Holiday baking requires lots of (mostly) joyful time and effort. Be sure to store your cookies properly so that each tasty bite is as good as the first and all of your baking endeavours don’t go to waste. These are our top tips for storing, freezing and ensuring all your homemade treats stay fresh.
Keep cookies in airtight containers
Package soft or chewy cookies like drop cookies, hard set iced sugar cookies or these Italian buttery delights layered between sheets of parchment paper in airtight containers to keep them from getting stale. Generally cookies maintain their freshness stored at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Never refrigerate crisp cookies, such as gingersnaps
Crisp cookies, such as these gingersnaps, are best stored layered in containers that are less than airtight, like a sweet holiday-themed cookie tin. Exposure to a little bit of air helps maintain the desired snap. Store crisp cookies at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Do not refrigerate crisp cookies as the moisture can cause them to soften.
Store bars or delicately-decorated cookies in a single layer
Sticky-topped cookies, soft set iced cookies or gooey topped bars, like these glorious blackberry cheesecake brownies are best stored in a single layer in an appropriate sized container to prevent each treat losing their shape or getting stuck together in an unsightly (but delicious) clump. For more sturdy cookies, stack using sheets of parchment or waxed paper between the layers to keep them separate.
Store different kinds of cookies in separate containers
Store cookies with strong holiday flavours like ginger, cinnamon, mint and orange separate from each other and more mildly flavoured cookies, like shortbread and drop cookies. Stronger flavours can override the softer cookies resulting in some strange, potentially odd and unexpected, flavour mashups. Mint, orange anise shortbread anyone? Maybe not so much!
Make sure icing is set before storing cookies
From gingerbread people to intricate sugar cookie stars and ornaments, iced and decorated cookies are a holiday staple. Make sure the icing is entirely set before storing decorated or iced cookies. This can take up to 4 hours depending on the thickness of the icing. Layer iced cookies in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Get our sugar cookie decorating tips here.
Most cookies and cookie dough can last up to 3 months in freezer
Frozen baked cookies last up to 3 months in the freezer when stored in an airtight container. Make an extra batch or two when you’ve got time. Pop them in the freezer to keep yourself stocked for impromptu holiday visits.
Cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze cookie dough to have on hand to bake cookies at a moment’s notice. Remember to date and label your dough.
- Freeze drop cookie dough in cookie-sized portions on a baking tray, transfer the dough balls to resealable freezer bags. Bake dough balls from frozen.
- For roll-out or slice and bake cookie dough, freeze the dough in plastic-wrapped discs or logs in a resealable freezer bag. Thaw in the fridge before rolling or cutting.
