No! You can’t make all of the desserts and cookies for Christmas at the last minute and still enjoy the holidays.
Fortunately, plenty of cookies keep well—and some actually improve with age. Go ahead and try some of those traditional Scandinavian and German recipes that you’ve ignored all these years; many are made for keeping and delicious, indeed. Or, stay in your comfort zone with butter cookies, meringues, and biscotti.
If you can organize your sock drawer (so trendy right now) you can make a plan and start baking cookies immediately. (And for tips on how to bake a zillion cookies with only two cookie sheets go here.) Advertisement
Always consult the individual recipe you are using, but here is the general scoop on types of cookies that keep well and/or actually improve with age—as long as you store them properly, in airtight containers or as directed in the recipe you are using. You can find storage times and further details for dozen of other cookies in my book Chewy Gooey, Crispy Crunchy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies (Artisan Books 2010).
Dry cookies, like shortbread cookies, gingersnaps, and Danish butter cookies, will stay fresher for longer because they have very little moisture. Dry cookies become stale when they suck up moisture from the air – causing them to become soft and lose their snap.
Your Guide to Make-Ahead Cookies, A through T: Advertisement
- Amaretti: These keep for at least 2 months, probably much longer.
- Biscotti: The super dry, crunchy type improve with a few days age and keep for several weeks. The cakier, less crunchy type may keep for 2 weeks.
- Brandy snaps (unfilled): These keep for 1 week.
- Butter cookies: Generally these are better a couple of days after baking but keep for at least 1 month (see also spritz, shortbread, Mexican wedding cakes, etc.).
- Fruitcake cookies: Depending on the recipe, you may be able to make these weeks or months ahead.
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
- Gingerbread folks: These keep for several months.
- Graham crackers: These keep for at least 3 weeks.
- Meringues: The type that are completely dry and crisp (not soft and marshmallowy inside)—which include meringue mushrooms—will last for months (stored airtight) unless your environment is very humid or they include ingredients like nuts that might go rancid or stale.
- Lace cookies: These keep for 1 week.
- Lebkuchen: These should be made at least 2 weeks before serving, and they keep several weeks.
- Mexican wedding cakes/Polvorónes/Russian Tea Cakes/Austrian Crescents: Most of these keep at least 1 month. There are some exceptions.
- Moravian Spice Cookies: These keep for at least 2 months.
- Peanut Butter Cookies: These keep for at least 2 weeks.
Make your pfeffernusse several weeks ahead of time. Photo by James Ransom
- Pfeffernusse: These should be made at least a few days or up to 2 weeks before serving, depending on the recipe, and they keep for several weeks.
- Shortbread and shortbread cookies: These keep for at least 1 month.
- Springerles: These should be made 2 weeks before serving and they keep for several months.
Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement
- Spritz: These keep for 1 month.
- Sugar cookies: The crispy, crunchy variety (not the light cakey type) keep for at least 1 month.
- Tuiles: These keep about 1 month.
How to Keep Homemade Cookies Soft For Days | So You Wanna Know…
FAQ
What cookie has the longest shelf life?
Which baked goods last the longest?
|
Bakery item
|
Shelf
|
Freezer
|
|
Made from mix
|
3-4 days
|
4 months
|
|
Pound cake
|
3-4 days
|
6 months
|
|
Cheesecake
|
No
|
2-3 months
|
|
Cookies, bakery or homemade
|
2-3 weeks
|
8-12 months
|
How do you keep cookies fresh for 10 days?
How long do homemade cookies last?
As a general rule, homemade cookies will still be good for about 4 days if you use a container to store them, but that can extend up to 10-12 months if you store your homemade cookies in the freezer. Keep reading to learn about the different methods of storages and how each type of cookie responds.
How long do drop cookies last?
At room temperature: At room temperature, drop cookies should last about a week. Just keep them sealed up. In the freezer: Baked drop cookies will be good in the freezer for six months. Cookie dough: You can store drop cookie dough in the freezer for up to six months.
How long do cookies last in the freezer?
Whether you’re baking for the holidays or for everyday enjoyment, these tips for how to store cookies will help keep them soft and fresh. In general, cookies will last for about three days at room temperature— if you store them correctly! They’ll last for up to six months in the freezer.
How long do chocolate chip cookies last?
Chocolate chip cookies, as a general rule, will last for 1 week if you store them in an airtight container at room temperature. How long do shortbread cookies last after baking? If you want a cookie that’s going to last the longest, shortbread cookies are your friend!