Cookies, cookies and more cookies! Freezing cookies is the hack you need when you have more cookies than you can eat at once. Make all the cookies you love ahead of time and pop them in the freezer, as cookie dough or fully baked cookies, to have delicious homemade treats at a moment’s notice.
There are very few “must haves” in my life. My family, friends and loved ones are top of the list. Next on the list? Cookies. To me, life just isn’t right if I don’t have homemade cookies around at all times. Even though I bake frequently, I don’t always have the time to keep up with my own cookie demand.
That’s why I love freezing cookies! Whenever I find myself with a day at home, I grab all the ingredients for my favorite sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cookies and make a TON. Whatever my family and I won’t eat in the next couple of days gets stashed in the freezer.
That way, when life gets busy and I don’t have time to bake, I can still have delicious cookies whenever I want them. Which is often. Cookies are a necessity.
Can you freeze cookies?
The good news is you can absolutely freeze most cookies! Today I’m bringing you a complete how to guide for what cookies freeze well.
Freezing Cookies
Why freeze cookies?
First, it’s the best way to keep extra homemade cookies fresh if you won’t be eating them within a couple of days. For small families, learning how to freeze cookies can save you a whole lot of waste!
Another reason to freeze cookies: you can make a bunch of them in advance when you have time! I love this hack to freeze Christmas cookies, for example. I can bake several dozen batches of sugar cookies all at once in November, then pull them out whenever I need them throughout the holiday season.
Which cookies freeze well?
While you can freeze many varieties of cookies, I find the ones that hold up the best are the sturdy chewy kinds of cookies. Here are some of my favorite best cookies to freeze:
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Sugar Cookies of all kinds, like Lofthouse Cookies and Christmas Cookies.
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Girl Scout Lemon Cookies
. . . and so many more. I’ve had success freezing just about all of the cookie recipes on this site.
How to Freeze Cookies
- Cool your cookies completely before putting them in the freezer!
- Freeze cookies individually first. This means you’re going to stick them in the freezer without touching until frozen solid. I do this by putting the cooled cookies back on the cookie sheets, covering them lightly with plastic wrap, then putting the sheet right in the freezer.
- After the frozen cookies are solid, transfer them to a shallow airtight container or freezer safe bag.
Christi’s Tips For Freezing Cookies
- Write the date of baking on the outside of the container or bag. Cookies keep well in the freezer for several months. After that, they’ll begin to lose some of their flavor.
- For freezing sugar cookies with frosting: Place sheets of parchment or wax paper between layers of cookie to protect the icing. However, I prefer freezing cookies with frosting “naked” then icing and decorating them after they’ve been thawed.
- Thaw the baked cookies at room temperature out of the container. If they thaw while touching, they run the risk of getting a little soft and soggy.
- Want a fresh baked taste? Place the thawed cookies in the oven at a low temperature (no higher than 300 F) for a couple of minutes to warm them before serving.
How long can you freeze cookies?
Frozen cookies keep well for up to 3 months in the freezer, assuming you’ve stored them in a tight container and they haven’t been thawed.
Can you freeze cookie dough?
When you want to prep cookies in advance but save the baking for later, freezing cookie dough is the way to go!
Wondering if it’s better to freeze cookies or dough? The answer largely depends on the kinds of cookies your making and how much time you’ll have to prepare them before serving.
While baking the cookies ahead of time means you don’t have to turn the oven back on again later, you do need to leave enough time to thaw the cookies when you’re ready to enjoy them. This can take a couple of hours, so it requires a little thinking ahead.
When you freeze cookie dough you can usually bake the cookies straight from the freezer! You’ll have freshly baked cookies in a matter of minutes–ideal for when company shows up unexpectedly or a sudden cookie craving strikes.
Freezing Cookie Dough
The cookie doughs that freeze best are the ones with a high fat content. This means most cut-out and drop cookie dough holds up great in the freezer. Wafer cookies and low fat cookie dough don’t maintain their structure with time in the freezer, nor do cookies with a watery dough. If you need to make those kinds of cookies in advance, bake them completely then store the baked cookies in the freezer with the method described above.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough
- For drop cookies: freeze the dough in individual balls until solid. Then transfer the cookie dough balls to an airtight container or freezer safe bag.
- For cut out cookies like sugar cookies or gingerbread cut-outs: Freeze the dough in sheets or disks wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. Thaw before rolling out the dough and cutting out desired shapes.
- To bake frozen cookie dough: To bake cookie dough while still frozen, you will just need to add a few minutes of baking time to the original recipe. In most cases, an additional 2 -3 minutes will do just fine.
Another option is to freeze cookie dough in a tray designed specifically for this purpose. it’s great for giving you consistently shaped cookies!
Freezing cookies and freezing cookie dough are such a lifesaver! There’s no reason to go without your favorite homemade sweet treats when life gets busy.
Now let’s go bake some cookies!
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