Cookies and bar cookies are among the favorite simple desserts in U.S. kitchens from coast to coast. So much so, in fact, that the average American eats 300 cookies per year! If you'd like a steady supply of homemade cookies but don't have time to bake several times a week, it's time to consider, "How long do cookies last?" so you can maximize their shelf life. With that in mind, we've rounded up our best tips and tricks on how to store cookies. In dough form or baked, bar cookies or drop cookies (you know, the ones you scoop onto cookie sheets), we're covering all you need to know about cookie storage.
How to Store Unbaked Cookie Dough
If you want to get a head start on cooking making, but still want fresh-from-the-oven cookies in a few days, store the dough. Then, when you're ready to serve, remove the dough from storage and bake.
Refrigerate Cookie Dough: How long do cookies last in the fridge? Unbaked, you've got about 7 days. Mix cookie dough (except bar cookie batters and meringues) and refrigerate up to 1 week. To store cookie dough, pack dough into airtight containers or shape your slice-and-bake dough into logs and wrap. Store in a tightly-covered container.
Freeze Cookie Dough: Most butter- and shortening-based cookie doughs can be frozen for months at a time. Place dough in a tightly-sealed container and freeze using these directions for up to 6 months. Thaw dough in the refrigerator; shape and bake as directed.
How to Store Baked Cookies at Room Temperature
Curious how long cookies last at room temperature? Most homemade cookies will maintain their taste and texture for up to 3 days. If you leave them out for too long, the cookies begin to harden or dry out. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container.
How to store cookies in a pan: To keep bar cookies in the baking pan, cover the pan with foil or plastic wrap.
How to store cookies separately: Store each type of cookie separately in a tightly-covered cookie storage container. Layer delicate unfrosted cookies and cookies with firmly set icing or frosting between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container. If you mix soft and crisp cookies, the soft cookies will dry out and the crisp cookies will become soft. They may also begin to absorb the flavor of other cookies if combined, so aim to keep each style of cookie recipe in different cookie storage containers.
How to Store Homemade Cookies and Candy to Stay Fresh
How to Store Cookies in the Freezer
As we mentioned, most cookie recipes last up to 3 months in freezer bags or containers when you store cookies unfrosted. Get all the freezing information here.
How (and When) to Store Cookies in Multiple Layers or Single Layers
Sturdy cookies and baked goods, such as drop cookies, unfrosted bar cookies, and cookies with firm-set icing can generally be stacked in layers in airtight containers without losing their shape or freshness. So if you're wondering how to store sugar cookies or how to store chocolate chip cookies—two of our holiday season and bake sale MVPs—this efficient way to store cookies is your answer. Layer between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag ($16, Target). Layer delicate cookies, such as spritz or gingerbread men, between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container. So how long do cookies last like this? The cookies will stay fresh at room temperature or in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze the cookies up to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy or share them as a food gift, let the cookies sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, then decorate!
The 8 Best Glass Food Storage Containers of 2024, According to Our Tests
Softer cookies and baked goods, including brownies, cheesecake bars, and any sweets with sticky toppings, are best stored in a single layer in an airtight container. This keeps the treats from losing their shape or smushing together in storage. (Although a mash-up recipe of brownie and cheesecake sounds pretty great to us!) The same timing applies here: Store cookies in a single layer in the refrigerator up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Now that you're an expert on how to store cookies, the answer to "How long do cookies last?" is more a matter of "How long can you resist them?" rather than "When will they taste less-than-fresh-baked?" Stock that freezer every three months or so and a never-ending supply of homemade cookies can always be yours.
Room temperature: Use airtight containers, cookie jars, or plastic bags to prevent air exposure and moisture loss. Keep cookies in a cool, dry area. Refrigerated: Use airtight containers or sealed plastic bags to store cookies in the fridge. Monitor the moisture level to avoid condensation.
Make sure cookies cool completely before storing. Store them at room temperature in an air-tight container, like Tupperware. Store different flavors separately. Over time, strongly flavored cookies like molasses or mint will seep into other cookies, so if possible store each flavor in its own container.
Your stored cookies will stay freshest in a cool, dry place, such as the back shelf of your pantry. Depending on the variety, they'll last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. You can also freeze cookies for up to six months.
To extend the shelf life of products, many bakers use specially formulated enzymes for preservation. These naturally occurring protein compounds can keep baked goods soft while preventing crumbling and staling.
Layer delicate cookies, such as spritz or gingerbread men, between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container. So how long do cookies last like this? The cookies will stay fresh at room temperature or in the refrigerator up to 3 days, or freeze the cookies up to 3 months.
For bread, keep it cool and dry in a breathable bag or quality bread box. For cakes, cookies and muffins put them in an airtight container. For those delicate pastries, wrapping them individually in plastic wrap, or place them in airtight containers.
Here's a baker's trick you'll find in our new Monster Cookies recipe: Adding a piece of fresh white bread to the storage container will keep cookies from becoming hard or stale.
For puffy and tender treats like snickerdoodles, soft chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, or sugar cookies, a little moisture will help them retain their soft texture. If you are planning to eat the cookies within a few days, place them in an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag.
Putting a slice of fresh white bread in the container with the cookies will help the cookies stay soft: fresh bread is moist, and that slice will give up its moisture for the greater good: keeping the cookies from drying out. We recommend white bread so that no flavor is transferred to the cookies.
Containers that are airtight are perfect for storing cookies because they keep moisture away. Containers like ceramic cookie jars may look beautiful, but they are often not airtight and can make your cookies go stale in a hurry.
Don't Overbake! This isn't a revolutionary tip and is probably quite obvious, but if you leave your cookies in the oven for even a few minutes longer than necessary, the mix will dry too quickly and lead to more rigid, dry cookies.
Line the bottom of a durable, rigid box or cookie tin with cushioning material (like some crumpled parchment), then place larger and heavier cookies on the bottom, and smaller cookies on top. You can also add a layer of parchment paper or wax paper between each cookie for additional protection.
Cardboard boxes, especially when lined with an inner bag, can provide sufficient protection, but their effectiveness largely depends on the chosen lining. Glass jars, although elegant and reusable, need to be carefully sealed to maintain freshness.
Cookies like shortbread and spritz are great candidates if you want cookies that'll last a while. In the freezer: You can keep shortbread and spritz in the freezer for up to six months.
As for the cookies—made for cookie swaps, church potlucks, household snacking, and Santa's plate—there is one little cheat: make now, freeze for later. You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December.
Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days.
If you seal the container when the cookies are still warm, steam will get trapped inside the container, which might soften the cookies too much. I prefer using a ziplock bag instead of a food storage container because I can press as much air out of the bag as possible, which also helps prevent stale cookies.
Light corn syrup is sometimes used in specialist cakes and confectioneries to help keep baked products soft and doughy for longer. Use just a tablespoon for a regular batch of tasty cookies.
Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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