Question about Christmas Baking? How long is a cookie fresh?

[Sheree Bobbins]

Can I start now baking my snickerdoodles? How long is a cookie good for?

 

[ilovejack02]

You can freeze cookies.

Here is a link to a discussion on it. Lots of tips.

http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/general-parenting/613159-best-way-freeze-cookies-x-post.html

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Thanks. Now I have to find room in my freezer.

 

[princess momma]

I mix a few batches of cookie dough, then freeze it. Closer to Christmas I have a baking day.

I'm editing to add that I think cookies are best fresh. My MIL hosts a cookie exchange in November and stores the cookies in her pantry until Christmas. Those cookies are nasty. They're dry and crumbly and stale tasting. Not worth the calories.

 

[DISNEY1975]

According to my 15 yo son, a cookie is always fresh!!!

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

You can't beat a fresh cookie so I want to avoid freezing them.

 

[minniecarousel]

I agree that making up the dough early and freezing it doesn't diminish the flavor. Bake them within a week (or two) of Christmas and you should be fine.

 

[MizTink]

so if you bake, then freeze, they lose some quality.
but if you freeze the uncooked dough, then bake, they are the same as if never frozen?

 

[princess momma]

so if you bake, then freeze, they lose some quality.
but if you freeze the uncooked dough, then bake, they are the same as if never frozen?

Yep. I've tried freezing the baked cookies but the texture and taste are not as good.

The unbaked dough is fine in the freezer. When you're ready you can have fresh baked cookies.

 

[MizTink]

yippy!!!!!
so any special tips for freezing the dough?

 

[landshark]

Cookies have been frozen after baking in my family for as long as I can remember and, as far as I can tell, freezing them does nothing to the quality so long as they're eaten in a reasonable amount of time.

 

[Imzadi]

so if you bake, then freeze, they lose some quality.
but if you freeze the uncooked dough, then bake, they are the same as if never frozen?

It depends on the cookie and how you store them to freeze & thaw them.

But, I think generally cookie dough freezes better than freezing an actual cookie because of the moisture content.

A cookie after it is baked is generally light and airy after cooking and has lots of air holes. When you freeze and then defrost a cookie, the condensation during defrosting deflates some of the light, airy texture and they can become dense, heavy, flat and flat-tasting. Some get chewy when they aren't supposed to be "chewy" cookies.

Since the cookie dough is moist and stays moist throughout the freezing & defrosting/condensation stage, you don't notice a difference in the taste or texture.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Like others suggested, mix your cookie dough and freeze it in an airtight zipper bag. When you're ready to bake, you will save so much time!

Hint: With some doughs, you can go straight from freezer to oven without having to thaw the dough.

 

[mrsstats]

My sil starts her Christmas baking on 11/11 and then stores the cookies in the garage until Christmas holidays.