Can You Freeze Cookie Dough?

You sure can! Learn how to freeze cookie dough so you always have dessert on hand.

Yes, you can freeze cookie dough, and your future self will be thanking you. With dough in the freezer, you'll always have ready-to-bake cookies without the effort or mess of starting from scratch. Frozen cookie dough is also a great emergency dessert, for when guests arrive unannounced or you need treats for a bake sale ASAP.

There are some dos and don'ts for freezing cookie dough, however. Read on to find out how to freeze cookie dough the right way.

Related: How To Freeze Cookies So You Can Enjoy Them Longer

How To Freeze Raw Cookie Dough

Follow these easy steps for properly freezing cookie dough.

1. Prepare the dough according to the recipe

The first step to freeze cookie dough is making the dough; you can proceed with your favorite recipe per usual. Most cookies can be frozen, but that said, thin or delicate cookies like meringue cookies, pizzelles, or tuile cookies won't freeze well. Classics like sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and shortbread can all be frozen.

2. Chill, if required

Some cookie recipes ask you to chill the dough before portioning and baking. If so, do that now.

3. Divide or shape

Depending on the type of cookie dough, you’ll proceed differently here.

• Cookies that you scoop, like chocolate chip, should be portioned into balls before freezing.

• Slice and bake cookies, like some shortbread cookies or icebox cookies, can be formed into logs before freezing and sliced after thawing. You can also opt to slice and freeze the individual portions.

• The dough for cut-out cookies, like sugar cookies, can be frozen in a disc and then punched out after thawing. You can also opt to punch out your favorite shapes and freeze them.
  

4. Wrap

No matter the kind of dough, you need to cover it properly to avoid freezer burn or the dough absorbing smells in the freezer. For scooped cookies, you can scoop the portioned cookies onto a parchment-lined sheet tray, freeze just until solid, and then transfer the dough balls to a freezer bag or airtight container. You can do the same thing with sliced or cut cookies, too.

For logs, you can wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag. The same goes for a disc of dough—wrap it in plastic wrap and then toss it into a freezer bag or airtight container to protect against freezer burn.

5. Label

Cookie dough doesn’t last forever, even in the freezer. Label your dough with the date you made it so you’ll always know exactly how old it is. Also include what kind of cookie dough it is, because it’s easy to forget what you made.

6. Store

This is the easiest step: Find a spot in the fridge for the dough, set it, and forget it (but not for too long).

How Long Can Cookie Dough Be Stored in the Freezer?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), for best quality, cookie dough is good for up to two months. That’s not a long time, but it’s much longer than the two to four days it lasts in the fridge.

Thawing Raw Cookie Dough

Some frozen doughs require you to thaw them before baking. Others don't, so it's best to defer to the individual recipe. Slice-and-bake cookies, like some shortbread, are usually thawed, sliced, and then baked, while many (but not all) chocolate chip cookie recipes can be baked from frozen if already portioned.

If you need to thaw your dough, do it in the fridge, preferably overnight. For food safety, we do not recommend thawing the dough at room temperature, as this can promote foodborne illness.

Baking Frozen Cookie Dough

You can bake most cookies from frozen, but we suggest you refer to your recipe for specific instructions, when possible. If the recipe doesn't provide instructions, we suggest thawing the dough and then baking to ensure the best results.

For cookie doughs that do not need to be defrosted before baking, it's worth noting that they may need additional time to bake through. One or two extra minutes is usually sufficient, but it can be helpful to start checking them at the original recipe's stated bake time, as all ovens differ slightly.

Get The Recipe

Great Gear

While plastic wrap and freezer bags always gets the job done, I (and my coworkers) really love using these cookie dough trays from Souper Cubes. They stack neatly in the fridge, and the flexible silicone tray is super easy to pop the frozen dough out of.

Related: These Freezer-Ready Cookie Dough Trays Make It So Easy To Bake On A Whim

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze cookie dough with mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts?

Yes! Doughs with mix-ins freeze beautifully and are best frozen in portioned scoops rather than as a solid disk.

Can I freeze cookie dough that contains eggs?

Yes! It’s perfectly safe to freeze cookie dough that contains eggs. Just make sure to transfer the dough mixture to the freezer in a timely manner (don’t let it sit out at room temperature) and to bake thoroughly before enjoying.

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