Keeping frozen cookie dough on hand is a great way to have fresh chocolate chip cookies whenever you like. This guide teaches you how to freeze cookie dough and how to bake from frozen!
Hi! Just popping in to share this ultimate guide on how to freeze cookie dough! I always have frozen cookie dough on hand in my freezer, especially chocolate chip cookie dough.
Having a stash of frozen cookie dough is a great way to be prepared for a last minute cookie emergency. It is great to have your favorite cookies ready to bake if you need a last minute gift or something to take for dessert, or if you have a friend popping over.
I often double a homemade cookie recipe and freeze some dough or baked cookies to gift to others at a later date. We often also bake off one or two after dinner – so much easier than making a full batch of cookies! This method also works great if you want to get a good head start on your Christmas cookies!
Cookie dough freezes well for up to 3 months, so it’s a great way to get ahead for the holidays or other busy times. For drop cookies, you don’t need to wait for the dough to thaw—bake from frozen. You don’t have to bake the whole batch at once—you can bake just 1 or 2 when you’re craving a freshly baked, warm cookie.
How to freeze cookie dough
For drop cookies such as chocolate chip cookies:
- Make the cookie dough as directed. If the recipe calls for a chill period, follow the steps in the recipe and chill the dough in the fridge according to the recipes instructions. This helps to develop flavour in the cookies.
- If the cookie dough is not already scooped out, scoop with a cookie scoop as directed onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Arrange in a single layer.
- If you are adding chocolate pieces to the top of your cookies, do this before they go into the freezer as it is too hard to stick chocolate to frozen cookies.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze the dough balls until solid.
- Transfer the frozen dough to a ziplock bag, freezer bag, or airtight container and label.
- Store in the freezer for up to 8 weeks.
For cookies with a sugar / sprinkle coating:
- Make the cookie dough as directed, but do not roll in the sugar or sprinkle coating.
- Freeze the balls of dough uncoated following the directions above.
- When you are ready to bake, remove the cookie dough balls from the freezer and leave to stand while you preheat the oven, to allow the outsides of the cookies to thaw slightly, then roll in the sprinkles or sugar coating.
For cookie bars:
- Prepare according to the directions in the recipe, then place into the pan and wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
- Freeze in the pan, then thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking. Alternatively you can freeze the dough in a ziplock bag or plastic wrap, defrost, and press into the pan.
- I do this with my chocolate chip cookie bars. You could also freeze my sugar cookie bars unfrosted and add frosting to finish them off!
How to bake cookies from frozen dough
Either you can defrost the cookie dough overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for a couple of hours and bake as per the recipe, or you can bake the cookies from frozen (the option I use the most often because I have terrible time management).
If the recipe specifies a method for baking from frozen then use that, otherwise you can choose to either bake at the original temperature, or reduce the oven temperature a little.
- Preheat the oven about 20°f / 15°c lower than the recipe specifies. This lower temperature gives the dough time to spread while ensuring the middle is baked through without the edges burning. You will need to add a few minutes onto the bake time to account for frozen dough.
- Bake frozen dough at the temperature specified in baking instructions, and add a few minutes onto the bake time. This may give you slightly crispier edges as the cookie is in the oven a little longer.
- If your cookie is a sugar coated cookie such as my funfetti cookies or my ginger molasses cookies, leave the dough to stand on the counter for about 10 minutes before rolling it in sugar and baking to let the outside get a little sticky so that the sugar sticks.
Both these methods work well – I use both depending on the kind of cookie dough. There is no hard and fast method for all cookies, each behaves differently depending on the recipe and ratio of ingredients in the cookie. If you are concerned about the outcome, bake one frozen cookie dough ball as a tester first to see how it bakes up.
I tested this with my homemade gingersnaps recipe – you can see the difference between baked fresh, frozen dough baked at 350°f, and 325°f. The lower temperature came out much nicer!
How to FREEZE Cookies
FAQ
Can you bake frozen cookie dough without thawing?
Can you bake cookies directly from the freezer?
How do you bake cookie dough after freezing?
What happens when you freeze cookies before baking?
Can You bake cookies from frozen?
A lower temperature allows the cookie dough to spread evenly in the oven without burning the edges and ensures that the middle bakes through. Baking the dough from frozen requires a few extra minutes. Bake the cookies for two to five minutes longer than the recipe calls for. Each recipe will vary slightly.
How long do you bake cookies in the freezer?
Remove however many balls of dough you need from the freezer and place on a parchment-lined baking pan. Bake the cookies for 2 to 5 minutes longer than the original recipe instructions, or until the cookies are golden at the edges but still slightly ‘wet’ looking at the very center.
Can you freeze cookie dough?
Make a batch of cookie dough as directed in the recipe. If you’re planning to bake some immediately, it’s a good idea to double the batch so that you can have some of the cookie dough to freeze. When the dough is made, use a cookie scoop to portion it into rounds. Place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
How do you bake frozen cookie dough?
How to Bake Frozen Cookie Dough: 1. Preheat the oven to about 20 degrees lower than the original recipe temperature. 2. Remove however many balls of dough you need from the freezer and place on a parchment-lined baking pan.