Even though there are plenty of tricks for storing already-baked cookies, let’s be honest. Nothing competes with the goodness of a just-baked cookie.
That’s why I ALWAYS have frozen cookie dough in my freezer.
(Secret confession: I pretty much feel naked without cookie dough stashed somewhere in my freezer).
Having frozen cookie dough on hand means you can whip up a batch of homemade cookies any time in just minutes. This comes in handy when:
-You need to satisfy a cooking craving STAT and don’t want to make an entire batch
-Company stops by unexpectedly (like your mother-in-law…)
-It’s a busy season (holidays, back-to-school, etc.)
-You have an upcoming bake sale or party
-Homemade gifts are in order (for teachers, students, new parents, neighbors, etc.)
Steps for Freezing Cookie Dough
1. Make the cookie dough as the recipe instructs. Freezing works best with drop cookies (i.e. chocolate chip, peanut butter, etc.). Cut-out cookies actually freeze well after they’re baked!
2. Roll the cookie dough into even balls (I’m obsessed with my OXO cookie scoop) and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet that fits in your freezer.
3. Freeze the balls for 1 hour, or until solid. This prevents the balls from sticking to each other.
4. Remove the balls to a ziptop bag. Be sure to label with the date, recipe name, baking temperature, and baking time.
5. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. You can get away with freezing for longer but the quality may start to lessen.
How to bake frozen cookie dough
Now, you can either let the dough completely defrost overnight in the fridge or for a couple hours at room temperature and bake just as the recipe originally instructed. OR, if you’re impatient like me, you can bake from frozen. Here are the steps…
1. Remove however many balls of dough you need from the freezer and place on a parchment-lined baking pan (these are my fave).
2. Let the dough sit at room temperature while you preheat the oven to about 20 degrees lower than the original recipe temperature.
3. Bake the cookies for 1 to 2 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.
See how easy it is? Freezing cookie dough is the BEST. I hope you found this helpful.
My favorite cookie recipes to freeze:
- Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Giant Reese’s Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies
About Tessa...
I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)
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Love this! I used to do this all time when I worked at a bakery. It was like a “DUH” and an ‘A-HA” moment all at the same time. And glad to see I’m not alone on having frozen cookie dough in my freezer at all times! 🙂
Right!? It’s crazy how many things are made ahead of time in a professional kitchen that most of us don’t even realize!
I’ve never froze my cookie dough before.
I was wondering if by freezing the cookies, does it in any way change how they bake?
I.e. The softness of them or how fluffy they would typically bake without freezing them.
I guess what I’m asking is does the quality of the cookie change?
Thanks! ?
This is great! I like to freeze my chocolate chip cookie dough, but I’ve always done it in one ugly, messy lump! I will definitely be trying this method next time. Thanks!
This is awesome!
I don’t bother with the initial freezing stage, I use strips of grease proof paper to wrap the balls of dough in and drop them straight into a zip lock bag , there’s absolutely no sticking together. Thanks for the tips about cooking from frozen, when I’ve tried this in the past it didn’t do so well, now I’ll follow your tips!
Hi. You think the cookie dough can get spoiled if frozen for over 3 months? I just baked my chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and they smell a bit sour…
Thanks.
Wow, I think my life is changed. This makes everything so much easier. I actually did this yesterday and they taste good baked from frozen and they taste amazing just as frozen cookie dough balls. Great to make smaller balls and crumble them into some ice cream. Thanks for the tips!
I have froze my cookie dough before because I use to make a lot of sugar cookies and chocolate chip but never thought about making the balls first then freezing them until I read this my oven just quit on me co I’ll be using the toaster oven to make cookies for the 2 of us .
Thank you so much for your advice of freezing raw dough.
Not sure why you ask for my web site but no mind. I found when baking frozen cookies…just put the baking pan with the frozen lil plops on it in the over while it’s preheating. Then they will be perfection.
I was wondering if I could do this with any cookie , I am doing white choc chip with cranberries and also a white choc chip with vanillla pudding and m&ms. Tying to get a jump start on my Christmas baking. Thx
I have always froze cookie dough, and have several bags ready to go for this years Christmas Baskets and Trays I give away, however, QUESTION: Can I bake the cookies from the frozen dough and then refreeze the cookie till its time to give them away?, Is that possible? Just wanted to get ahead of the game and have the cookies baked., if not I will wait until a few days before handing out my baskets and trays and make them then. In the mean time I will continue to freeze dough, but use the above method for the dough.
ALSO: can I freeze baked cookies? If I make them now, I think I did this years ago, but t was so long ago, I cant remember now.
THANKS!!
Yes, you can freeze baked cookies, but they won’t last as long in the freezer. I prefer to freeze the dough!
I am told I make the best snickerdoodles ever. I am wondering if freezing the dough will make a difference in the texture and softness of this particular cookie. I would sure hate to mess a batch up! Thanks!
I love how easy this can be, and with guests coming for Christmas, I can start early. I’m making peanut butter kiss cookies, and I roll each ball in sugar before I stick them in the oven. Do I roll the balls in sugar before or after I freeze them? Thanks!
This is how we made cookies at the bakery I used to work at. Always cooked from frozen. Except we did not leave space between each dough scoop as you showed here. Pretty muched shoved as many on a sheet tray as possible. Never had any problems with them sticking together, thougmanye freezing time I’m sure was longer. We stored them on the sheet tray in a loose plastic sleeve/bag, and they probably were used up in a week or two.
This was very helpful. I was wondering if you had any recipes for sugar free cookies.
I like my cookies soft, Will freezing the dough change that?