brandy327
Drama Llama
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Post by brandy327 on Nov 20, 2015 0:10:41 GMT
I posted a few days ago about what everyone's favorite Christmas cookies are. Now I'm looking for info for those of you that have frozen cookies that have already been baked. I often make the cookie dough, scoop it out and then freeze in ziplocks and just pull out a few at a time. I know people have baked and THEN frozen cookies before. How are the cookies when they come out of the freezer? Are they frosty? Wet? How do they taste? Are they still "fresh" tasting? I'm trying to figure out how to get all my Christmas cookies baked/decorated in 3 days and I'll make as much of the dough as I can before hand and just freeze. Then on baking day, I'm just pulling stuff from the freezer and plopping it on cookie sheets. There are obviously a few cookies/treats that will have to be made that day. But cookies like soft gingerbread cookies - can those be baked and frozen? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated!!  |
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Post by padresfan619 on Nov 20, 2015 0:17:16 GMT
I always freeze my fully baked Christmas cookies. They never come out of the freezer wet or weird tasting. They just taste like normal cookies. I don't keep them in the freezer for longer than two weeks so they don't take on any odd freezer flavors.
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Post by knit.pea on Nov 20, 2015 0:22:00 GMT
I use waxed paper between layers of cookies, in Tupperware. I have frozen both frosted and unfrosted cookies. Great timesaver |
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Nov 20, 2015 0:23:31 GMT
LOL, my first thought was that baked cookies would never last in my house. They'd just slowly start disappearing from the freezer, and when I went back for them, there'd be nothing but an empty Ziploc bag.
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Post by Karene on Nov 20, 2015 0:24:31 GMT
I freeze baked cookies. I even like to eat them straight out of the freezer. They don't really need to thaw. I just pile them into a tupperware container and take a few out at a time.
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akathy
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Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Nov 20, 2015 0:28:46 GMT
I freeze fully baked cookies ALL the time. I put them in Ziplock freezer bags with waxed paper between layers and as much air squished out as possible. I've never had an issue with them being weird after thawing.
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akathy
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Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Nov 20, 2015 0:32:20 GMT
Oh and I never mix the kind of cookies in each bag because they do tend to take on each other's flavored when stored together. I even wrap them separately on cookie platters so they keep their own flavored and crispness/chewiness.
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scrapngranny
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Post by scrapngranny on Nov 20, 2015 0:33:11 GMT
I always get a jump start on my Christmas baking by freezing already baked cookies. I freeze the cookies first on a cookie sheet then place the frozen cookies in a zip lock bag. There only a couple of cookies I prefer not to freeze so I do those the day or so before I deliver my cookie trays.
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Post by duchess on Nov 20, 2015 0:43:25 GMT
I have always frozen baked cookies too but it seems this year when I take them out (I put in ziploc bags) they are seeming to break. And not just one type of cookies but I just baked 3 different kinds and all of them had so many broken cookies it wasn't worth it to cook early. I can't think of anything I'm doing differently than previous years. Any suggestions?
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jayfab
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Post by jayfab on Nov 20, 2015 0:46:23 GMT
Oh and I never mix the kind of cookies in each bag because they do tend to take on each other's flavored when stored together. I even wrap them separately on cookie platters so they keep their own flavored and crispness/chewiness. Yes, this is what I do too. It's important to keep them separated or they pick up flavors from others. I have had great success freezing my Christmas cookies this way. |
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Post by maryland on Nov 20, 2015 0:49:04 GMT
I use freezer bags for the cookies. I don't freeze them for more than a week (because I bake them close to when we need them) and they are fine! Cookies don't last in our house, and even if I freeze them, the kids sneak in the freezer and eat them.
We don't make Christmas cookies for any occasion, we just have fun making and eating them this time of year (because everyone talks about them). We like to make them while watching a Christmas movie!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Nov 20, 2015 0:56:56 GMT
As I said on another thread, my aunt baked over 100 dozen cookies for her granddaughter's wedding reception. Obviously she had to freeze them and they took up her entire freezer! They were yummy!
I would think you could use a FoodSaver, right?
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Nov 20, 2015 0:58:13 GMT
If you make anything with MINT in it, be sure to freeze it separately from everything else, unless you want ALL your cookies to be minty. (That's the only flavor that, in my experience, transfers in the freezer.)
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
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Posts: 4,546
Location: North Dakota
Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Nov 20, 2015 1:04:03 GMT
I have always frozen baked cookies too but it seems this year when I take them out (I put in ziploc bags) they are seeming to break. And not just one type of cookies but I just baked 3 different kinds and all of them had so many broken cookies it wasn't worth it to cook early. I can't think of anything I'm doing differently than previous years. Any suggestions? Are you baking them too long or too short? Are you making different shapes? Is your freezer temperature the same? Are you sure the freezer door isn't opened too often? |
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Post by jenjie on Nov 20, 2015 1:10:24 GMT
Thank you OP and everyone who responded. I've always wanted to know this.
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scrappinghappy
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Post by scrappinghappy on Nov 20, 2015 1:41:29 GMT
LOL, my first thought was that baked cookies would never last in my house. They'd just slowly start disappearing from the freezer, and when I went back for them, there'd be nothing but an empty Ziploc bag. This is EXACTLY what happens in my house. We have house guests, too, who seem to be the culprits: It-Wasn't-Me and I-don't-Know-Who-Would-Do-That move in the same time as cookie baking starts. |
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brandy327
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Post by brandy327 on Nov 20, 2015 2:01:13 GMT
LOL, my first thought was that baked cookies would never last in my house. They'd just slowly start disappearing from the freezer, and when I went back for them, there'd be nothing but an empty Ziploc bag. I'd break fingers if my frozen cookies disappeared!!  Just kiddin'! Everyone knows that if I put cookies in the freezer near Christmas time, they're purposed for someone OTHER than them. LOL So they won't touch them. Thank you all so much!! I'm going to give it a try this year!!  |
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milocat
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Post by milocat on Nov 20, 2015 2:49:06 GMT
My mom freezes all her cookies all the time. She puts wax paper inbetween layers. She just goes and takes a variety out and puts them in a Tupperware in the cupboard to snack on. She's even taken out frozen ones and zapped them in the microwave, not quite as good but the kids don't complain. She freezes chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, ginger snaps and stuff like that.
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Post by duchess on Nov 20, 2015 16:58:58 GMT
I have always frozen baked cookies too but it seems this year when I take them out (I put in ziploc bags) they are seeming to break. And not just one type of cookies but I just baked 3 different kinds and all of them had so many broken cookies it wasn't worth it to cook early. I can't think of anything I'm doing differently than previous years. Any suggestions? Are you baking them too long or too short? Are you making different shapes? Is your freezer temperature the same? Are you sure the freezer door isn't opened too often? I have always frozen baked cookies too but it seems this year when I take them out (I put in ziploc bags) they are seeming to break. And not just one type of cookies but I just baked 3 different kinds and all of them had so many broken cookies it wasn't worth it to cook early. I can't think of anything I'm doing differently than previous years. Any suggestions? Are you baking them too long or too short? Are you making different shapes? Is your freezer temperature the same? Are you sure the freezer door isn't opened too often? I have no idea about the freezer temperatures but it's an older fridge so it may be going bad. (Although our ice is still okay.) Maybe I'll undercook them a little bit next round to see if that helps. Thanks for the tips - things I need to check. Thanks akathy. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 20, 2015 17:09:00 GMT
LOL, my first thought was that baked cookies would never last in my house. They'd just slowly start disappearing from the freezer, and when I went back for them, there'd be nothing but an empty Ziploc bag. This is EXACTLY what happens in my house. We have house guests, too, who seem to be the culprits: It-Wasn't-Me and I-don't-Know-Who-Would-Do-That move in the same time as cookie baking starts. Don't just put them in zip bags. Wrap the cookies up in several layers of plastic wrap. Stick them in the back of the freezer with the vegetables in front of them. That way, it's harder to furtively steal just one. It's a lot of work to unwrap all of the packaging to get to the cookie and then wrap it all back up again. |
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 20, 2015 17:26:12 GMT
I use waxed paper between layers of cookies, in Tupperware. I have frozen both frosted and unfrosted cookies. Great timesaver This is what I do, too. They come out just fine.
My mom starts baking at Thanksgiving and freezes them for Christmas.
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calgal08
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Post by calgal08 on Nov 20, 2015 17:29:59 GMT
I bake all the time, at least once a week and everything I bake goes in the freezer. Once cooled, cookie go into Ziploc bags in in the freezer. Breads (banana, pumpkin, things like that) I slice, part-freeze on a cookie sheet, then put in Ziplocs. As long as you squeeze all the air out of the bags they'll be fine.
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Nov 20, 2015 17:38:56 GMT
I freeze my shortbread and gingerbread in seperate containers and they seem fine after a couple of weeks, I usually make cookies for parties a couple weeks in advance so i have the days before a party to work on other lady minute stuff. I take them out 30 min before guests arrive and they've always been just like cookies I've baked the day before. Also when decorating for Christmas I've baked and decorated and frozen them in cellophane bags and they are perfect at Christmas.
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peaname
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Post by peaname on Nov 20, 2015 18:07:36 GMT
I freeze baked chocolate chip cookies and my husband eats them straight out of the freezer. He's grown to prefer them that way.
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Post by magentapea on Nov 21, 2015 12:22:36 GMT
Are there any types of cookies that don't freeze well? I want to get a jump on my Christmas baking and don't know if there are any types that I should hold off on making. I'm thinking of making some thumbprint or caramel-ish cookies.
Thanks.
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Trixie Bender
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Post by Trixie Bender on Nov 21, 2015 23:06:48 GMT
Are there any types of cookies that don't freeze well? I want to get a jump on my Christmas baking and don't know if there are any types that I should hold off on making. I'm thinking of making some thumbprint or caramel-ish cookies. Thanks. I have found only a few types of cookies that don't freeze well, but off the top of my head I can't remember which ones. If I think of them, I'll come back and edit my post. I don't know about the carmel-ish ones, but I have frozen thumbprints for years. I freeze them, without the filling, in wax paper lined tins. |
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Refupea #39
Just kiddin'! Everyone knows that if I put cookies in the freezer near Christmas time, they're purposed for someone OTHER than them. LOL So they won't touch them. 
