How To Freeze Cookie Dough
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Freezing cookie dough is a true lifesaver– whether it’s to prep for the holidays or plan ahead when those cookie cravings hit. Learn my tips and tricks for how to freeze cookie dough and how to bake from frozen. Plus, a collection of 12 cookie recipes to stock your freezer with!
It’s so convenient to have freezer stash of ready-to-bake cookie dough on hand for freshly baked cookies whenever you need them. Whether you have a cookie craving, holiday cookie exchange, teacher appreciation week, bake sale, family gathering, or you forgot you signed up to bring dessert to the classroom party… frozen cookie dough saves the day.
Make the cookie dough ahead when you have the time, and bake the cookies when you need them. It’s a game changer and much less stressful! Follow the directions outlined below for the best way to freeze cookie dough.
Reasons Why You Should Freeze Cookie Dough
- Get ahead on holiday baking– cookie dough freezes beautifully for up to 3 months
- Nothing beats a freshly baked cookie right when the craving hits
- Perfect for small-batch baking
- It’s convenient, you have dessert when you need it
- You can bake from frozen, no need to thaw!
Supplies You Will Need
- Baking sheet or flat platter
- Freezer-friendly containers or zipped-top bags
- Permanent marker
- Plastic wrap and/or parchment paper (for slice-and-bake or cut-out cookies)
- Reusable Labels or painters tape
Pictured: soft chocolate chip cookies cookie dough & chewy chocolate chip cookies cookie dough
How To Freeze Drop Cookie Dough
Most don’t know this, but drop cookies are the most commonly baked cookies. These cookies don’t require any special shaping other than scooping, dropping the dough and/or rolling the dough into balls like chocolate chip cookies or double chocolate chip cookies. This is the most-used method simply because the cookie dough can go straight from the freezer to the preheated oven.
- Shape/Roll the Dough: Scoop and roll the cookie dough into balls (or as directed in the recipe that you’re following). Place them on a lined baking sheet, plate or baking dish (whichever size will fit best in your freezer or refrigerator), spaced enough so they aren’t touching each other.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the tray, plate or baking dish and place in the freezer for 1 hour or the refrigerator for 2 hours. This helps set the cookie dough shape, and prevents them from sticking together when placed in the container or bag.
- Transfer the Cookie Dough Balls: Place the cold cookie cough balls into a freezer-safe container or zipped-top bag. It’s OK if they are now touching since the shape has set.
- Label the Container/Bag: Place a label on the container or write directly on the bag the recipe name, the date, baking temperature, and regular bake time, bake from frozen time (adding 1-2 minutes from regular bake time.)
- Freeze: Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend placing just made cookie dough towards the back, pulling forward any previously frozen cookie dough forward.
Baking from frozen? When you’re ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven as directed. Place the frozen cookie dough balls on a lined baking sheet based on the recipe directions. Bake as directed plus 1-2 extra minutes because the dough is frozen. If you don’t want to bake from frozen, allow the cookie dough to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, bake as originally directed.
How To Freeze Cut-Out & Slice-and-Bake Cookie Dough
For cut-out cookie dough that needs to be rolled out before cutting into desired shapes with cookie cutters, like gingerbread cookies, or rolled into a log and sliced before baking, the process is slightly different.
- Form into Disc or Log: Shape the dough with your hands into 1-inch disc (divide the dough in half so you have 2 discs, if desired), or into a log based on the recipe directions.
- Wrap the Dough: Very tightly wrap the cookie dough with plastic wrap or parchment paper, making sure that every part of the surface is covered.
- Transfer the Cookie Dough Disc or Log: Place the cookie dough discs or log into freezer-safe container or zipped-top bag. This will help prevent any freezer burn.
- Label the Container/Bag: Place a label on the container or write directly on the bag the recipe name, the date, baking temperature, and bake time.
- Freeze: Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend placing just made cookie dough towards the back, pulling forward any previously frozen cookie dough forward.
- Thaw: When needed, transfer the discs or log to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.
- Roll, Cut & Bake: Roll the thawed cookie dough out and cut into shapes, or slice as directed, and place on a lined baking sheet based on the recipe directions. Bake as directed.
How To Freeze Pre-Cut Cookie Dough
For cut-out cookie dough that you plan to cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters ahead of time (making it even easier!), like sugar cookies, follow this process.
- Roll & Cut the Dough: Roll the cookie dough and cut into shapes as directed in the recipe directions. Place the cut-out dough on a lined baking sheet, flat plate or baking dish (whichever size will fit best in your freezer or refrigerator), spaced enough so they aren’t touching each other. You want the surface as flat as possible. If needed, you can add parchment paper to create layers. When doing this, I recommend placing a flat surface between (like a container lid, plastic cutting board, etc.) to create an even surface.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the tray, plate or baking dish and place in the freezer for 1 hour or the refrigerator for 2 hours. This helps set the cookie dough shapes.
- Transfer the Cookie Cut-Outs: Place the cold cookie cut-outs into a flat freezer-safe container (this protects the cookies from breaking in the freezer), stacking the cookies in layers with parchment paper between each layer.
- Label the Container/Bag: Place a label on the container and write recipe name, the date, baking temperature, and regular bake time, bake from frozen time (adding 1-2 minutes from regular bake time.)
- Freeze: Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend placing just made cookie dough towards the back, pulling forward any previously frozen cookie dough forward.
Baking from frozen? When you’re ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven as directed. Place the frozen cookie cut-outs on a lined baking sheet based on the recipe directions. Bake as directed plus 1-2 extra minutes because the dough is frozen. If you don’t want to bake from frozen, allow the cookie dough to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, bake as originally directed.
FAQ
Yes, absolutely! I do this all the time. You can freeze drop cookie dough, sugar cookie dough, or slice-and-bake cookie dough.
Most cookie doughs will can be frozen for up to 3 months, placed in a freezer-safe container or zipped-top bag, unless otherwise mentioned in the recipe you’re following.
Yes! Prepare the cookie dough based on the recipe instructions. Then, cover and refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes. Wrap the cold dough tightly in plastic wrap or parchment paper, placing into a freezer-safe bag. Label the bag with the recipe name, date, and baking time. Freeze for up to 3 months. When needed, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and then follow the recipe instructions.
Yes! Prepare the cookie dough based on the recipe instructions. Then, cover and refrigerate the dough for about 30 minutes. Wrap the cold dough tightly in plastic wrap or parchment paper, placing into a freezer-safe bag. Label the bag with the recipe name, date, and baking time. Freeze for up to 3 months. When needed, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and follow the recipe instructions.
Typically cookie dough that contains butter or oil (like coconut oil) will freeze well. More delicate cookies like meringue, macarons, no bake cookies, will not.
Pictured: chocolate chip blondies & fudgy brownies
You Can Also Freeze Baked Cookies, Bars & Brownies
Did you know that you can also freeze baked cookies? After the baked cookies/bars/brownies have cooled completely, follow the instructions below.
- Chill the Cookies/Bars: Place the cookies or bars on a baking sheet, plate, or baking dish, and cover tightly. Place in the freezer for 1 hour or the refrigerator for 2 hours. This helps set the cookie dough shape, and prevents them from sticking together when placed in the container or bag.
- Transfer the Cookies/Bars: Place the cold cookies or bars into a freezer-safe container (or carefully in a zipped-top bag), stacking the cookies/bars in layers with parchment paper between each layer. I recommend a container so the cookies/bars don’t break in the freezer.
- Label the Container/Bag: Place a label on the container and write recipe name and the date.
- Freeze: Place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Thaw: When needed, transfer the cookies/bars into the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight or at room temperature. Or remove a few cookies/bars and place in separate container/bag in the refrigerator or room temperature to thaw.
12 Cookie Recipes You Can Freeze
Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brown Sugar Cookies
Brownie Cookies
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brown Butter Pecan Cookies
Soft Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
Big & Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Monster Cookies
More Cookie, Brownies & Bars Recipes
- Find more cookie recipes you can freeze in this collection
- Find more bars and brownies you can freeze in this collection
