How to Freeze Cookie Dough
I love making an impromptu batch of freshly baked cookies so that means keeping some frozen cooke dough in my freezer is a must! Here are my best tips for freezing cookie dough and then, of course, baking frozen cookie dough, too.
Nothing beats a batch of freshly baked cookies in the oven. And, of course, you can store those cookies, but I vote for fresh-baked cookies any day of the week!
I get all kinds of questions from my readers. Recently I received this one: can I freeze cookie dough? I love questions like this one because it’s a sign more people are into batch cooking. Something I love doing myself!
Sometimes it’s nice to make fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies right on the spot. The trick is to have the dough pre-made and ready for baking. So that’s why today I’m sharing my tips for how to make frozen cookie dough.
I love the taste of a freshly-baked cookie. Seriously. I love making an entire batch of cookie dough, but only baking about half of that batch and then freezing the rest to make it super easy to have fresh-baked cookies at a moment’s notice.
Life is better with cookies.
Actually, what I really like is the idea that friends, family, or neighbors could stop by and at a moment’s notice, I could have some cookies baking. Just call me Martha.
There are plenty of times where knowing how to make frozen cookie dough balls was really handy.
- Having School-Age Children — Children are notorious for announcing the need for cookies at school or having last-minute friends come over. it was fun to be able to throw some cookies in the oven and surprise her and her friends with a tray of home-baked cookies.
- Selling a House — When we were selling our house, I would bake a batch of frozen cookies without making a mess. The aroma was wonderful and I would sit the cookies out and encourage folks to have one. It felt welcoming. And the smell of freshly baked cookies in the kitchen was a nice touch.
The next time you make a batch of cookies, like Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vegan Snickerdoodles, Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies, just do this:
I use this frozen cookie dough process all the time. Maybe because it’s so versatile and works with a number of different cookies, such as vegan chocolate chip cookies, red velvet cookies, vegan peanut butter cookies, and even these soft molasses cookies.
- Make the batter. Follow the recipe instructions to make the dough.
- Make dough balls. I use a cookie dough scoop to roll out similarly-sized cookies.
- Place on a baking sheet. Place the cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet that will fit in your freezer. Be sure to cover the pan with waxed paper to make it easier to remove the frozen dough balls. You can place the dough balls right next to each other.
- Freeze. Once the rest of the dough has been turned into dough balls and placed on the cookie sheet, place that tray in your freezer for an hour or so.
- Transfer frozen dough balls into a freezer bag. Now that the cookie dough balls are frozen, remove the pan and transfer them to a freezer bag or container. Be sure to label them with the type of cookies and the date added to the freezer to help you remember the next time you pull them out. Otherwise, you’ll have surprise cookies! The frozen dough will keep for up to 3 months.
Follow these tips for making frozen slice and bake cookie dough.
- Make the cookie batter
- Shape the dough into one or several logs
- Wrap the log in waxed paper
- Transfer the log into a freezer-safe bag or container
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To bake, remove the log from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. Then slice and bake according to the recipe instructions.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Once the cookie dough is frozen, it will keep in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 months. You can possibly extend the time a little longer, but you risk the possibility of getting a certain freezer flavor in your cookies if it goes much longer.
You can easily freeze chocolate chip cookie dough. I recommend using a cookie dough dispenser to make uniformly-sized cookie dough balls, then place the balls on a baking tray and place the tray in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag and use a marker to indicate the type of cookies and date frozen.
A lot of people are concerned about eating raw cookie dough, especially if it contains raw eggs. The good news is vegan cookie dough is made egg-free so therefore no worries! Who amongst us hasn’t enjoyed a little frozen chocolate chip cookie dough batter! It’s almost as good as the baked cookie!
You can freeze cookie dough, but there are a couple of tips to get it just right for the type of cookie dough you’re working with. For example, you wouldn’t want to freeze an entire batch of cookie dough in one big lump! Rolling it into balls or into a cookie dough log can help you when it comes time to bake it!
Freezing cookie dough is one thing. Once it’s frozen, you’ll also want to know how to bake cookie dough too! That’s because cooking frozen cookie dough is different than regular, chilled, or room temperature cookie dough. Follow these frozen cookie dough baking instructions to get it just right.
Basically, there are two ways to go about baking frozen cookies dough balls.
- Place the frozen cookie dough balls on a baking sheet (adequately spaced for baking purposes) and allow the dough to thaw while you preheat the oven.
- Bake the cookie dough according to the recipe instructions, adding 1 to 2 minutes bake time. Knowing how long to bake frozen cookie dough makes all the difference.
Thaw Method
- Place the cookie dough balls in the fridge the night before you want to bake them and allow them to thaw completely.
- Bake them according to the recipe instructions.
Alternatively, you could bake the cookies, let them cool completely, and freeze them. Frozen cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
I’ve had success freezing all kinds of cookie dough balls, but some cookie doughs don’t freeze as well.
In fact, there are basically two kinds of cookies that don’t take well to the freezer: 1) cookies with a runny batter (like florentines) and 2) cookies that are kind of “cakey” (like madeleines).
There you have it! My favorite tips on how to make frozen cookie dough balls. It’s fun to have several different recipes on hand so you can choose which cookies to make on a whim!
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Ingredients
- 1 batch cookie dough
Instructions
Freezing Cookie Dough Balls
- Make the batter following the instructions
- Roll the dough into balls and place on a tray lined with waxed paper.
- Place the tray in the freezer and freeze for up to an hour. Transfer frozen cookie dough balls into a freezer-safe bag or container, label it, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To bake the cookies, place them on a baking sheet approximatley 2 inches apart. Bake according to the recipe instructions, adding 1 to 2 minutes to the baking time.
Freezing Cookie Dough Logs or Rolls
- Make the batter following the instructions. Shape the dough into one log or several logs.
- Wrap the cookie dough log in waxed paper and then place it in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container, label it, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To bake, remove the log from the freezer and let it set at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. Heat the oven according to the cookie instructions. Then slice the roll and place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake.
Recommended Equipment
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Notes
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long after baked?
This looks so good! What a great way to have this homemade treat ready and convenient!