For cookies that are already baked, here’s how to freeze them successfully for up to two months. Be sure the cookies are completely cooled before freezing. Place the cookies into an airtight container lined with aluminum foil or plastic food wrap. For best results, wrap the cookies individually in plastic food wrap.
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.
In most cases, I prefer to freeze cookie dough over freezing baked cookies. That way, you still get the nice homemade smell and softness of the cookies when they come out of the oven. But if you want to get the whole job done, you can certainly bake the cookies, then freeze them later.
If you thaw baked cookies in the containers you stored them in while in the freezer, the condensation that forms while they thaw could linger on the cookies and cause them to become soggy. You’re better off taking them out of their freezer bag or airtight container when defrosting so that condensation won’t form.
Make Ahead Tips
You can prepare the dough and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. When you are ready to bake, roll the dough to the desired thickness and follow the recipe instructions. Freezing Rolled Cookie Dough – Divide your dough into 2 equal-size balls.
Baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 3 or 4 weeks. After baking, allow cookies to cool completely. Place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet to freeze them, then store them in a freezer-safe zip-top storage bag labeled with the name and date.
Most bakers prefer to use the oven, as it helps the cookies stay moist without loosing crispiness. To reheat the cookies this way, place them on sheets and bake them at 300 degrees for about five to ten minutes.
Freeze your cookies in a well-sealed plastic container. This will not only prevent air getting at the cookies, it will prevent them from breaking as well. Put a row of cookies on the bottom of the container. Lay a sheet of wax paper on them.
For cookies that are already baked, here’s how to freeze them successfully for up to two months. Be sure the cookies are completely cooled before freezing. Place the cookies into an airtight container lined with aluminum foil or plastic food wrap. For best results, wrap the cookies individually in plastic food wrap.
Make sure cookies cool completely before storing. Store them at room temperature in an air-tight container, like Tupperware. Store different flavors separately. Over time, strongly flavored cookies like molasses or mint will seep into other cookies, so if possible store each flavor in its own container.
Place the cookies into an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, keep the cookies in the airtight container at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days. For best quality, store bars in the freezer for two to three months.
You can avoid the issues with cookie dough in a few ways. First of all, make sure you use the freshest eggs possible when you make your cookie dough. You should always be using the freshest ingredients you have on hand, but with eggs, you will have less risk of disease if you use fresh ones.
To thaw frozen cookies, take them out of the container in which they were stored and spread them out until they come to room temperature. From there, you can decorate them as needed, serve them, or, if necessary, refresh them in a 325º oven for 5 to 10 minutes.