Can you freeze cookies with icing?
After your cookies are baked and iced with royal icing, they can be frozen
. Once your iced cookies have completely dried, place them in an airtight container, like a plastic freezer bag or Tupperware, with sheets of waxed paper in between any layers, and pop them in your freezer.
You can freeze classic Christmas cookies that get coated in powdered sugar
(like Russian Tea Cakes) but it is best to freeze them before baking and coating. Form the cookies and then place on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until solid.
How Long Do Frozen Cookies Last? Frozen cookies can last for
3 to 6 months
as long as you've wrapped them tightly in plastic and placed them into an airtight container.
I let the decorated cookies dry in the cool oven overnight, and then I'll wrap the next morning.
Decorated Cookies freeze really well
. More often than not, I work ahead and freeze almost all of my cookies (especially for my own family projects).
Sugar cookies decorated with royal icing freeze well up to 3 months
. Wait for the icing to set completely before layering between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container. To thaw, thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
While
you can freeze baked cookies already decorated with icing or filling with jam or ganache, those ingredients don't freeze incredibly well
; you'll get better overall results if you add them after you've thawed the baked cookies.
For cookies that are already baked, here's how to freeze them successfully for up to two months
. Be sure the cookies are completely cooled before freezing. Place the cookies into an airtight container lined with aluminum foil or plastic food wrap. For best results, wrap the cookies individually in plastic food wrap.
Place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container or in a Ziploc bag
. Thaw completely before making your frosted sugar cookies.
Plastic Wrap
—Preventing freezer burn is all about keeping the air out. Once you've sandwiched all your cookies with parchment paper, wrap a sheet of plastic wrap over the container and then place the lid over it. The plastic wrap helps to make the container air-tight.
To store cookies in the freezer, you have multiple options. The first is using a Ziploc bag.
Simply put the baked cookies in the bag, seal it, and put it in the freezer to be used at any time
. Another way to store the cookies is in a sealed container.
Once the cookies have completely dried, they can be stored either
in an airtight container with waxed paper in between each layer, or in an airtight bag in a single layer
. You can store them at room temperature for up to one week.
To freeze cookies you've already baked,
place the completely cooled treats in a single layer on a sheet pan or something else large and flat
. Once the individual cookies are completely frozen, you can store them in a flat-bottomed airtight container with the layers separated by parchment paper or waxed paper.
Store them in a single layer, if possible, to avoid squishing the frosting or use sheets of parchment paper in between multiple layers of cookies
.
Does icing freeze well?
How to Freeze Buttercream Frosting. Simply freeze your frosting in an airtight container.
Buttercream frosting should keep in your freezer for up to 6 months or in the fridge for up to 14 days
. Buttercream and cream cheese frosting are great for freezing, due to their high fat content.
Can I freeze left over icing?
How Long Does Leftover Frosting Last? Most frostings can be stored in the fridge or freezer. Store-bought frosting can last in the fridge for three to four weeks and
in the freezer for two to three months
. Homemade frosting will last up to a week in the fridge and about one month in the freezer.
Freezing cookies is easy and
they taste great after you thaw them
.
The simple answer to this is
no; buttercream frosting does not need to be refrigerated
. Unless, of course, you're dealing with German or French buttercream.
The BEST Sugar Cookies | with Royal Icing: FAQs. How long do sugar cookies last? Sugar cookies will last
up to two weeks if stored in an airtight container on the kitchen counter or pantry
. You can also freeze in an airtight container for 6 months.
Baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 3 or 4 weeks
. After baking, allow cookies to cool completely. Place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet to freeze them, then store them in a freezer-safe zip-top storage bag labeled with the name and date.
As a general rule of thumb, ‘
drop cookies,' which include oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, and ‘cut-out cookies,' such as gingerbread and sugar cookies
, are freezer-friendly.
While
you can simply place the baked chocolate chip cookies into freezer bags and seal them
, they will taste better and retain more of their original texture if they're individually wrapped first. Wrap each individual chocolate chip cookie tightly in plastic wrap.
You can freeze cut-out cookies decorated with royal icing
! YES! You can freeze baked cookies that are not decorated!
Make sure cookies cool completely before storing.
Store them at room temperature in an air-tight container, like Tupperware
. Store different flavors separately. Over time, strongly flavored cookies like molasses or mint will seep into other cookies, so if possible store each flavor in its own container.
As we mentioned, most cookie recipes last up to
3 months
in freezer bags or containers when you store cookies unfrosted. Get all the freezing information here.
Tips for freezing baked cookies:
Make sure the top layer is covered with wax paper, plastic wrap or aluminum foil
so that very little air will get to the cookies. The individually wrapped cookies will store longer.
Put OREO cookie packages inside airtight, freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags before placing them in the freezer
. This will help prevent the cookies from absorbing any freezer odors and keep them from getting freezer burn.
Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature
two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator
. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days.
Although I've tested them for longer and the batches I've tried seem fine for up to 4 weeks, my general rule of thumb is
up to 2 weeks
.
You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made ahead anywhere from
a month to six months before the 25th of December
. (Consult this handy how-to guide to the matter!) Generally, most recipes will be best if baked then frozen.
Once the cookies have completely dried, they can be stored either
in an airtight container with waxed paper in between each layer, or in an airtight bag in a single layer
. You can store them at room temperature for up to one week.
After your cookies are baked and iced with royal icing, they can be frozen. Once your iced cookies have completely dried,
place them in an airtight container, like a plastic freezer bag or Tupperware, with sheets of waxed paper in between any layers, and pop them in your freezer
.
In the fridge, your sugar cookies will last for
up to one week
but are best consumed within three days as your icing will start to bleed as time passes. You also need to make sure that the cookies are properly sealed because you don't want them to absorb the moisture or smells from other foods in the fridge.
