This is the time of year when having plenty of cookies on hand is a good idea. But, you’re also pressed for time. What to do? Look to your freezer. Yes, your freezer. Here in the Test Kitchen, we’re often asked, “Can I freeze my cookie dough?’ or “How do you freeze baked cookies?”
Yes, most cookie dough, with the exception of meringue, can be frozen. Here’s how:
- Follow the recipe as directed.
- Freeze cookie dough up to 3 months. Double-wrap the dough in plastic resealable freezer bags for protection.
- Or, place spoonfuls of dough onto a cookie sheet – as if they were going to be baked – and freeze until firm. Remove the frozen dough from the cookie sheet and place into a plastic food bag.
- When ready to bake, place the frozen dough onto a cookie sheet and bake as directed.
You may need to bake frozen cookiesa little longer than the suggested time. Watch them closely so the cookies do not burn.
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.
- If the cookies aren’t wrapped individually, separate them with layers of aluminum foil or plastic food wrap.
- Do not freeze frosted, glazed or drizzled cookies because they can become too moist under the frosting, glaze or drizzle.
- Thaw the cookies in the plastic food container at room temperature. Remove from container any cookies that should be crisp when thawed.
- After thawing, frost, glaze or drizzle as recipe directs.
Freezing cookie dough or baked cookies can be a real time-saver. And, as your family and friends will readily tell you, it’s always a good idea to have some home-baked cookies on hand for when you have visitors.
