It doesn’t matter whether it’s a tried-and-true chocolate chip cookie or a buttery sugar cookie baked especially for the holidays; we all want to take the time to appreciate our cookies. However, what if we wish to store them for a significant amount of time? Could we put them in the freezer?
The correct response is “yes.” You can freeze cooked cookies, even though it’s much easier to just freeze the cookie batter by itself. You may store cookies in a variety of different ways, all of which will help them last longer!
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- Simply said, you baked an excessive amount of cookies (how is that even possible?!).
- You will need to bake the cookies in advance since they are required for something that will happen in the future.
- You want to put some cookies away so that you may have an easy snack later on, whenever you want. This will save you from having to start a whole new baking endeavor when all you want is a cookie!
As was just indicated, it is totally feasible to store baked cookies in the freezer. Although this is a feasible alternative for preserving the freshness of your cookies over an extended period of time, it is recommended that you instead freeze the cookie dough (if possible).
It is recommended to freeze the cookie dough rather than the cooked cookie since it will keep for a longer period of time and will be simpler to shape into cookies. You may keep it as a disc, a cylinder, or in a container, and all you have to do to use it is take it out of the freezer, roll it into balls of cookie dough, and then place it in the oven.
When it comes to freezing baked cookies, you need to be cautious not to shatter the frozen cookies when you remove them from the freezer (which is simple to do), and you need to let them thaw before you try to reheat them.
- They can be frozen for up to six months at a time, so you may preserve them for an extended amount of time.
- It is simple to take them out of the freezer, let them to defrost, and then place them in the oven.
- Because the cookies have already been shaped and cooked, there is no mess to clean up after making them.
- It might take some time for the cookies to defrost completely.
- When taking frozen cookies out of the freezer, you need to be extremely cautious not to shatter them, since they are more likely to be fragile (this is very easy to do, as the cookie is delicate when frozen solid).
- Since they have previously been baked, and since reheating them causes them to cook a second time, it is possible for them to burn when you try to warm them up again (the cookies may come out dry).
There are a few different approaches you may take if you want to put cookies in the freezer. The first method involves making use of a Ziploc bag. Put the cooked cookies in the bag, make sure it’s sealed, and then store it in the freezer so they can be used whenever you choose.
Putting the cookies in a container that can be sealed is still another option for storing them.
In the first step, line the bottom of the container with a single layer of cookies. Take a piece of wax paper, put it on top of the cookies, and then stack other cookies on top of that.
Proceed in this manner until the storage container is completely filled. This ensures that the cookies won’t cling together while they’re being frozen since it separates them.
One more method for storing cookies in the freezer is to leave them on the tray, cover them with plastic wrap, and then leave them in the freezer. This method, however, may take up more space than the other methods. It is OK to store the cookies in this manner for up to a month; but, if you keep them in the freezer for much longer than that, they may get freezer burnt.
All of these approaches are effective, but I recommend using a container since it will prevent any air from getting in, and it will also allow you to divide the cookies so that they won’t all cling together.
Warming up frozen cookies safely requires the use of a microwave rather than an oven since the latter might cause the cookies to get overbaked.
Other Methods for Storing Cookies
Freezing the cookie dough (explained above) – It is simpler to reform the dough and just bake it instead of waiting for it to thaw and running the danger of breaking. Freezing the dough preserves it for a longer period of time than freezing the cookie itself.
Sealed Container – This technique of storing cookies involves placing the cookies in a container. It is possible that this is the easiest way to keep cookies (a sealed container prevents any air getting inside to make the cookies stale).
This method will keep the cookies fresh for up to three days; thus, if you just need to preserve the cookies for that amount of time, this is the method to use. If the container containing the cookies is allowed to warm up to room temperature, the cookies will not lose their form or texture.
Using a Tortilla – A creative way to store cookies is to first line the container with a tortilla and then place the cookies inside the tortilla-lined container. The use of the tortilla ensures that the cookies will maintain their chewy texture even after being kept for an extended length of time.
FAQs
The following instructions detail how to effectively freeze cookies for up to four weeks after they have already been cooked. Before you put the cookies in the freezer, make sure they have totally cooled. The cookies should be stored in an airtight container that has been coated with plastic food wrap or aluminum foil. Wrapping the cookies on separate sheets of plastic food wrap will provide the finest results.
Cookies that have a liquidy batter, such as tuiles, florentines, and pizzelles, do not fare well in the freezer as a general rule since these cookies are thin and fragile. “Cookies” with a very cakey texture, such as madeleines, do not freeze well either.
The vast majority of cookies and cookie doughs are suitable for freezing due to the fact that they contain very little to no water. When water freezes, its volume increases, but when it is thawed, that volume decreases again. The expanding and contracting that occurs when food is frozen may impair its texture, although the majority of cookie doughs will not experience this issue.
When you are ready to defrost your cooked cookies, either leave them out at room temperature for a few hours or place them in a preheated oven for two to three minutes. When it comes to defrosting dough, baking the cookies for a few additional minutes should do the work. This will guarantee that the cookies are totally thawed and ready to be consumed.
Be sure to use a solid plastic container if you want to store your cookies in the freezer without worrying about them becoming ruined. This will prevent them from breaking, and it will also prevent air from reaching them, so it is a double win.
Final Thoughts
If you want to keep baked cookies for an extended period of time, the best method to do it is to freeze them after they have been cooked. To bake the cookies, you need to take them out of the freezer, allow them to defrost, and place them in the oven at the appropriate time.
Again, I’ve discovered that freezing the cookie dough produces a much nicer outcome and is just as quick, but regardless of which method you choose, you’ll be able to keep your cookies for a considerable amount of time! If you simply need to save your cookies for a week, you may just as easily use one of the other storage options.