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Freezing Cookies and Cookie Dough

By:   Allrecipes Staff

Too many cookies on your hands? It's cookie-freezing time!

Love making cookies, but don't want to eat them all now? Learn how to freeze cookies and dough to extend the life of your batch without sacrificing quality.


Freezing Cookie Dough

Most cookie doughs freeze extremely well and can be kept frozen for up to 4 or 6 weeks. Use these tips for freezing: 

  • Double-wrap dough in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn and absorption of odors from your freezer
  • Write the type of cookie dough and the date it was frozen on the outside of the package.
  • When you are ready to bake, simply let the dough defrost in the refrigerator. This will take several hours, so plan ahead.


The cookie doughs that freeze best are:

  • shortbreads
  • chocolate chip
  • peanut butter
  • refrigerator
  • sugar
  • brownies


(Avoid freezing cake-like cookies and cookies that have a very liquidy batter, such as madeleines and tuiles.)


Freezing Baked Cookies

Freezing baked cookies is a great way to preserve their freshness.

  • Baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 3 or 4 weeks.
  • As with freezing cookie dough, double-wrap the cookies securely and write the date and the type of cookie on the outside of the package.
  • When you are ready to eat your frozen cookies, just let them come to room temperature, or, for you impatient types, pop them in the microwave on high for about 30 seconds. (Times will differ depending on the size of cookie you're defrosting.)


We still haven't come across a baked cookie that doesn't freeze well. So feel free to freeze loads of assorted cookies to keep yourself supplied with yummy goodies, any time.

Comments
Lidia 
Jun. 20, 2009 10:04 am
Thanks for the tips! I froze the infamous Neiman Marcus cookies...for a day or so... they didn't last long - meaning, we all wanted more!
 
Pam DuBry 
Jul. 12, 2009 7:56 pm
Is it possible to send frozen cookies if they are well wrapped to troops overseas? It seems they would be fresher. Any thoughts? Thanks
 
Nancy 
Jul. 19, 2009 3:22 pm
During the Vietnam war I use to send frozen treats to a number of family members and friends. It works very well. It helps if you put your frozen treats into a tin of some sort before packing them in a box. Leave them in the original wrapping, just put it all in a tin. God bless you for thinking of those who are thinking of us.
 
tj 
Jul. 24, 2009 6:09 am
Would you freeze sugar cookies before icing them and then do the icing when you thaw them later? Or will they freeze just as well if they're already iced?
 
SHARONA44 
Jul. 28, 2009 2:00 pm
tj - I think you can do either. I personally have never frozen un-iced sugar cookies. But a friend of mine decorated sugar cookies for my daughter's b-day, I froze for about two weeks and they turned out fine. So I'm sure you can freeze them before icing them, too. Hope that helps!
 
sandra 
Sep. 4, 2009 12:55 am
Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, tea breads, and cakes can be cooked, cooled, iced, and allowed to cool, dry, or harden. The spices and flavors tend to intensify and marinate. It saves enormous amounts of time, energy, and cleanup and you have a ready supply of healthy food. An extra freezer is well worth the investment. The only problem is that the kids learn to eat frozen cookies and your supply might not be constant.
 
Oct. 7, 2009 12:01 pm
Thanks for the tips! I'm pregnant right now and due the beginning of December and wanted to make sure we could have homemade sugar cookies despite having a newborn in the house! I'll definitely be making some dough and freezing it in November!
 
giggles 
Oct. 11, 2009 8:04 am
I just absolutely LOVEEEE allrecipes website and everyone sharing their recipes here. I was looking for recipes on cooks thinking I could freeze them. But not sure if I could. Well, I found my answer and now my daughter and I can start making some holiday memories together. Love the Tips too!
 
giggles 
Oct. 11, 2009 8:06 am
Oops! I was looking for was cookie recipes that I could freeze.
 
Carol in OH 
Oct. 15, 2009 2:10 pm
Can you freeze baked brownies or the no bake "Peanut butter balls" ? I need to make some things sunday for an upcoming party the following saturday. Hoping someone replies fairly quick...Thank you
 
rcf 
Oct. 16, 2009 5:42 pm
I freeze my cookies in ice cream buckets with wax paper between the layers. They taste the same & my family enjoys them.
 
mnd1843 
Oct. 18, 2009 11:46 pm
what the heck is freezer burn
 
Oct. 27, 2009 1:11 pm
How long can you freeze them for? If I make cookies in November to ship to family members at the beginning of December will they still be good?
 
Oct. 27, 2009 1:12 pm
Nevermind! Sorry, I see the answer.
 
KARENLOUSCOTT 
Nov. 3, 2009 1:06 pm
When I was in Iraq, several people had sent in cookies to the troops in repurposed Pringles cans. These worked great for cookies that were close in diameter to that of the can. Just thought it would help anyone wanting to send cookies to our troops. And, they do really appreciate all the love and generosity of those cookies!
 
Nov. 4, 2009 5:54 pm
now does the same rules apply to freezing cookie dough? just take them out thaw them completely and bake them as normal? thanks in advance for the help.
 
 
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