How Long Do Sugar Cookies Last When Stored? (Decorated vs Undecorated) (2024)

FAQs

How long do undecorated sugar cookies last? ›

The undecorated sugar cookies will be good for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. However, they may begin to go stale after about 1 week.

The BEST Sugar Cookies | with Royal Icing: FAQs. How long do sugar cookies last? Sugar cookies will last up to two weeks if stored in an airtight container on the kitchen counter or pantry. You can also freeze in an airtight container for 6 months.

Freezing Baked Undecorated Sugar Cookies

Freezing baked undecorated cookies is pretty simple. Place your cooled cookies into zip up bags between pieces of parchment paper and freeze. I keep shapes and sizes together, just like when freezing unbaked dough. Again, don't place near super smelly foods!

A.: Colored sugar, sprinkles and other similar cookie decorations have an indefinite shelf life, as they are made of pure sugar for the most part. Sugar does not support bacterial growth, so it rarely goes bad.

Although I've tested them for longer and the batches I've tried seem fine for up to 4 weeks, my general rule of thumb is up to 2 weeks.

Place a piece of bubble wrap in the box, followed by a piece of tissue paper. Layer the cookies in the box, 4 cookies per layer, with bubble wrap and tissue paper in between each layer. I pack as many as 16 cookies in an 8x8x5" box. Place a piece of bubble wrap on top and close the lid.

Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating. I like to decorate cookies directly on baking sheets so I can stick the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help set the icing. So place the cooled cookies back on baking sheets.

Royal icing needs to be stored in the refrigerator if you are not using it right away. It can be stored for 1 week in the fridge or for 3 months in the freezer. The cookies do not need to be refrigerated once iced because the icing dries out completely in a few hours.

Icing made with raw egg whites needs to be kept in the fridge, however, icing made with meringue powder can be kept at room temperature.

For puffy and tender treats like snickerdoodles, soft chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, or sugar cookies, a little moisture will help them retain their soft texture. If you are planning to eat the cookies within a few days, place them in an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag.

How do you keep Christmas sugar cookies fresh? ›

Use Airtight Containers

Once your cookies have cooled, store them in layers in airtight containers. Separate each layer with a sheet of wax paper to prevent the cookies from sticking together. Do so, and you should be able to store Christmas cookies at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, notes Auxer.

Putting a slice of fresh white bread in the container with the cookies will help the cookies stay soft: fresh bread is moist, and that slice will give up its moisture for the greater good: keeping the cookies from drying out.

🎄Holiday cookie baking

Depending on how you are going to store them, Christmas cookies can be baked as early as 3 months before you plan to eat them. If you plan to keep them at room temperature, it's best to make the cookies about 2 weeks or less in advance.

Most homemade cookies will maintain their taste and texture for up to 3 days. If you leave them out for too long, the cookies begin to harden or dry out. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container.

Sugar: Cookies can be decorated with sugar before or after baking. To help the sugar stick before baking, brush each cookie with beaten egg white with a pastry brush, top with a light coating of sugar and bake. After baking, apply to sugar to wet icing or piping gel.

Our Test Kitchen recommends decorating your cookies the day after you bake 'em.

Sprinkles should be put in the cookie dough prior to baking. If you would like sprinkles on top of your sugar cookies too, then press them on with your finger tips before baking. This will ensure the sprinkles stick to the sugar cookies.

Typically, decorated sugar cookies start at $60/dozen, with a minimum order quantity of 12 per shape/design/color combination. Contact us to request a quote!

Many simple cookies sell for between $2.00 and $5.00 each, but it's not uncommon to see a dozen cookies cost $55 or more depending on the time and ingredients that went into making them. Some people charge $10 or more per cookie because of their decorative, custom designs.

Yes!!! If freezing decorated sugar cookies, chill the cookies in a single layer first. The cookies can then be stacked and frozen in an airtight container. When you take the frozen cookies out of the freezer, be sure to unstack them before they thaw or the buttercream will stick the cookies together.

Why do my sugar cookies get hard the next day? ›

They go from soft to hard because they start to dry out, and it begins as soon as you pull them from the oven. (Yikes.) Whatever moisture is left in the cookies is always in a state of evaporation. At the same time, the sugars and starches are solidifying.

Unless a recipe tells you otherwise, you should always store sugar cookies at room temperature to make sure that they taste as good on day three as they did on day one. Keep them in a cool, dry area of your kitchen; any additional humidity may change their texture, particularly with frosted sugar cookies.

Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months.

No, decorated sugar cookies do not need to be refrigerated. If you plan to eat them within a few days, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Refrigeration can make the cookies dry and brittle, so using a tightly-sealing container or a cookie jar is the best way to keep them fresh and crisp.

I usually allot at least two hours under a gentle fan to make sure the first layer is dry before piping and adding an additional layer. You can also just let the cookies dry and set overnight before adding more decorations to them.

Frosted Cookies

At room temperature or in the refrigerator: Cookies that are topped with cream cheese frosting or whipped cream should be stored in the fridge. Frostings like royal icing can be stored at room temperature. Eat both within two or three days.

Cookie icing is shelf-stable and can be stored at room temperature. Since icing does not dry hard, stacking iced cookies is not recommended. Individual cookies can be packaged in a treat bag once the icing has set. For best results, store cookies at room temperature in a single layer in a cookie or cake box.

Unless a recipe tells you otherwise, you should always store sugar cookies at room temperature to make sure that they taste as good on day three as they did on day one. Keep them in a cool, dry area of your kitchen; any additional humidity may change their texture, particularly with frosted sugar cookies.

Most homemade cookies will maintain their taste and texture for up to 3 days. If you leave them out for too long, the cookies begin to harden or dry out. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container.

Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months.

How long is uncooked sugar cookie dough good for? ›

Homemade cookie dough should be stored in small containers in the refrigerator for two to four days or freeze for two months. Alternatively, small quantities of dough can be frozen and thawed in the refrigerator as needed.

Unopened cookie icing does not need to be refrigerated. Treats iced with cookie icing can also be kept at room temperature.

Dry cookies, like shortbread cookies, gingersnaps, and Danish butter cookies, will stay fresher for longer because they have very little moisture.

When to Store in the Fridge. Cookies can last in the fridge for two weeks, but eating them sooner is better. Store cookies in the fridge in a fully sealable plastic bag or plastic container.

Firmer Dough

The sugar in the dough absorbs the moisture from the flour, causing the cookie to brown and caramelize. Refrigerating the dough allows the flour to fully hydrate and helps to make the cookie dough firmer.

Many cookie recipes call for long refrigeration times, but a finicky dough or a little extra chilling time can result in dough that's as hard as a rock, and nearly impossible to work with.

Unfortunately, yes, cookie dough can spoil just like any other food. That said, the “shelf life” of your dough may depend on a lot of factors. For example, if you have a batch of homemade dough, it may not last as long as store bought.