How to Freeze Cookies
Updated: Apr. 09, 2021
Can you freeze cookie dough? How about baked cookies? We answer these questions and more in our guide to freezing cookies.
On those days when you need a homemade treat ASAP, put away the stand mixer and sticks of butter. Instead, reach for cookies from your freezer. Yes, you heard me right. You can actually freeze cookies—and they taste just as good weeks later as they did the day they came out of the oven. Here’s how to do it.
How to Freeze Cookies
Step 1: Make Sure Your Cookies are Suitable for Freezing
Theoretically, you can put any type of cookies in the freezer, but some varieties hold up better than others. One of our best tips for freezing cookies is to avoid any overly delicate treats (like these meringue hearts) or any decorated cookies as the frosting will lose its fluffy texture.
The best cookies to freeze are sturdy and simple—think drop cookies (like these chocolate chip beauties), cutouts (you can decorate them after they thaw!) or cookie bars (like these snickerdoodle blondies). Learn more about the different types of cookies.
Step 2: Freeze in a Single Layer
To freeze cookies, start by baking them. Then, once they’ve cooled, arrange cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet. Pop the sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes or until the cookies are frozen solid.
Step 3: Place in Desired Container
Then, layer frozen cookies in airtight containers, with a piece of parchment paper separating each layer. This will help prevent the cookies from sticking to one another.
Repeat until all of the cookies are packed, then freeze containers for up to three months. Thaw (or pop in the microwave for a few seconds—we won’t tell) before serving.
Can You Freeze Cookie Dough?
Absolutely! If you’re still craving a fresh-from-the-oven cookie, freezing cookie dough works, too. Just whip up your favorite dough—again, hefty recipes work best—and freeze. You can either freeze the entire quantity of dough or individual portions.
For the entire batch: Wrap the finished dough in parchment paper, flatten into a circle shape and place in a freezer bag. Thaw dough overnight in the fridge before shaping into cookies and baking.
For individual cookies: Scoop dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Place the sheet in the freezer for 30-45 minutes or until the dough balls are frozen. Place frozen balls in a freezer-safe bag or container. To bake, thaw overnight in the fridge. Or, bake from frozen—just increase the recipe’s cook time by 3-4 minutes.
Keep these cookies in the freezer for craving emergencies.
Easy Oatmeal Cream Pies
These easy cookies use only five ingredients and taste very similar to a store-bought cookie. Of course, everything's better from your own kitchen! —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
Cherry Pistachio Cookies
Dried cherries, crunchy nuts, bits of orange, white chocolate—there's a lot to love in this cookie! It's very different from any I've had before. —Kathy Harding, Richmond, Missouri Freezing Tip: Chill dough in refrigerator until firm. Then, shape into a disk. Wrap in freezer paper, then place in a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Thaw dough in the refrigerator before baking.
Winter Fruit Macaroons
Coconut macaroons with sweetened condensed milk instead of egg whites are my version of a recipe my mom loved. All you do is mix, drop and bake. —Veronica Miller, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Freezing Tip: For drop cookies, freeze individual cookie portions onto waxed paper-lined cookie sheets. Once frozen, transfer to labeled freezer bags. Remove as many portions as you need and bake, making sure to add additional baking time.
Vanilla-Butter Sugar Cookies
These butter sugar cookies are one of my favorite cookies to bake for Christmas. The dough recipe is versatile, so you can use it for other holidays, too. Children like to help with the cookie decorating. —Cynthia Ettel, Glencoe, Minnesota
Cinnamon-Candy Cookies
I was trying to make a unique Christmas cookie inspired by my brother's love of Red Hots, so I used the candies for cinnamon flavor in these lacelike cookies. —Wendy Rusch, Cameron, Wisconsin
Lemon Snowdrops
I save my snowdrop cookies for special occasions. The crunchy, buttery sandwich cookie has a puckery lemon filling. —Bernice Martinoni, Petaluma, California
Jeweled Thumbprints
When I moved here from Malta more than 20 years ago, a kind neighbor lady took me under her wing and baked many cookies for me. This is one of her recipes that I treasure. —Maria Debono, New York, New York
Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
It's so much fun to decorate cookies with children's help. We created gingery moose-shaped cookies to go with a book made especially for my niece's third-grade class. The crispy vegan gingerbread cookies stole the show.—Jenet Cattar, Neptune Beach, Florida
Chocolate-Strawberry Pretzel Cookies
Every year I come up with a new recipe, and this is one that's been requested over and over. Who would ever guess how good pretzels are in cookies? —Isabel Minunni, Poughkeepsie, New York
Chocolate Macadamia Macaroons
This perfect macaroon has dark chocolate, chewy coconut and macadamia nuts and is dipped in chocolate—sinful and delicious! —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Hawaiian nuts and melty morsels make a fantastic combination in these buttery white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. —Cathy Lennon, Newport, Tennessee
Buttery Ganache Cookie Cups
Our family wanted to share our love of ganache-filled cupcakes, so we made them into cookies. Even better: we bake the cookies in muffin cups, fill with ganache, and get the best of both worlds! —Adela Srinivasan, Parker, Colorado
Honey-Lime Almond Cookies
Decades ago my grandmother passed this buttery lime cookie recipe to me. Through years of baking, our cookie memories keep the family connected, although we’re miles apart. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
Chocolate Marshmallow Cutouts
I make rich, fudgy cookies that taste like brownies with a marshmallow filling. I usually use heart-shaped cutters, but I've also left them uncut and filled with pink marshmallow creme.—Kelly Ward, Stratford, Ontario
Frosted Eggnog Cutout Cookies
My husband loves the creamy richness of eggnog, so I add it to the dough and buttercream icing in these cookies. Top each one with a sprinkle of nutmeg. —Joan Sarge, Asheville, North Carolina
Hungarian Walnut Cookies
As a child, I always looked forward to eating these goodies at Christmastime. Now I make them for my own family. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Everyone gets a kick out of this fun take on the popular red velvet cake. Take a shortcut and use packaged cream cheese frosting for the filling. —Judi Dexheimer, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin These Ree Drummond red velvet cake cookies offer another alternative recipe of the delicious treat.
Lemon Slice Sugar Cookies
These lemon slice cookies are a refreshing variation of my grandmother's sugar cookies. Lemon pudding mix and icing add a subtle tartness that tingles your taste buds. —Melissa Turkington, Camano Island, Washington
Crescent Chip Cookies
With their cute curved shape, crescents always make charming additions to a Christmas platter. I dip the cooled cookies in chocolate and sprinkle on walnuts. —Ann Eastman, Sacramento, California
Glazed Candied Fruit Cookies
Even if your family doesn't care for fruitcake, they'll love these festive cookies studded with candied fruit and pecans. A caramel glaze adds a delectable touch on top. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
Citrus Gingerbread Cookies
Orange and lemon zest give gingerbread cutouts a refreshing twist. Brushing a honey glaze over the top adds a subtle shine and an extra touch of sweetness. —Monique Hooker, DeSoto, Wisconsin
Banana Cream Sandwich Cookies
People go bananas for these! These rich little sandwiches are a nice change of pace on a Christmas platter, and they ship well, too. —Elaine Owens, Dubuque, Iowa
Mexican Chocolate Sugar Crisps
My grandma loved these so much, she would hide them from my grandpa! I think of her every time I make a batch. Like Mexican spice? Try stirring in a little chili powder. —Michele Lovio, Thousand Oaks, California
Chocolate-Filled Cookies with Peppermint Frosting
Baking is one of my favorite traditions around the holidays. These special cookies draw you in with candy-topped frosting and seal the deal with a chocolate center. —Deborah Puette, Lilburn, Georgia
Pecan Roll-Ups
This recipe is so delicious and is sure to become a favorite of your family. The pecans make them so rich.—Lee B. Roberts, Racine, Wisconsin
Grandma Krause's Coconut Cookies
When my two daughters were young, their great-grandma made them coconut cookies with oats. Thankfully, she shared the recipe. —Debra Dorn, Dunnellon, Florida
Walnut Sugar Cookies
When we were growing up, my mother made sugar cookies dotted with ground walnuts as a special treat to welcome us home from school. —Debbie Miller, La Verne, California
Spiced Toffee Cookies
I bake these cookies for family gatherings because my crowd likes cookies thin and chewy with a crispy exterior. The toffee bits make a happy surprise.—Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
Cranberry Orange Sandwich Cookies
My sweet-tart cookies make a terrific addition to a holiday dessert tray. I love the creamy orange filling.—Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Chocolate-Glazed Doughnut Cookies
My little nieces love to help decorate these doughnut-shaped cookies. They top them with sprinkles, chopped pecans or crushed candy canes. —Jolie Stinson, Marion, Indiana
Lemon & Rosemary Butter Cookies
Cooling lemon and aromatic rosemary make these butter cookies stand out at the holidays. I use them to punch up the cookie trays for potlucks or as gifts.—Elizabeth Hokanson, Arborg, Manitoba
Dutch Waffle Cookies
My mom taught me how to make these waffle iron cookies. Now I have my friends bring their waffle irons to the house, and we make big batches.—Rachel Setala, Surrey, British Columbia
Berry-Filled Butter Ribbons
Tangy boysenberry is an unusual for a cookie, but it goes well with chocolate. I change the sprinkles and even the type of chocolate to suit the season.—Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland
Chocolate Cutout Cookies
I love gingerbread cookies, but my grandchildren don't like the ginger flavor. Now I use chocolate and watch them smile as they take that first bite of these chocolate cutout cookies. —Nancy Murphy, Mount Dora, Florida
Coffee-Glazed Molasses Cookies
I dreamed up these molasses cookies while sipping coffee and watching snow fall. The aroma from the baking cookies reaches all corners of the house. —Faith Ford, Big Lake, Minnesota
Nutty Pie-Crust Cookies
I like Italian cream cake, so I used it as inspiration for this cookie recipe. The splash of orange liqueur in the filling is my special touch. —Sonji McCarty-Onezine, Beaumont, Texas
Mint-Filled Cookies
I tuck a peppermint patty inside these treats for a fun surprise. The bites will melt in your mouth. —Karen Nielson, St. George, Utah
Apricot Pinwheels
I decorate my little spirals with vanilla icing, but they're yummy without it, too. Dried apricots and lots of spice give the cookies Old World flavor. —Beverly Sadergaski, Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Snickerdoodle Crisps
This classic cookie from New England can be made two ways: soft or crunchy. My happy version with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg is crispy to perfection. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Cherry Mocha Balls
My mother-in-law gave me this recipe before my wedding (six children ago!). I've made mocha balls nearly every Christmas since then. Because they freeze so well, I bake some early and put them away to call on as last-minute holiday treats. —Jeana Crowell, Whitewater, Kansas
Almond Chocolate Biscotti
These white chocolate-drizzled cookies are a cinch to make, so I’m always happy to whip up a batch. This is good because my neighbors always look forward to them! —Ginger Chatfield, Muscatine, Iowa
Polka-Dot Macaroons
Macaroons studded with M&M's are easy to mix up in a hurry. That's good, because believe me, they never last long. —Janice Lass, Dorr, Michigan
Lemony Coconut Macaroons
These chewy gems have refreshing lemon flavor. They freeze well and thaw easily in the fridge, so you can cure a craving anytime. —Karla Johnson, East Helena, Montana
White Chocolate-Cappuccino Cookies
These adorable cookies shaped like coffee cups don't last long with my friends and family. For an even richer flavor, I use a mocha latte coffee mix. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana
Cream Cheese Turtle Cups
Sometimes the best thing about a cookie is the memories made. My daughter and I love to make and eat these “turtles.” —Lesa Renner, Kingsport, Tennessee
Chocolate-Swirled Peanut Butter Cookies
Our kids’ most-requested cookies are peanut butter and chocolate chip, so I created this combination. The two doughs swirled together create a marbled pattern that’s so pretty, the cookies don’t need additional decorations! This is the best chocolate-peanut butter cookie you'll make! —Lori Kesinger, Baker, Montana
Glazed Strawberry Cookies
I learned to bake with my grandmother and mother. I knew I was giving them a sweet new family tradition when I shared this recipe with them. —Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
If you’re tight on time, you can use store-bought cookies, but I highly recommend making these oatmeal chocolate cookies from scratch. The dessert sandwiches are pure fun. Sometimes I decorate the sides of the sandwiches with colorful jimmies, too. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas
Chocolate-Dipped Cranberry Cookies
These pretty pink cookies always turn out so tender. They are the hit of my holiday! —Barbara Nowakowski, North Tonawanda, New York
Rainbow S'moreo Cookies
Homemade Oreo-style cookies are pretty great on their own, but they're even better when you add graham cracker crumbs to the cookie dough, stuff them with marshmallow creme and roll them in sprinkles. You can change the color of the sprinkles depending on the holiday or occasion. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Cherry Biscochitos
I discovered the wonderful anise flavor of biscochitos, which are traditional cookies of New Mexico. I created my own version with maraschino cherries and fresh cranberries. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma
Chai Tea Sandwich Cookies
You’ll love these cookies filled with a dreamy chai-infused ganache. They’re perfect after a meal, with a cup of tea, as a breakfast treat—or anytime at all. —Lauren Knoelke, Des Moines, Iowa
Confetti Cake Batter Cookies
Mom and I took up cake decorating. Funfetti was our favorite cake, so we used the mix to make cutout cookies. Plain or decorated, they’re a fave at parties. —Danielle DeMarco, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Red Velvet White Chip Cookies
These cookies are soft, chewy and taste as good as they sound. The first time I baked them, I took them to an aunt's yard sale. Now they’re my go-to for any special event. —Samantha Gstalder, Montoursville, Pennsylvania
Coffee Maple Spritz
I like spritz cookies because they're easier to make than rolled cutouts but I can still be creative with different shapes and sizes. Feel free to substitute vanilla or rum extract for the maple flavoring. —Dierdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
Pecan Tassies
These pecan tassies are very good for parties and special occasions. You'll probably want to double the recipe, because they'll disappear in a hurry! —Joy Corie, Ruston, Louisiana
Envelopes of Fudge
Sealed inside a golden crust is a delicious special delivery—a fudgy walnut filling that's almost like a brownie. These cookies are like two treats in one. —Donna Nowicki, Center City, Minnesota
Salted Toffee Cashew Cookies
When I get toffee bits, butterscotch chips and cashews together in one cookie, the sweet and salty combo is nearly impossible to resist. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
Ultimate Candy Bar Cookies
I created these after Halloween, when I had way too much candy left over. You can make them with any mini chocolate candy, but if you use peanut butter cups, throw them in the freezer just before unwrapping so the chocolate won’t stick to the paper. —Tara John, Plymouth, Minnesota
Coffeehouse Caramel-Dark Chocolate-Latte Cookie
These taste like my favorite coffee house drink in cookie form. They're crispy outside, but soft in the middle. —Angela Spengler, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
Peanut butter lovers go nuts for these rich little sandwich cookies. On a hot day, sandwich ice cream between the cookies instead of frosting. It cools you right down. —Keri Wolfe, Nappanee, Indiana
Originally Published: February 27, 2019
