Freezing Cookie Dough - tips and tricks I've learned along the way to help you have fresh baked cookies any time you want! It's as easy as reaching into the freezer and grabbing a few frozen dough balls of your favorite cookie recipe. Let me show you this easy freezing tip and you too can have cookies fresh from the oven in minutes!
Today I'm sharing with you an easy tip on how to freeze cookie dough. I do this often and thought it would be fun to share with you the easy tips I've learned over the years.
These methods work on drop cookie dough, like my Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies, slice and bake cookie dough and cut out cookie dough, like my Easy Sugar Cookies Recipe. I started doing this a few years ago so I wouldn't be tempted to eat an entire recipe of cookies once they were baked.
Freezing Cookie Dough
I love the idea of freezing an entire recipe of cookie dough balls and pulling out two or three to bake when I was in the mood for something sweet, but didn't want to eat all the cookies.
These freezing tips work great if you want to prepare a skillet cookie for two. Depending on the size of your cast iron skillet, you don't need a whole recipe of chocolate chip cookie dough for my Skillet Cookie Recipe. Just pull around 4 to 6 frozen cookie dough balls out and within 30 minutes you have a delicious dessert warm from the oven.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
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Tips on Freezing Drop Cookie Dough
- Prepare the recipe according to the instructions.
- Using a cookie scoop, divide the cookie dough and place on a baking tray.
- Place the baking tray into the freezer for about 30 minutes.
- Once the cookie dough balls have frozen, place them in a freezer bag and store in the freezer.
Tips on Freezing Cut Out Cookie Dough
- Prepare the dough according to the recipe you are following.
- Roll out the dough and cut into the shapes you want.
- Place the dough shapes on a baking tray that's been lined with parchment paper.
- Then place the tray in the freezer to flash freeze the dough shapes for about 30 minutes.
- Remove the frozen dough shapes and place in either a freezer safe plastic container. I do not recommend storing frozen dough shapes in plastic bags because they may break.
- Place the cookies in a single layer with either waxed paper or parchment paper between each layer to avoid breakage.
Tips on Freezing Slice and Bake Cookie Dough
- Prepare the cookie dough according to the directions. If you're looking for a great slice and bake cookie dough to freeze, try my Slice and Bake Shortbread Cookies or Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Cookies.
- Roll out the dough into a log-like form, only instead of slicing the cookies, wrap the dough first in plastic wrap, sealing tighltly.
- Place the dough in an empty paper towel roll with a slit cut down the side and flash freeze the dough this way to help keep it's cylinder shape. After about 30 minutes remove the dough from the paper towel container and place in a freezer safe plastic bag or container in the freezer.
How to Bake Frozen Cookie Dough
- Remove the cookies from the freezer.
- Place on a baking tray that's been lined with parchment paper.
- If you're baking slice and bake cookies, you may need to wait a little while for the dough cylinder to defrost and soften a bit before slicing.
- Bake the cookies according to the directions on the original recipe.
- Enjoy with a tall glass of ice cold milk.
Baking Tip: Sometimes when you remove frozen cookie balls from the freezer, they can be a little crumbly. Allow them to warm up for a few minutes before baking.
How Long Does Frozen Cookie Dough Last?
When frozen properly, cookie dough will last in the freezer for up to six months. These tips really come in handy when you are planning for holidays, birthday celebrations or you just want to make sure you have extra cookie dough ready to go when unexpected company drops in.
Frequently Asked Recipe Questions
In my opinion, yes! Freezing cookie dough balls gives you the flexibility of only baking a few cookies as needed. It also gives you the homemade smell of fresh baked cookies!
Yes, simply place the frozen cookie dough balls on a baking tray lines with parchment paper. Bake for an additional 2 to 4 minutes longer than the original recipe requires.
Tried this recipe? Let me know in the comments and don't forget to rate it!
Ready for more great recipes? Try these other Cookie Recipes:
- Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies – because a bigger cookie is always better than a smaller one, right? These are bakery style cookies with the delicious flavor of chocolate with every bite.
- M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies – a basic chocolate chip cookie dough recipe but I add fun M&M candies to the dough.
- Easy Sugar Cookies – dough that is very easy to roll out. The dough doesn’t spread when baking either so you’re sure to get beautiful cutout cookies every time.
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2014 with new photos and new tips. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
Hi Lois,
Glad you reminded me of that, cause the last time I made those kind of cookies from the store, I thought
I could do that..................but that was quite some time ago, but now that I am trying to eat gluten free
that would be a marvelous idea for me. I am gonna be trying that for sure. Maybe tomorrow.......
You are so full of great ideas girly...........we appreciate you so much. Have missed you!
Hope this find you and your hubby and kiddos doing well..............
Blessings Galore,
Nellie
What a neat idea, Lois, I usually freeze the whole thing this is great, thanks for sharing.
Sue
Really? Well now that IS cool.
I so needed this. Thanks for sharing. I would have done it a different, and not so great way. This will work much better. Take care.
A great tip! Thank you!