jam fillings are not a good choice.
- The best solution for sandwich cookies if you aren’t sure is to freeze the individual halves, either baked or unbaked, then bake or thaw the cookies, and fill afterwards.
- When it comes to thumbprints you can freeze the dough, shaped into a disk. Then thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and proceed with the recipe. Or you can freeze pre-rolled balls of dough and let them thaw before proceeding.
PRO TIP: be sure to take a minute to label your freezer bags and containers, it will save headaches later. If possible include the baking time and temperature so there’s no guess work.
How to freeze baked cookies
Most cookies do well being frozen after they are baked. Simple cookies like shortbread, gingerbread, sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies, and chocolate chip cookies all freeze well once baked.
- Make sure your cookies are completely cooled first.
- Flash freeze the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Then you can put them in a freezer safe container or zip lock baggie.
- To thaw frozen baked cookies, put them, still in the packaging, in the refrigerator overnight, then bring to room temperature on the counter. Do not package to send or give until they have come to room temperature.
PRO TIP: heat thawed baked cookies in a 300F oven for a couple of minutes to revitalize and re-crisp them. This works for unfrosted and uncoated cookies only.
cookies you should never freeze!
- Cookies with a high moisture content (i.e. with a very thin batter) like wafer cookies, pizelles, lace cookies or Florentines won’t freeze well. Cookies that are meant to be very thin and crisp will not freeze well either.
Pro Tip: the folks at Betty Crocker suggest you “avoid freezing cookies that are known for their delicate texture such as meringues. And beware of freezing cookies that are coated with chocolate. They’ll taste fine after thawing, but they may have a white-color haze (known as bloom) that will make them not-so-great as gifts.”
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As a seasoned baking enthusiast with a deep understanding of the intricacies of freezing cookies, I can attest to the importance of this technique in simplifying the holiday baking process. My extensive experience in experimenting with various cookie types and freezing methods has allowed me to develop a comprehensive guide to freezing all your favorite holiday cookies. The evidence of my expertise lies not only in my knowledge of the science behind freezing but also in the successful outcomes of my own frozen cookie endeavors.
Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article:
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Can you freeze cookies?
- Yes, freezing cookies is not only possible but also a great idea. Most cookies and cookie doughs freeze well due to their low water content, which prevents texture issues caused by water expansion during freezing.
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How long can you freeze cookies for?
- The optimal window for freezing cookies is approximately 3 months for the best flavor, texture, and freshness. This means you can start freezing Christmas cookies as early as September.
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How to freeze slice and bake (refrigerator) cookies:
- Options include freezing the entire log of cookie dough or individual slices. Thawing can be done overnight in the refrigerator. Pro tip: Remove excess air when storing frozen cookies to prevent freezer burn.
-
How to freeze drop cookies:
- Drop cookies like snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies freeze well. Freeze the dough in individual portions, and they can be baked straight from the freezer, with a slight increase in baking time.
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How to freeze sugar coated cookies:
- Cookies coated in powdered sugar, like Russian Tea Cakes, are best frozen before baking. Thaw and coat before baking for the best results.
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How to freeze cut out cookies:
- For roll-out and cut-out cookies, options include freezing the entire batch of dough, pre-cutting and freezing unbaked cookies, or freezing baked cookies for later decoration.
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How to freeze glazed cookies:
- Glazed cookies, such as Maple Glazed Oatmeal Cookies, can be frozen after allowing the glaze to set. Layer them carefully in the freezer to prevent damage.
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How to freeze royal iced cookies:
- Freezing royal iced cookies requires ensuring the icing is completely dried before freezing. Arrange the cookies in a single layer, freeze, and pack them securely for storage.
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How to freeze sprinkled cookies:
- Freezing cookies with sprinkles depends on the type of sprinkles used. Some may run or bleed during freezing. Test a few cookies before freezing a whole batch.
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How to freeze filled cookies:
- Sandwich cookies and thumbprints can be frozen, but caution is needed with fillings. Freeze halves individually and assemble later, or freeze pre-rolled dough.
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How to freeze baked cookies:
- Most cookies, including shortbread and gingerbread, freeze well after baking. Flash freeze them before transferring to a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the refrigerator before packaging.
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Cookies you should never freeze:
- Cookies with high moisture content, thin batters, or delicate textures (e.g., meringues) may not freeze well. Additionally, cookies coated with chocolate may develop a white-color haze after thawing.
With these expert tips, you can confidently navigate the world of freezing holiday cookies and make the most of your festive baking endeavors.
