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.
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
I am Marilyn Lesniak. Writer, Photographer and Chief Bottle Washer behind the scenes at Marilyn's Treats. Don’t burn down the kitchen!! Let me help with my Kitchen Tips, Hacks and Recipes for all levels of Chefs.
Marilyn,
What a great post, so many wonderful tips for storing cookies. Congratulations, you are being featured at Thursday Favorite Things.
https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2020/05/thursday-favorite-things.html
Hugs,
Bev
Thank you so much Bev! I appreciate the feature.I plan on visiting tomorrow to see your wonderful links. Hugz
Great tips, and we needed these… although sometimes the cookies are gone in a day – yikes!
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,
Great tips! Thank you. Those cookies look delicious!
Thank you Lisa! I am glad you like the post! Have a great day,
Marilyn – Those chocolate with cream cookies look delish! Do you have the recipe posted somewhere?
No, I don’t. These were from a bake sale. But I do have
Chocolate Cookie Whoopies Pies with Espresso Filling. https://www.marilynstreats.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-whoopie-pie-espresso-cream-filling/
Those look just as delicious! Thanks!
You are welcome!! They are the best!
Thank you for sharing this cookie storage info.
Pinning!
Have a great week,
Kippi
You are welcome Kippi. I am glad you like the cookie storage post. Enjoy your week!
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.
That is what I like to hear Keri!
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?
No Nikki it isn’t possible. Not that I have figured out anyway.
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
I usually put them in a baggie or the kale container. Either way they are oo easy to sneak!
Great tips Marilyn! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up!
You are welcome Helen!
Great baking tips from you again my dear! Thank you for sharing them and linking up at #sharethejoy
You are welcome Michelle.
As usual, a wonderful tip! Thanks for the reminder to refrigerate things with lots of dairy!
Thanks for sharing this with us at Throwback Thursday this week!
Mollie
Thanks Mollie! You are welcome.
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.
Even after I figured out the cooling trick I ignored it. It is my job to eat all the unpresentable cookies!
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
Mine never last long enough to expire. But I do freeze unbaked dough for fast treats later!
I think you forgot the most important cookie storage hint of all – the kale container! 🙂
True CJ! Thanks!
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!
I have been paying close attention to expiration and safety lately with all these recalls.
Great tips here! 🙂
I would love for you to add this to my Recipes and Crafts Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you Jess
I like to put a piece of bread in with my cookies to keep them soft 🙂
What a great idea! I need to give it a try. Thanks.
Awesome cookie tips! I hate it when they stick together! Lol! (not really, because then I usually just eat both…ha!)
I eat the sticky ones and the ones that bend and break. I don’t have too many of those now that I use the muffin pan!
Great tips for those people who have enough self control not to eat all the cookies within 24 hours after coming out of the oven! 🙂 That would not be me!
My problem is I make bunches of batches to compensate! Thanks for commenting Cathy!
What a great posts. Thanks for the tips. So glad you linked this up at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party this week!
Glad you were interested. Thank you!
Marilyn – I think this is such a great post. Thanks for all the tips!
You are welcome Ilka. Thanks!
I love this tip. I just usually leave them in a random box and it gets all soggy. Need to get a nice glass cookie jar.
Make it see through. The light can get inside and you know when you need to bake more! Thnks May.
I never have any cookies left!!…… Lol!
Of all the cookie problems a person can have that is the best!
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.
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.