There’s nothing quite like fresh-baked cookies. The aroma that fills your house, the warmth from the oven, and of course, the heavenly taste as you take a bite. But life gets busy, and we don’t always have the time to whip up a batch of cookies when the craving hits.
So what can you do to ensure that you have homemade cookies on-demand? It’s simple: freeze your cookie dough or baked cookies, and then you’ll have some on hand whenever you need a little sweet treat.
Additionally, having cookie dough or cookies at the ready can help at times when you need to take a comfort package to a sick neighbor, cheer up your child after a hard day, or whip up a last-minute treat for a party. Why not be prepared for these spontaneous needs?
There also may be times when you need an abundance of cookies for birthday or holiday celebrations. To help save your sanity, you can break up the cookie-baking process by freezing the cookies in batches. This may be easier than trying to bake all the cookies all at once.
If having homemade cookies or cookie dough ready and waiting in your freezer sounds like a good lifestyle choice to you (and why wouldn’t it?), keep reading to find out what you need to do to accomplish this goal.
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Freezing Cookie Dough
First of all, it’s a good idea to know which cookie dough freezes best. Cut-out cookies, drop cookies, or slice-and-bake cookies all freeze nicely. Really, any cookie with a good amount of butter or fat in them should freeze well. Avoid freezing cookies with a liquidy batter.
You can freeze cookie dough for up to three months; just be sure to write the date on any packing you put the dough in. Here are some instructions for our three cookie dough categories:
Cut-Out Cookies
This type of cookie is one where the dough is rolled out and then shaped or cut with a cookie cutter. The most common cut-out cookies include sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies. There are two different options for freezing the dough for cut-out cookies.
- Dough Sheet– You can simply roll the dough for cut-out cookies into one or two flat sheets, similar to a pie crust. If making multiple sheets, put parchment paper between each layer and double wrap in plastic. When ready to use the dough, thaw until it is workable, cut out your shapes, and then bake according to the recipe.
- Dough Ball– The other option for cut-out cookie dough is to simply roll it into a large ball, wrap it tightly in plastic, and then freeze it. When ready to use, you’ll need to thaw the dough overnight in the fridge, then continue with the recipe as usual for rolling, cutting, and baking the dough.
Drop Cookies
Drop cookies are the easiest type of dough to freeze. This type of cookie includes things like chocolate chip, peanut butter, or oatmeal raisin cookies. The dough for these cookies is rolled into balls prior to baking or freezing.
For freezing, place dough balls onto a lined cookie sheet. If you are making cookies that need to be rolled in sugar or cinnamon, do not do that before freezing. Save that for when it is time to bake.
Place the cookie dough balls in the freezer for one hour and then transfer the dough balls into a freezer-friendly plastic zipper bag. Be sure to squeeze out all the air.
When ready to enjoy, simply place the still-frozen cookie dough balls onto a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven according to the recipe. However, you may need to add a minute or two of baking time to account for the frozen dough.
Slice-And-Bake Cookies
Sandies and shortbread are some of the more common types of slice-and-bake cookies. To freeze these types of cookies, roll the dough into a log, wrap it in wax paper, double-wrap it in plastic, and freeze.
Let this type of dough thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before slicing. It can be hard and crumbly if you try to cut it right out of the freezer. A good idea would be to take the log out of the freezer and let it thaw while the oven is preheating.
Once the oven is ready, simply slice the log, place it on your cookie sheet, and bake according to the recipe. If you find the log is still too hard, you may need to let it thaw in the fridge for a little while before slicing.
Freezing Baked Cookies
If you have enough time when preparing the dough, you may decide to go ahead and bake your cookies right then. You can then freeze the baked cookies. This will save you even more time when you need some cookie goodness quickly. Follow these simple steps:
- Once the cookies have been baked, allow them to cool completely.
- Once cooled, place the cookies on a lined baking sheet in a single layer. Place them in the freezer until frozen solid.
- Place frozen cookies in a freezer-safe storage bag or container. Get out as much air as you can to help prevent freezer burn. If using a storage container, separate layers with parchment paper. Don’t forget to write the date on the bag or container.
To enjoy your cookies, you can thaw them in the fridge overnight or let them sit on the counter at room temperature for a bit. If you just can’t wait that long, you can warm them in the oven or microwave.
Freezing cookie dough or baked cookies is pretty simple. Taking the time now to stock your freezer with these goodies will save you time in the future. And who wouldn’t want a freezer full of cookies and cookie dough?
If your schedule is so busy that you can’t find the time to mix up some cookie dough, you can hop online and order some from Chocolate Shipped Cookies. Gourmet cookies will be delivered right to your door. If you order enough, you can even freeze some for later.