Made Too Many Cookies? Here's How to Properly Freeze Them

Updated on 12/20/2018 at 7:00 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Lauren Perlstein

The holiday season is really the most wonderful time of the year. Apart from time off from work and school, gifts, and Christmas carols, one of the best things about the holidays is all the baked goods! Whether you're a seasoned pro at baking or just starting out, baking is a time-consuming process that I know I wish would sometimes speed up. That's why it's so important to learn how to properly freeze the cookies you'll be baking this holiday season. Learning this trick will ensure that you always have a batch of delicious cookies ready to warm up for unexpected holiday guests or ready to give to any coworkers or teachers.

The best kind of cookies to freeze are cutouts, icebox, and drop cookies, but try to avoid freezing cookies that are decorated or filled. And if you're planning on freezing chocolate-coated cookies, just keep in mind that even though they'll taste fine after thawing, they may have a white-colored haze on them afterwards that might not look as appealing. Here's how to properly freeze cookies so they taste (and look) as good as they did right out of the oven.

Step 1: Let Your Cookies Cool

Once you've finished baking your cookies, let them cool off for a minute before transferring them to a cooling rack, making sure to keep them lined up in a single layer to avoid breakage. The cookies must be completely cool before placing them in the freezer.

Step 2: Prep the Storage

Line the bottom of a square or rectangular plastic container with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Continue adding a layer of foil or paper each time you add more cookies on top.

Step 3: Ready to Freeze

Once you've packed your container with the desired amount of cookies, pop the lid on and make sure it's securely sealed. Now, place it in your freezer, and you're all done! Properly stored cookies can last up to two months in the freezer.

Pro tips:

Refrain from icing them prior to freezing. While it won't change the taste, it'll change the way your cookies look. Frosting can make them stick together, and the condensation while thawing causes icing to bleed into each other and onto the cookies.
Label your container with the type of cookie inside and the date you baked them to remind yourself of expiration dates.

Step 4: Thawing Time

When you decide you want to eat your cookies, simply take them out of the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature on a separate dish (or, better yet, rack). You don't want to thaw them in the same container you froze them in since you can end up with a little sogginess. After a few hours at room temperature, your cookies will be ready to eat. If you want them to be warmer or want to have the freshly baked cookie smell in your house, then place your cookies on a baking sheet and warm them for 10 to 15 minutes at 275° Fahrenheit.