Ready…Set…Preheat! Here are the 30 BEST Freezable Cookies to get you set up for the holidays. These cookies are packable, giftable, delicious, and most importantly ~ Freezable!
The holiday baking season is short and sweet, for sure! Extend it and preserve your sanity by putting your freezer to work! I’ve collected the 30 best freezable cookies to get you started 🙂
Freezable Cookie faqs
- when should you freeze cookies?
- If you aren’t planning to serve your cookies within a few days of baking, freezing is the best option, even if it’s for a very short duration.
- what is freezer burn?
- Freezer burn happens when air comes in contact with the surface of your food in the freezer. It’s not a food safety issue at all, but a cosmetic one. Freezer burns causes dried spots that can look gray or white.
- how long can I freeze cookies for?
- Technically cookies can be frozen for 6 months, but for best results I recommend freezing cookies for 6 weeks to 3 months. The longer cookies sit in the freezer the higher the risk of deterioration.
- can cookies be refrozen after freezing and thawing?
- It’s generally not recommended to refreeze cookies after they have been previously frozen, thawed, and then returned to the freezer. Each time a food item is frozen, the freezing and thawing process can affect its texture and moisture content.
- why do I need to double wrap cookies?
- Your goal is to keep as much air away from your cookies as possible, so double wrapping is a great trick. I usually do plastic first, then foil, or a heavy duty zip lock freezer bag.
- do I really need to use freezer bags? They’re more expensive!
- Yes, they really do make a difference, the heavier plastic is made to keep out air. The good news is that you can reuse them.
Spritz Cookies ~ this classic stamped holiday cookie is so festive, and freezes beautifully!
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Use High-Quality Sprinkles: Invest in high-quality sprinkles, as they are less likely to bleed or fade during freezing. Cheaper, lower-quality sprinkles often contain more artificial colors that might not withstand freezing as well.
Pecan Sandies Cookies ~ buttery slice and bake cookies are some of our favorite freezable cookies!
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Slice and bake cookie dough is ideal for freezing. You can freeze the whole log of cookie dough for carefree baking whenever you’re ready, just stack them like firewood at the back of your freezer ? Let a frozen log thaw overnight in the fridge the night before you want to bake.
- Drop cookie dough can be frozen in balls on a lined baking sheet until hard, and then transferred to a heavy duty freezer bag or airtight freezer container.
- Cut-out dough can be patted into flattened discs, then wrapped in plastic, and popped in heavy duty zip lock freezer bags. Force out any extra air before zipping.
- Unbaked cut out cookies can also be placed on a lined baking sheet and frozen until hard, then carefully stacked, with wax paper between layers, in an airtight freezer container.
Soft Molasses Cookies ~ the molasses in these cookies helps them keep their chewy texture even after freezing.
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Gradual Thawing: The best method for thawing molasses cookies is gradual thawing in the refrigerator. Place the cookies in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag and transfer them from the freezer to the fridge. Let them thaw slowly overnight or for several hours. This gradual thawing process helps the cookies retain their moisture and prevents them from becoming overly soft or mushy.
Fudgy Brownie Cookies ~ better freeze an extra batch, these soft chewy freezable cookies are addicting!
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Soft or delicate cookies like these brownie cookies should be frozen in a sturdy container, with layers of waxed paper to protect their surfaces. Be sure to let them cool completely before freezing. Any extra moisture will condense in the freezer and make your cookies soggy.
Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ these cookies will stay crisp and crunchy even after freezing.
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Delicate cookies like these are best frozen snugly in a sturdy freezer safe container so they don’t get jostled around in the freezer.
Classic Peanut Butter Cookies ~ one of our favorite freezable cookies of all time!
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If you crave the full on cookie baking experience without the work, freeze drop cookies like these before baking. To flash freeze unbaked cookies ~ just form the cookies, fork marks and all, and then freeze on a baking sheet until solid. Pop them into a heavy duty freezer bag and you can bake up one (or a dozen) on a whim. Remember to allow a little extra baking time to account for the cold dough.
Peanut Butter Blossoms ~ one of the first cookies we freeze every year, they’re always in high demand.
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Label and Date: Don’t forget to label the containers or bags with the contents and the freezing date. This helps you keep track of how long the cookies have been stored.
Fruitcake Shortbread Cookies ~ just like their namesake, these cookies love the freezer!
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Flash-Freezing: Place the shortbread cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure they are not touching each other. Flash-freeze the cookies for about an hour. This prevents them from sticking together during long-term storage.
Pfeffernusse ~ classic German spice cookies!
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Avoid Moisture: Keep the cookies away from moisture during thawing. Moisture can make the cookies too soft and sticky. If condensation forms on the cookies during thawing, pat them gently with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
Easy Gingerbread Cookies ~ make-bake-and freeze traditional gingerbread cut out cookies early in the season!
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Gingerbread cookies are extremely sturdy and have a famously long shelf life, which makes them a classic freezable cookie. They’ll come out of the freezer looking exactly as they did going in.
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies ~ these freezable cookies are beloved all year long!
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Texture and Moisture: Oatmeal cookies tend to have a soft and chewy texture, partly because of the oats, which retain moisture well. This moisture content helps the cookies stay soft even after freezing and thawing, preventing them from becoming overly dry or crumbly.
Homemade Thin Mints were made for freezing, you don’t even have to defrost them before enjoying!
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The refreshing peppermint flavor in Thin Mints can be even more appealing when the cookies are frozen!
Maple Glazed Oatmeal Cookies ~ the icing looks like new fallen snow on these gorgeous cookies!
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These iced cookies will do fine in the freezer, just make sure the icing is completely hardened before you freeze. And separate the cookies with sheets of waxed paper to prevent sticking.
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti ~ these cookies will keep their famous crunch after months in the freezer!
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Sturdy biscotti can be frozen in heavy duty zip lock freezer bags that can be flat stacked in your freezer to save space. Remember to push out any excess air before zipping closed.
Italian Christmas Cookies are a time honored tradition for so many of us!
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Frosted cookies should be frozen solid in a single layer first and then carefully stacked in a freezer container with waxed paper between the layers.
Walnut Cardamom Crescents ~ for so many of us the holidays aren’t complete without these nutty little cookies.
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If you like you can give your thawed crescent cookies a final dusting of powdered sugar to freshen them up.
These Easy Gingerbread Cookies can be frosted with their royal icing after they defrost.
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It’s ok to freeze glazed cookies, especially plain glazes like this, but follow best practices: pack the cookies in a sturdy container so they won’t jostle around, and lay sheets of waxed paper between layers to protect the surfaces. If there’s extra room in your container add some scrunched paper towel to fill in and support the cookies. These are best used within a month or so for best quality. To defrost, remove them from their container and arrange on paper towels to thaw on the counter.
Scottish Shortbread is rich and buttery and holds up in the freezer well.
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To thaw delicate shortbread cookies, remove them from the freezer and let them come to room temperature on a parchment-lined tray. Thawing them slowly at room temperature helps maintain their texture.
Pistachio Shortbread Cookies ~ these nutty, buttery cookies will bring something new to your traditional cookie assortment.
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Over time, even when properly stored, frozen cookies might develop freezer burn or lose some of their freshness. Plan to use them within 2-3 months.
Dutch Speculaas Cookies are spectacular, the dough is specifically formulated to hold intricate shapes even after baking.
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If the cookies have lost their crispness after thawing, you can refresh them by reheating them in the oven at a low temperature (around 300°F or 150°C) for a few minutes
Swedish Pepparkakor are stunning and freezable!
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Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources as you thaw iced cookies like these, as sudden temperature changes can cause condensation and affect the icing.
Coconut Snowballs are a must in every cookie collection.
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If the powdered sugar coating has become slightly damp due to condensation during thawing, you can re-roll the cookies in powdered sugar to refresh their appearance before serving. Wait until the cookies have reached room temperature before rolling them in powdered sugar to avoid clumping.
Cut Out Sugar Cookies can be frozen before or after decorating.
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If you’re unsure about how your sprinkles will hold up in the freezer, it’s a good idea to test freeze a few cookies first. This way, you can see how the sprinkles react to freezing and thawing before freezing a large batch.
Cardamom Sugar Cookies made with a cookie stamp are simple and gorgeous!
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An additional sprinkle of sugar after thawing these sugar cookies will give them a fresh sparkle!
Nutella Sandwich Cookies will keep their soft plush texture beautifully in the freezer.
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Sandwich cookies are generally good candidates for freezing, especially when filled with Nutella or a chocolatey ganache.
Chocolate Dipped Orange Shortbread are festive and citrussy.
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Consider freezing these dipped cookies before dipping. Give them a dunk in melted chocolate after thawing.
Honey Spice Hazelnut Cookies ~ because every cookie assortment needs a simple spice cookie!
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Make sure glazed cookies are fully cooled and the glaze has had a chance to harden before freezing.
Chewy Ginger Cookies are a staple of the holidays ~ freeze lots!
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Sturdy cookies like these don’t have to be pre-frozen, just stack them tightly into a freezer safe container and pop in the freezer.
Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies keep their plush texture after months in the freezer, score!
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Allow the soft batch cookies to cool completely to room temperature before freezing. Warm cookies can create condensation in the packaging, leading to sogginess.
Wow, Sue! What a great collection! I figure I’ve been here about 7.5 hours now, because of COURSE I fell down the rabbit hole, checking out other linked recipes.
So many recipes, so little time. ?
Thanks again, & regards, from a 31°F Alberta, Canada morning.
This is so timely and fantastic information as well as recipes! I want to make them all! I’m coordinating the Cookie Bazaar and many of the bakers need this information and ideas for baking! Thank you so much! Every recipe I’ve made from your site is fantastic!
What is the best way to freeze baked cookies?
Depending on how delicate the cookies are, freeze them stacked in a freezer safe container that is airtight.
I wanted to say thank you! This is the third year I am referencing this page for the holidays and everything I made was super delicious! Not to mention the ease of just pulling it out of the freezer and baking it. I’m about to go shopping for several batches I plan to make tomorrow, when I actually have time to do it.
I’m so happy to hear that Jelena, happy baking!!
There’s a picture of a biscotti -looking cookie, but when I click on it nothing happens.
Hey Kimi ~ just click on the name of the cookie, that’s the link.
Mahalo! It wasn’t working on my phone. It’s working on my Mac! Thanks for the list. I know what I’m going to make for the cookie swap this year! 🙂 Happy Holidays!