How to Freeze, Defrost & Bake Cookie Dough
Cookie dough freezes extremely well and is the perfect sweet treat to keep stashed in your freezer to instantly satisfy those sweet tooth cravings. This guide explains How to Freeze Cookie Dough in balls, as cut-outs, and in a whole container.
Why Bother Freezing Cookie Dough?
✔ Make Now, Bake Later: Freezing cookie dough is great if you don’t want to bake the whole batch at once, but you also don’t want the kids to eat all the leftover cookie dough in the fridge.
✔ Last-Minute Dessert Idea: Having frozen cookie dough on hand means you can have homemade cookies ready at a moment’s notice. Perfect for potlucks, dinner parties, and more!
✔ Easy Holiday Prep: If you bake tons of cookies around the holidays, you can get a head start on your to-do list by freezing your favorite cookie doughs weeks or months in advance.
Whenever we make anything, we make extra and stash it in the freezer. Including stashing extra cookie dough in the freezer to use later.
For me, it is so much easier to make an extra large batch of cookie dough and keep them in the freezer for when we need them. Or want them. Need. Want.
It’s all pretty much the same thing when it involves a cookie fix, am I right?
Freezing Supplies You’ll Need
- Cookie Dough: have a batch of your favorite cookie dough ready to go!
- Cookie Scoop: I like to use a cookie scoop to make my cookie dough balls uniform in size, and it makes quick work of scooping and rolling all of the dough.
- Parchment Paper or Wax Paper: great for lining the pan so the cookie dough doesn’t stick.
- Cookie Sheet or Baking Tray: I flash freeze my cookie dough balls on a baking sheet before putting them in the freezer.
- Gallon Sized Ziploc bag or Air-tight Container: whatever you choose to use to store your frozen cookie dough in, make sure it is freezer-safe.
- Permanent Marker or Label Maker: useful for labeling the frozen cookie dough with the contents, recipe directions, and date.
- Rolling Pin and Cookie Cutters: only needed if you plan to make cut out cookies for your freezer.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough (3 Ways!)
Here are detailed instructions on how to freeze cookie dough balls and cut-outs, plus how to freeze an entire batch of cookie dough. The method will differ slightly depending on what types of cookie dough you’re freezing.
Option 1: Freezing Cookie Dough Balls
Any cookie recipes that have you shape the dough into balls is called a “drop cookie” recipe. This includes chocolate chip cookies, snickerdoodles, gingersnaps, peanut or almond butter cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, etc.
- Prep: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (this prevents sticking). I like to use parchment paper to line the pan when freezing the cookies, so do that first. Then, roll the entire batch of cookie dough into balls just like you would if you were baking them. Place them on the parchment-lined sheet pan in a single layer.
- Flash freeze: Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, then stick the pan in the freezer and freeze just until the cookie dough balls have hardened (about 1 hour).
- Transfer to a freezer bag or container: Before filling the bag, label it with the recipe name, date, cooking temperature and time details. Transfer the hardened cookie dough balls to the freezer bag and freeze for later.
- To bake: For best results, thaw the frozen dough balls just until the dough is pliable but not overly soft. This will allow your fresh-baked cookies to be normal shaped instead of domed because they didn’t spread enough.
Option 2: Freezing Cookie Dough Cut-Outs
You can do all the hard work of preparing the recipe, rolling the dough, and cutting the cookies out. Then, all that you have to do later is bake and enjoy!
Popular cut-out cookies you can freeze include certain types of sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, shortbread cookies, linzer cookies, and more.
- Roll out and cut: Follow the same instructions as above, but instead of rolling the cookie dough, pre-cut your batch of cookies.
- Flash freeze before freezing: After you flash freeze the cookie dough on the parchment lined baking sheet, store the cookies in the same way as cookie dough balls.
- To bake: The best way to bake cut out cookie dough cookies is if they’re slightly cold still. It’s typical in a cut out cookie recipe to chill the rolled dough and cut out shapes prior to baking them anyway. Baking from the chilled state, you’ll have nice edges because the cookies won’t spread, which in this case is a actually a bonus.
Option 3: Freezing a container of cookie dough
If you don’t want to go to the trouble of rolling the cookie dough balls or cutting out the cookie with cookie cutters before freeze, you can still freeze the cookie dough in bulk by shaping it into thin rectangle or disc.
- Seal: Transfer the prepared cookie dough to a gallon sized zip-top freezer bag.
- Flatten: Press the cookie dough flat so it fills out the gallon bag and is in a thin rectangular shape, rather than a big hunk of cookie dough.
- Freeze: No need to flash freeze cookie dough when using this method!
- To bake: Since you didn’t roll the cookie dough into balls, you’ll need to thaw it overnight in the fridge before shaping and baking as instructed in the recipe.
Katie’s Tip: Freezing the cookie dough in bulk takes longer to thaw, but if you flatten it to the shape of the bag it will thaw much faster. Why? Because the cookie dough is thinner and more surface area is exposed.
Tips for Freezing Cookie Dough
- To prevent frozen cookie dough balls from sticking: When filling the baking tray with the cookie dough balls, you want to leave just enough space between the cookie dough balls that they don’t get stuck together.
- When placing the baking tray into the freeze make sure to keep it on a flat surface so the balls don’t move around and get stuck together.
- To prevent freezer burn if you don’t have a vacuum sealer: when pressing the extra air out of the plastic bag, I like to zip the bag almost all the way and then stick a straw in the bag to suck out the excess air before I finish zipping it. Sounds strange, but I promise it works!
How Long Does Frozen Cookie Dough Last?
According to Bob’s Red Mill, frozen homemade cookie dough will last 6 to 12 months in the freezer. My family goes through frozen cookie dough much faster than that though, so I’ve never had to throw it out!
Can You Bake Cookie Dough Without Defrosting it First?
The answer is: Yes, sort of. Whether or not you can bake frozen cookie dough depends on the type of cookies.
Baking Frozen Cookie Dough balls
Drop cookies will be frozen in round balls and won’t achieve the necessary spread if you try baking frozen cookie dough. Here’s why:
- If you don’t thaw the cookies from their frozen state before baking, the baking time will be much longer since the cookie dough is so cold.
- With a longer baking time, the edges of the cookies could get dried out, over cooked, burnt, or just crunchy before the middle has a chance to finish baking.
- In addition that, the cookies won’t spread in their typical way and you can end up with unevenly baked cookies or odd shaped cookies.
Baking Frozen Cookie Dough Cut-Outs
When baking frozen cut out cookies, you won’t have the same concerns that you have with drop cookies.
They’re much thinner with a larger surface area than drop cookies, so they thaw much quicker when baked!
★★★★★
Shirley says –
“I love this idea! I can’t believe I never thought of freezing cookie dough that way. I did it today, only it used mini muffin baking pans to freeze the balls in. That way I don’t have to worry if the tray doesn’t sit completely straight. Thank you for this great idea!”
Great Freezer Cookie Dough Recipes to Try
I have a number of cookie recipes on my site, most of which have doughs that freeze very well! From chocolate chip cookies to sugar cookies, here are my favorite cookie doughs for freezing.
Stay Inspired in the Kitchen!
Want more delicious recipes, kitchen tips, and meal inspiration? Sign up for the Good Life Eats Newsletter and get:
✔ Tried-and-true recipes—from quick weeknight meals to special occasion favorites.
✔ Seasonal meal ideas—helping you make the most of fresh, in-season ingredients.
✔ Time-saving kitchen tips—boosting your confidence and creativity in the kitchen.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough
Cookie dough freezes extremely well and is the perfect sweet treat to keep stashed in your freezer to instantly satisfy those sweet tooth cravings!
Ingredients
- Raw Cookie Dough
Instructions
How to Freeze Cookie Dough Balls
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (this prevents sticking). I like to use parchment paper to line the pan when freezing the cookies, so do that first.
- Then, roll the entire batch of cookie dough into balls just like you would if you were baking them. Place them on the parchment-lined sheet pan in a single layer.
- Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, then stick the pan in the freezer and freeze just until the cookie dough balls have hardened (about 1 hour).
- Before filling the bag, label it with the recipe name, date, cooking temperature and time details.
- Transfer the hardened cookie dough balls to the freezer bag and freeze for later.
- To bake: For best results, thaw the frozen dough balls just until the dough is pliable but not overly soft. This will allow your fresh-baked cookies to be normal shaped instead of domed because they didn’t spread enough.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough Cut Outs
- Follow the same instructions as above, but instead of rolling the cookie dough, pre-cut your batch of cookies.
- After you flash freeze the cookie dough on the parchment lined baking sheet, store the cookies in the same way as cookie dough balls.
- To bake: The best way to bake cut out cookie dough cookies is if they’re slightly cold still. It’s typical in a cut out cookie recipe to chill the rolled dough and cut out shapes prior to baking them anyway. Baking from the chilled state, you’ll have nice edges because the cookies won’t spread, which in this case is a actually a bonus.
How to Freeze a Container of Cookie Dough
- Transfer the prepared cookie dough to a gallon sized zip-top freezer bag.
- Press the cookie dough flat so it fills out the gallon bag and is in a thin rectangular shape, rather than a big hunk of cookie dough.
- Transfer to the freezer. (No need to flash freeze cookie dough when using this method!)
- To bake: Since you didn’t roll the cookie dough into balls, you’ll need to thaw it overnight in the fridge before shaping and baking as instructed in the recipe.
Notes
Baking Frozen Drop Cookies: For best results your frozen dough balls should thaw until the dough is pliable but not overly soft. This will allow your fresh-baked cookies to be normal shaped instead of domed because they didn’t spread enough. (Note: You should follow these guidelines unless the original recipe directs you to bake them from frozen or refrigerator cold.)
Baking Frozen Cut Out Cookies: The best way to bake cut out cookie dough cookies is if they’re slightly cold still. It’s typical in a cut out cookie recipe to chill the rolled dough and cut out shapes prior to baking them anyway.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 148Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 93mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 2g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Branka says
This recipe looks amazing, I can’t wait to try it!
Julie says
Thanx for the info. My best friend are going to have a marathon holiday baking day and I wanted to do a bunch o’ batches ahead of time to reduce the mess and have more time to gab. Part bakery/ part hen house.
Julie Diehl
gina b says
Instead of rolling the cookie dough,I bought a cookie scoop,they come in a couple of different sizes for small or medium size cookies,works great,I love mine
deborah says
This is a great tip i never knew this !
Rhonda H. says
I too have been doing this very same thing for many, many years. I’ve seen recipes where you mold the dough into a roll, and then slice & bake. But I prefer to freeze the individual cookies as you described.
Catherine says
This inspires me to bake cookies in the summer. Make a big batch and freeze most of it. Then you only need to turn on the toaster oven in the heat.
Thanks
carol says
I’ve been doing this for years. I make up about 6 different kinds and give them to my parents for their Christmas present. They love them, the box I put them in has come back to me every Oct. so I can refill it for Christmas. They always have cookies if its just 2 baked for supper or a dozen for whatever.
Amanda says
how long will the cookies last in the freezer? I want to give my single uncle cookie dough for xmas because he has a sweet tooth but wont make home baked goods for himself and If a pre bake them he will eat them all in one sitting! This would be a good way for him to have treats without over doing it.
Katie says
Probably 3 months….but cookie dough never lasts that long in our house!
Louise says
How long does frozen cookie dough last in the freezer? I have some that are 10 months old. Is it still good?
Katie Goodman says
Wow, that’s amazing! We never have cookie dough last that long because we always eat it up before then. Haha! It should still be good, but I would use it as soon as possible.
Ced says
I’m continually searching on line for tips that can assist me. Thanks a lot!
cindy says
I do this with cookies, but vacuum seal them. It’s great when the inlaws come over to give them fresh baked cookies.
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says
Great! I always freeze my cookie dough since it keeps me from eating an entire batch of cookies in one sitting. 🙂
Tracy says
Love this idea – freshly baked cookies at any time; I’m all over that!
Seanna Lea says
I do this occasionally, but I never thought about using a straw to get out some of the extra air!
Natasha @ Saved by the Egg Timer says
I feel the exact same way- we read all these recipe and want to try everything (Like your almond butter cookies and almond oatmeal chunk)! What a great idea on the cookie dough. That way you can have new treats, and save some for later. Plus when you need a quick something to bring over to someone or want to give a thank you plate of cookies. You cna just have some ready! This comes to mind for Christmas cookie trays too. Start preparing then all you have to do is bake them up. Allrighty- 2 minutes longer, got it!
Michelle Judd says
I do the same thing with my cookie dough! Especially since I’m really only baking for myself most of them time. 🙂
Chocolate Chip Cookies For One
Kimberly says
This is awesome! Thank you so much for this great tip.