Storing and Gifting Cookies

Making cookies ahead is a great way to keep your holidays stress free. Knowing how to store them correctly will mean you can have irresistible sweets whenever you want them. Pull some out for a holiday party, a hostess gift or when you’re wrapping presents and need a little treat.

Storing Cookies

Store only one type of cookie in each container to keep the texture and flavor intact. Otherwise, they can transfer moisture (making crisp cookies soft) as well as flavors to one another.

To freeze cookies, place them in resealable freezer bags or airtight containers. Unfrosted cookies can be frozen up to 12 months and frosted cookies up to 3 months. Thaw most cookies in their container at room temperature 1 to 2 hours. Crisp cookies should be removed from the container to thaw.

Crisp Cookies: Store at room temperature in loosely covered containers.

Chewy/Soft Cookies: Store at room temperature in resealable food-storage plastic bags or tightly covered containers.

Frosted or Decorated Cookies: Let frosting set or harden before storing. Place cookies between layers of cooking parchment or waxed paper, plastic wrap or foil.

Bars: Typically, bars are stored tightly covered, but follow specific recipe directions as some may need to be stored loosely covered or may need refrigeration.

Gifting Cookies

Homemade cookies are such a thoughtful gift, guaranteed to bring a smile—and will never be returned! Package them in a fun way with the endless wrapping options available from cake supply, kitchen or craft stores or online. Here are a few of our favorites you might want to try:

Individual Cookies

• • Slip a cookie into a waxed paper “sleeve” or wax-lined bag, and seal with a sticker. The waxiness will prevent the fat in the cookie from leaving marks on the bag.
• • Wrap a cookie in decorative waxed paper to resemble an envelope. Or use thin cardboard to create an envelope (wrap the cookie in waxed paper first). Seal the bag with raffia and add a gift tag.

Multiple Cookies

• • Place several small cutout cookies in a sturdy paper cupcake liner. Wrap with cellophane, and tie a cookie cutter with a ribbon around the cellophane to close.
• • Stack cookies in a mason jar, placing decorative waxed paper between them. Add a gift tag, and write the type of cookie on the tag.
• • To give an assortment of cookies, bars or fudge, arrange holiday paper cupcake liners in a box or bowl, or on a tray or plate. Stack several flat cookies of the same type (or one bar or one piece of fudge) in each of the liners, alternating types.