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Tip Friday Storing Cookies

Tip Friday

The first thing to keep in mind when storing cookies is that they need to be completely cool before you put them away, otherwise they'll steam, soften up, and stick to each other.

Storing Cookies and candies

The first thing to keep in mind when storing cookies is that they need to be completely cool before you put them away, otherwise they’ll steam, soften up, and stick to each other.

Cookies can usually be stored at room temperature, in airtight containers, for up to a week. Pictured above are Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies.

Appropriate containers can be cookie jars or tins, screw top plastic jars or snap-top plastic boxes, or a tightly closed plastic bags.

Bar cookies with lots of fruit or dairy ingredients should be refrigerated, well-wrapped. If you plan to store cookies for more than a week, we advise wrapping them so air can’t get to them, and freezing for up to 3 months.

Most cookies will stay fresh when stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about three days. After that, it’s best to freeze them.

Most candies will keep well for two to three weeks if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place. It’s best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

Use these types for storing candies:

Protect truffles, caramels, nougats, and popcorn balls from dampness by wrapping them individually in clear plastic wrap.

To protect brittles and toffees from dampness, layer them in an airtight container between sheets of waxed paper.

To preserve the glossy finish on chocolate-covered candies, separate chocolates from one another by storing them in paper candy cups.

To prevent divinity from quickly drying out, store it in an airtight container lined with waxed paper.

Gumdrops are an exception to storing candies tightly covered. They need to be loosely covered so their surface remains dry. Moisture makes the sugar coating soft and sticky.

Storing Cookies:

When storing freshly baked cookies, the goal is to keep that just out of the oven flavor for weeks. To maintain the taste and flavor of your baked goods, follow our cookie storage guide.

Cookie Dough:

Mix cookie dough (except bar cookie batters and meringues) and refrigerate up to 1 week. Pack dough in containers, or shape your slice and bake dough into logs and wrap. Store in a tightly covered container. Thaw dough in the refrigerator before baking.

Freezing Cookie Dough:

Most butter and shortening based cookie doughs can be frozen. Place dough in a tightly sealed container; freeze up to 6 months. Thaw dough in the refrigerator; shape and bake as directed.

Storing Cookie Dough Logs:

After shaping slice and bake cookie dough into logs, wrap the logs in plastic wrap, then in foil. Freeze logs up to 6 months. Thaw logs in the refrigerator overnight before slicing.

How Long to Keep Cookies Out:

Most cookies will last at room temperature up to 3 days. However, if you leave them out for too long, the cookies can change texture and flavor. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container when not serving.

In the Pan:

To keep bar cookies in the baking pan, cover the pan with foil or plastic wrap.

Store Separately:

Store each type of cookie separately in a tightly covered container. If you mix soft and crisp cookies, the soft cookies will dry out and the crisp cookies will become soft. They may also begin to absorb the flavor of other cookies if combined.

When to Stack:

Sturdy cookies can be stacked in airtight containers without losing their shape or freshness.

Layer drop cookies, unfrosted bars and cookies, and cookies with firm set icing between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag.

Layer delicate cookies, such as spritz or gingerbread men, between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight containers.

How Long to Keep:

Store stacked cookies at room temperature or in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze the cookies up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat, let the cookies sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, then decorate!

Cookies to Never Stack:

Place softer cookies, like brownies, cheesecake bars, and any sweets with sticky toppings, in a single layer in an airtight container. This keeps the cookies from losing their shape while being stored.

How Long to Keep:

Store single layer cookies in the refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

How Long to Freeze:

Freeze most cookies up to 3 months in freezer bags or containers unfrosted. When you are ready to eat them, just thaw the cookies in the container for 15 minutes, then frost or sprinkle with sugar before serving.

Bar Cookies:

Store baked bar cookies in a block. Before baking, mold foil to the outside of the pan so it will easily fit inside the pan. Line the pan with the foil. After cookies have baked and cooled, use the foil to lift out the entire block. Wrap it in foil, seal, and freeze. Thaw cookies before cutting into bars.

Also see how to make your cookies perfectly round. Read Tip Friday A Bakers Tale Or how to Ship Cookies, Freeze Cookie Dough.

Research BHG

Most images in my Tip Friday Series use free stock photos. This article is part of the Tips That Help in the Kitchen Series, Tip Friday.

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Comments

    • blankMarilyn says

      I only have cookies if I am making huge batches to freeze. I am making a rule. If you didnt make them, you cant eat them!! LOL. Have a great day,

      Reply

  6. blankKeri says

    Marilyn, great tips for storing cookies! We usually don’t have to worry about the time frame/expiration because cookies in our house don’t last long. Lol.

    Reply

  7. blankNikki Frank-Hamilton says

    I always love your tips! Little things that I don’t think about that can make a huge difference. I think that I put the cookies away to soon, while they are still warm. I just need to keep my hands off them, and stop eating them, until they are cool! Is that possible?

    Reply

  8. blankAudrey says

    I love your Friday tips. Cookies don’t usually last long around here. If they are around for more than I day or two I send them off to a neighbor or teacher so they stop tempting me. Thanks for sharing on #FridayFrivolity

    Reply

  12. blankSandra Garth says

    When I first started baking I would cool my chocolate chip cookies on a plate, one on top of the other. Of course they stuck together and became one big blob.Talk about a newbie! Thanks again for generously sharing your links at Celebrate Your Story. Your tips are great reminders for seasoned bakers and great for newbies as well.

    Reply

  13. blankKathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle says

    Thanks for all the good suggestions for storing cookies. Good to know that they will keep for three months in the freezer, hopefully out of temptations way. Although my son got a liking for frozen cookies 🙂 when he was young.

    Kathleen
    Bloggers Pit Stop

    Reply

  15. blankEmily says

    Great tips – especially on when to refrigerate. I am always wondering whether or not something should be stored in the fridge. Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday!

    Reply

  24. blankSherry Legan says

    Great tip! Thanks for sharing! I love your link party list. How did you do it?
    I’d love you to come over and visit. I have a giveaway going on! Come over and enter.
    Have a good weekend.

    Reply

    • blankMarilyn Lesniak says

      Thank you! As for the party list. I made an inlinkz linkup for each day of the week and added the script to a page. To get it under all my posts I created a widget that clicked to the page. It is in a widget area from a plugin, After Content Widget.

      Reply

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