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Overhead view of three kinds of frozen cookie dough

How To Freeze Cookie Dough & Bake From Frozen

5 from 2 votes
Author: Emily Dixon, Sweets & Thank You
How To Freeze Cookie Dough & how to bake frozen cookie dough from the freezer. Now you can always have warm cookies on hand!
Prep Time: 1 hour
Print Pin
Servings: 1 batch

Equipment

  • Cookie Scoop
  • Parchment Paper
  • Freezer Safe Bag or Container

Ingredients

  • 1 batch Cookie Dough

Instructions

TO FREEZE COOKIE DOUGH (DROP COOKIES)

  • Make cookie dough as directed in your recipe, including any recommended chill time. (i.e. “chill for 1 hour”)
  • Scoop the cookie dough into balls with your cookie scoop and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Freeze at least 1 hour or so, or until the cookie dough balls are no longer tacky or sticky to the touch.
  • Transfer cookie dough balls to freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer up to 6 weeks.

FOR COOKIES ROLLED IN SUGAR OR TOPPINGS:

  • Follow the instructions above and do NOT roll the cookies in sugar/cinnamon-sugar.
  • Thaw the dough in the refrigerator at least 1 hour before rolling in sugar right before baking. (If the sugar isn’t sticking yet, let the dough thaw longer in the fridge before rolling)

FOR CUT-OUT COOKIE DOUGH:

  • Make your cookie dough as directed, including any chill time.
  • Form the dough into a disc (or two discs, if your batch is large).
  • Wrap each dough disc securely with plastic wrap or beeswax wrap, and tuck the wrapped discs into a freezer-safe bag.
  • Thaw in the refrigerator at least one hour (up to overnight), then thaw on the counter for 30 minutes or so, until the dough is soft enough to roll out and bake as directed in your recipe.

TO BAKE FROZEN COOKIE DOUGH:

  • FROM FROZEN: If baking straight from the freezer, preheat the oven to 20-25 degrees LESS than the called-for temperature.  (i.e. If the recipe calls for the cookies to bake at 350, reduce the temperature to 325-330 degrees). Add an additional 2-3 minutes to the bake time and watch the cookies carefully to know when they’re done.
  • OR, THAW FIRST: Thaw the frozen dough in the refrigerator at least 1 hour, up to overnight. If thawing the dough in the refrigerator first, you can bake as directed in your original recipe.

Notes

To Freeze Baked Cookies:

Just about any cookie that’s not glazed or frosted freezes like a dream! Add cookies in layers separated by parchment or waxed paper to a freezer-safe bag or container. (Add a single layer of cookies, then separate layers with parchment or waxed paper to prevent the cookies from sticking together.)

Video

Course: Baking Tips
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Keyword: how to bake cookie dough from frozen, how to bake frozen cookie dough, How to freeze cookie dough