Learn how to freeze cookie dough so you can have a fresh batch of cookies whenever you want! All the best tips for freezing cookie dough.
If you haven’t frozen cookie dough before, you’ve been missing out!
Great Reasons to Freeze Cookie Dough
- Convenience: Freezing cookie dough is super convenient! It will save you time and effort compared to making a fresh batch every time.
- It’s great for baking small batches. If you're like me, having two dozen freshly baked peanut butter chocolate chip cookies is too irresistible to pass up. Freezing the dough allows for instant portion control!
- Surprise cookie emergencies. I would consider cookie emergencies to be of greatest importance and urgency. Kidding aside, having frozen cookie dough can save from the stress of having surprise guests at home.
- Prep ahead: Freezing cookie dough is perfect for prepping ahead of the holidays. It's an easy way to spend more time with your guests.
- It can improve the flavor of some cookies. Chilling the dough gives the ingredients more time to meld, which ultimately improves the flavor.
Freezing Cookie Dough Before Baking: 3 Techniques
There are different ways of freezing cookie dough depending on the type of cookie that you are planning to make. The shape of the frozen dough affects how the dough bakes up.
- Drop cookies (the ones you typically portion out with a cookie scoop) should be frozen in individual cookie dough balls or dollops.
- Slice-and-bake cookies should be shaped into logs before freezing. It is much easier to slice the dough while it is at room temperature than trying to cut through once it's frozen.
- Cookie cutouts can either be cut out before freezing or shaped into discs (to be cut out before baking). When choosing to shape them into discs, you need to thaw them overnight before cutting them out into shapes and baking.
How to Freeze Drop Cookie Dough
- Scoop your cookie dough into balls or dollops: Use a spoon or cookie scoop to measure the size of the cookie dough balls as instructed in the recipe.
- Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze it for 2-3 hours - Freezing the dough on a baking sheet prevents it from deforming and sticking together later.
- Transfer it to a storage container and store it in the freezer - Once frozen, place the cookie dough balls together in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and store it in the freezer for up to three months.
- Write the time and temperature - Write down the date when you froze the dough and the baking time and temperature instructions from the cookie’s recipe.
Quick Tip from Liz
Use a cookie scoop! Not only does it speed up the scooping process, it also ensures that every portion is the same size. This ensures that the batch bakes up evenly.
Freezing Logs and Discs of Dough
- Shape the dough into a log or a disc - Using your hands, form the dough into a log or a 1-inch thick disc, whichever suits the cookie recipe you are making.
- Wrap it tightly - Using a cling wrap, make sure to cover the whole cookie dough and wrap it tightly. After covering it with plastic wrap, use foil to cover it as a second layer.
- Store in the freezer - Place the cookie dough in the freezer for up to three months.
- Write the time and temperature - Write down the date when you froze the dough and the baking time and temperature instructions from the cookie’s recipe.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough for Cutouts
- Cut out your cookie dough. Follow the recipe instructions to make the cutouts.
- Place the cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for 4-5 hours. Arranging them on a baking sheet prevents the cookie cutouts from losing their shape and/or sticking together later.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe storage container. Once frozen, the dough should keep well for about 3 months.
- Mark the package with the baking time and temperature. Write down the date when you froze the dough, and include the baking time and temperature from the cookie’s recipe.
Baking Frozen Cookie Dough
Almost any type of dough is suitable to be baked directly from the freezer. However, depending on the thickness and size, it is sometimes best to thaw the dough first.
Cookie Dough Balls and Cutouts
- Arrange the balls or cutouts about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Allow the oven to preheat for at least 10 minutes. This allows enough time for the frozen dough to thaw.
You can also bake them directly out of the freezer. To do this, simply add 1-2 minutes to the recipe's baking time. To prevent them from burning, be sure to watch your cookies during the last few minutes of bake time.
Cookie dough logs and discs
For logs and discs, unwrap your cookie dough and leave them to thaw until they are soft enough to slice or cut out. Then bake them as usual and they should come out fresh.
Note About Dough Consistency and Spreading
Freezing can affect how the dough spreads. Before baking larger drop cookies, consider flattening the dough a bit with the back of a spoon.
On the other hand, for buttery doughs that tend to spread too much, freezing the dough before baking is a great way to reduce the spread.
Best and Worst Types of Cookie Dough to Freeze
Most cookie recipes are fine to freeze unless recipe instructions state that they don’t. Cookie recipes that instruct you to let the dough chill in the fridge for a bit are the best ones to freeze, as well as cookie recipes that use a lot of butter and fat.
Which types of cookie dough are best to freeze?
Drop-style cookie dough freezes beautifully. This includes varieties like chocolate chip, M&M cookies, oatmeal-raisin, and peanut butter cookies.
Slice-and-bake cookie dough, such as shortbread, icebox cookies, and butter cookies also freeze well.
Which types of cookie dough don’t freeze well?
Thin and delicate cookies don’t freeze well. Those with a runny or loose batter, such as Florentines, madeleines, and French macarons, do not freeze well.
Freezing Baked Cookies
Before freezing baked cookies, be sure they are completely cool before placing them in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
You can either wrap the cookies individually or layer them in the k between sheets of parchment paper.
When ready to enjoy, simply remove them from the container and place them on a plate to thaw until they reach room temperature.
To make them taste as fresh as possible, place your thawed cookies in an oven at 275°F for 10-15 minutes.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough FAQ
In most cases, homemade cookie dough freezes well for up to three months. Of course, this will depend on the recipe and ingredients used.
I recommend thawing the dough before baking. Some cookie dough can be baked directly from frozen, but it typically requires a couple of extra minutes of bake time.
Yes, you can freeze cookie dough in freezer-safe Tupperware containers. Make sure to scoop/roll the cookies and evenly space them out in the container so they don't stick together.
Do not include any toppings or coatings such as sugar or cinnamon on your cookie dough before you freeze it. Instead, add the toppings to the dough just before baking.
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