Freezing cookie dough or freshly baked cookies can be a lifesaver – especially around the holidays if you’re looking to save on prep time. Learn all the tips and tricks for how to freeze cookie dough for ALL your favorite cookies – like chocolate chip, cut-out cookies, and slice-and-bake.
With all my cookie recipes – probably the most common questions I get asked are “Can I freeze these?” and “How far in advance will these last?” For most cookie recipes, the dough freezes extremely well. You can easily prepare the cookies and freeze the dough. Then when the craving hits, you can have warm, fresh-from-the-oven cookies in 10 minutes. You can either bake the whole batch, or just a couple cookies if that’s all you need.
You can also easily freeze baked cookies – which saves even more time. I personally find that freezing the dough provides better results – helloooo there warm cookies with melty chocolate chips – but I’ve included details for both. Please note that I do not recommend freezing any kind of cookie that has a very thin batter – such as madeleines, lacey cookies, or even these flourless chocolate cookies.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough
It’s seriously so easy.
- Prepare the dough according to the recipe.
- Form the dough into balls (the same size as the recipe instructs), and place the dough balls on a lined cookie sheet. The cookies can be super close together here to fit more on the tray.
- Then place the cookie tray in the fridge (or freezer) for 30 minutes. This allows for the dough to firm up.
- Once the cookie dough is firm, pop the dough balls in a freezer bag. Remove the excess air, and close tightly.
- Write the date and the baking instructions for the cookies. The date will let you know when they’re fresh until, and the baking instructions is really just so you don’t have to search the recipe again (but that’s up to you).
- Pop the bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Baking Frozen Cookie Dough
- When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to the correct temperature and line your baking sheets (or whatever the recipe calls for).
- Place the frozen cookie dough balls 2 inches apart on the lined cookie sheets. (You can see this in the fourth photo in the collage above).
- And bake for 1-2 minutes longer than the recipe calls for.
Note that you do not need to thaw the dough before baking the cookies.
What Kind of Cookie Dough Freezes Well?
The above method works beautifully for most drop cookies, such as:
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Raisin
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cookies – however, roll the cookie dough in cinnamon sugar after freezing but before baking.
- or even Shortbread Cookies
How to Freeze Cut-Out Cookies
For cut-out cookies, such as sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies – use the following process:
- Make the dough according to the recipe.
- Form it into 2 round discs, and wrap each disc in plastic.
- Place the wrapped dough inside freezer bags, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- When ready to bake, thaw the dough in the fridge the night before.
- Then roll out the dough and bake according to the recipe instructions.
How to Freeze Slice-and-Bake Cookies
Slice-and-bake cookies are also sometimes called icebox cookies. They’re the ones that you form into a log shape, and then slice into rounds. To freeze slice-and-bake cookies, simply:
- Form the dough into a log as the recipe directs.
- Wrap the dough in wax paper or parchment and tie the ends closed.
- Place the log in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge (make sure to thaw in the fridge because you want the dough to still be cold and firm).
- Slice and bake according to recipe instructions.
How to Freeze Baked Cookies
If possible – I recommend freezing the cookie dough. Because let’s be honest, fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies are pretty incredible. But if you’d like to freeze cookies after they’ve been baked:
- Cool the cookies completely.
- Place in a single layer in a freezer bag so that the cookies aren’t stacked or touching. Otherwise, they’ll stick togeher. Remove any excess air, and zipper close. Or, place the cookies in a freezer safe container, with parchment in between each layer of cookies. Do not stack cookies and freeze without parchment between the layers.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw in the fridge, then bring to room temperature.
- To warm the cookies – preheat the oven to 275F degrees and bake for 10-15 minutes on lined cookie sheets.
Why Freeze Cookie Dough?
So to recap ALL the benefits of freezing cookie dough:
- Makes holiday prep way easier
- You can have a whole batch of cookies in under 15 minutes – perfect for last-minute company, an easy after school snack, or late-night treat
- Perfect for baking just 1 or 2 cookies at a time
- There’s no negative impact on the cookie flavor or texture!
How to Freeze Cookie Dough
Ingredients
- 1 batch of prepared cookie dough
Instructions
How to Freeze Drop Cookies (Chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, etc)*
- Prepare the cookie dough according to the recipe, chilling the dough if the recipe calls for.
- Form the dough into balls and place on a lined cookie sheet (they can be close together). Place the tray in the fridge for the cookies to firm up for about 30-60 minutes.
- Remove from the fridge and place the dough balls in a freezer-safe bag.
- Write the date and baking instructions on the bag.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- When ready to bake, bake the cookies from frozen following the recipe baking instructions. They'll likely need 1-2 minutes longer in the oven.
How to Freeze Cut Out Cookies (Such as gingerbread or sugar cookies)
- Prepare the cookie dough.
- Form into 2 round discs (or however many the recipe calls for), and wrap each disc in plastic wrap.
- Place the dough in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw the dough overnight in the fridge.
- Roll out the dough and bake according to recipe instructions.
How to Freeze Slice and Bake Cookies (AKA Icebox Cookies)
- Prepare the dough according to recipe instructions.
- Form into a log shape (as the recipe instructs) and wrap in wax paper.
- Place the wrapped log in a freezer bag, close out the excess air, and write the recipe details on the bag.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw the dough overnight in the fridge (do not let the dough warm up to room temperature).
- Unwrap, then slice the cookies and bake according to the recipe instructions.
Notes
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