There aren’t many people who can say that they don’t like cookies. There are so many different types of cookies to choose from and you probably have your favorite. Perhaps you like chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin, or gingersnaps. If you enjoy baking, you may make your own cookies.
However, making the dough is time-consuming so wouldn’t it be good if you could make it in bulk and then freeze some to use later? Well, the good news is that you can, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze cookie dough and how to defrost it (see also Should You Freeze Croissant Dough?).
How To Freeze Cookie Dough
1. Make the cookie dough.
2. Flash-freeze the cookie dough.
It is best to divide the dough into separate cookies before you freeze it. It is easier than trying to form the cookies when you have defrosted the dough. To get cookies of an equal size, weigh each portion. Then mold the cookies into the shape you want. You may want to use a cookie cutter.
Once you have done this, lay out the biscuits on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Make sure that the cookies aren’t touching each other. By doing this, the cookies won’t stick together when the cookies are bagged up. Cover the tray with cling film and put the tray in the freezer.
3. Put the cookies in a freezer bag.
The cookies will freeze within around four hours. When they have, take them out of the freezer and wrap each cookie in cling film. This is double insurance that the cookies won’t stick together and helps to keep them airtight. Then, put them in a freezer bag. Squeeze out the air from the freezer bag so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of the cookies. Put a label on the bag with the date and contents. If you are freezing different flavors of biscuits, it is important that you write which biscuits are in the bags so that you don’t defrost the wrong bag.
4. Freeze.
Can You Freeze Cake-Lite Dough?
Cake-lite dough is one of the few cookie doughs that doesn’t freeze well. It is light and airy, and this type of dough doesn’t freeze effectively. The only way you can freeze it is by baking the cookies first and then freezing them. In this way, they will be fine to eat and enjoy.
Tips For Freezing Cookie Dough
- Squeeze out all the air from the freezer bag to prevent freezer burn. Alternatively, use an airtight container. Line the container with parchment paper and lay out the cookies, making sure that the cookies aren’t touching. If you have more cookies that will fit in one layer, put a piece of parchment paper on top of the first layer and then put down another layer of cookies. Keep doing this until all the cookies are used up.
- You can bake the cookies first if you are worried about the dough freezing effectively. Do this if you are light and airy cookie dough.
- Measure the cookies before you freeze them. They should be about 0,78 inches thick with a diameter of around 1.6 inches. They will spread a little when they are baked.
- You can freeze the cookie dough as a large ball and then form the cookies when you have defrosted the dough. However, it is easier to shape the cookies before freezing. In addition, a large ball of cookie dough could take up too much space in the freezer.
For How Long Can You Freeze Cookie Dough?
You can freeze cookie dough for up to two months. However, the sooner you defrost it, the better it will be. If you bake the cookies first, you can keep them in the freezer for up to six months.
How Do You Defrost Cookie Dough?
The best way to defrost cookie dough is to do it slowly and steadily. In this way, it will keep its taste and texture. Take the cookie dough out of the freezer and lay out the cookies on a baking tray, making sure that they aren’t touching. Then put the tray in the fridge. If you leave the cookie dough in the freezer bag, it may be more difficult to separate the cookies when they have defrosted.
Can You Refreeze Cookie Dough?
Unlike with a lot of food, it is safe to refreeze cookie dough. However, you might notice a slight change in texture when you defrost it for the second time. It is better if, once you have defrosted the dough, you bake all the cookies and then freeze the ones you don’t want to eat. An advantage of doing this is that the baked cookies will last much longer in the freezer. You can keep them in the freezer for between eight and ten months while cookie dough can only be kept for two months.
Is It a Good Idea to Freeze Cookie Dough?
Yes, it is. Cookie dough freezes particularly well. The only exception to this is cookie dough which is light and airy. You can, however, bake these cookies and then freeze them. They will then freeze perfectly well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing cookie dough, but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
No, don’t freeze cookie dough in a can. The dough can expand while in the freezer and then the can could explode, leaving a mess in your freezer. Instead, bake the cookies first and then freeze them if you don’t want to eat them within a week or so. They will last for up to ten months in the freezer. You can divide them up so that you only defrost as many as you need in one sitting.
Yes, you can, even Oreos, and they will last for around eight months in the freezer. However, they may become a little more brittle when defrosted so handle them with care.
You can but portions of the cookies underneath the frosting may become a little moist. In addition, they will only keep for up to two months in the freezer.
The best way to defrost baked cookies is slowly and steadily in the fridge overnight. This helps them to retain their taste and texture. Don’t put them in the microwave as they may crumble.
