This Is How Long Your Christmas Cookies Will Stay Fresh
Updated: Apr. 08, 2024
So many cookies to make, so little time! This guide will help you bake and store every batch in the best possible way.
If you’re an ambitious gift-giver and a proud home baker, you probably plan to do a lot of cookie-baking for Christmas. It’s helpful to know how to store the most popular cookies as well as how long each will keep. This guide will cover it all!
And don’t forget to check out our complete Christmas Cookies Baking Guide!
How Long Do Cookies Last?
In general, baked cookies will be fine at room temperature for about five days, but only if stored correctly. For most kinds of cookies, there are essentially two ways to store them: in an airtight container at room temperature or in the freezer.
However, different types of cookies do require special storage or need to be eaten faster. Here are the details on each kind of cookie.
Drop Cookies
Drop cookies are a great go-to cookie style. Chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies and cowboy cookies are all examples of this type of cookie.
Because these cookies are fairly sturdy, they can be stacked without fear of crushing or ruining any sort of decoration. Keep these cookies in an airtight container. If they get a little too crunchy for your liking, here’s how you can soften them up.
- At room temperature:Â At room temperature, drop cookies should last about a week. Just keep them sealed up.
- In the freezer:Â Baked drop cookies will be good in the freezer for six months.
- Cookie dough:Â You can store drop cookie dough in the freezer for up to six months. To make things easy, pre-portion the dough with a cookie scoop, freeze and pop in an airtight container for long-term storage in the freezer.
Cutout Cookies
Cutouts—be they sugar cookies or gingerbread—are musts around the holidays. They don’t last forever but are good candidates for freezing.
- At room temperature:Â Try to eat cutout cookies within a week of baking
- In the freezer:Â Baked cutouts can be stored in the freezer for six months. Be sure to freeze them undecorated. Frosting and glazes don’t hold up well in the freezer.
- Cookie dough:Â You can stash the cookie in your refrigerator for two to three days (cutout dough often needs to be chilled anyway). Cutout cookie dough can be kept in the freezer for up to six months.
Icebox Cookies
Like drop cookies, icebox and slice-and-bake cookies are pretty sturdy. Baked cookies can be kept stacked in an airtight container or popped in a zip-top bag.
- At room temperature:Â Eat baked icebox or slice-and-bake cookies within five days so they taste their best.
- In the freezer:Â Baked icebox cookies can be frozen. Just eat them within six months.
- Cookie dough:Â This kind of cookie is designed to be made in advance and stashed in the fridge or freezer. Keep logs of icebox cookie dough in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for six months. Be sure to wrap the logs tight and place them in an airtight bag before popping them in the chill chest.
Shortbread and Spritz Cookies
Cookies like shortbread and spritz are great candidates if you want cookies that’ll last a while.
- At room temperature:Â Eat these types of cookies within two weeks
- In the freezer:Â You can keep shortbread and spritz in the freezer for up to six months.
- Cookie dough:Â You can make these types of cookie dough in advance. Cookie dough for either recipe can be made up to three days ahead of time (chilling is actually recommended for shortbread). You can also pop disks of dough into the freezer for about three months.
Twice-Baked Cookies
Twice-baked cookies like biscotti and mandelbrot have a longer shelf life than most other homemade cookies. These are the perfect cookies to start your holiday baking with—they won’t be stale by the time you finish the rest of your cookies for your cookie trays.
- At room temperature:Â Keep them sealed up in an airtight container. They’ll be good for two weeks.
- In the freezer: Keep them in the freezer for up to six months. If you need to revive them and crisp them up, a few minutes in a 300ºF should do it.
- Cookie dough:Â It’s best to make biscotti and other twice-baked cookies right away. Don’t make this dough in advance and store it.
Frosted Cookies
Frosted cookies require some care to store. Store decorated cookies in a single layer in an airtight container—you don’t want to mess up your beautiful designs!
- At room temperature or in the refrigerator: Cookies that are topped with cream cheese frosting or whipped cream should be stored in the fridge. Frostings like royal icing can be stored at room temperature. Eat both within two or three days.
- In the freezer:Â Frosting and decorations don’t hold up to the freezer.
Delicate Cookies
Everyone loves a dainty cookie now and again. Sweets like pizzelle, florentines, tuiles and brandy snaps feel like a real treat. However, these delicate bakes require some finesse to store (and don’t have a very long shelf life).
- At room temperature: Eat these cookies as quickly as possible—within three days is best. If you have cookies with fillings, like brandy snaps, keep them in the fridge.
- In the freezer:Â Delicate cookies like these do not store well in the freezer.
- Cookie dough:Â These batters should be prepped and used immediately. Don’t make the batter in advance.
Tips to Help Your Cookies Last Longer
To ensure that your cookies last as long as possible, it’s important to store them correctly. Airtight containers are your friend here (not flimsy cookie tins). For freezer storage, two layers of wrapping is also a good idea to prevent freezer burn.
Here are a few more tips to make your handiwork last:
- Never store cookies before they’re completely cool; trapped heat will make them soggy.
- Store different kinds of cookies separately. This way, soft cookies won’t make crisp cookies limp, and vice versa. There’s also a risk of flavors melding together, which might not be so bad for a batch of peppermint cookies and a batch of chocolate cookies but definitely wouldn’t be great for something like peppermint and lemon.
- Don’t stack delicate cookies or cookies with soft frosting on top of each other—those are best stored in a single layer. Drop cookies and twice-baked cookies, however, can safely be layered between sheets of wax paper.
- Due to their longer shelf lives, twice-baked cookies and cookie press cookies are your best bets for shipping to a faraway friend. Not only are they usually hearty enough to survive the journey, but they’ll taste relatively fresh once received. Find more shipping tips here.
- How long do cookies last in the fridge? Well, baked cookies shouldn’t be kept in the fridge (unless they’ve got a frosting that needs to be kept cool). Keep cookies at room temp.
You should be confident that every batch stays fresh for as long as possible. Happy baking! (And learn more about the different types of cookies.)
150 of the Best Christmas Cookies Ever
Buttery Spritz CookiesThis tender spritz cookie recipe is very eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois
Chocolate Lebkuchen Cherry BallsA good no-bake chocolate dessert could be just what you need around the holidays. This twist on traditional German lebkuchen has a cherry surprise on the inside and requires very few kitchen utensils (let's be real—who doesn't love a recipe that produces fewer dishes to wash).
Gingerbread Cutout CookiesYour family will linger around the kitchen when these homemade gingerbread cookies are baking. Make your life easier by rolling the dough directly on a piece of parchment dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Use the cookie cutter to create shapes and remove the excess dough. Then, slide the parchment onto the baking sheet and bake away!
Raspberry RibbonsThese biscotti-shaped treats have a sweet surprise in the middle: a strip of raspberry jam spread across the center during baking. Once these Christmas cookies are cooled, drizzle over a vanilla glaze, let them cool and serve.
Hot Chocolate CookiesIf a warm cup of hot cocoa is your go-to holiday treat, then you're definitely going to want to try this recipe. The marshmallow bits and hot cocoa mix play up the flavors you love—and they'll make your cookie jar all the more seasonal. The recipe calls for vanilla marshmallow bits, but if you're in a pinch, use mini marshmallows. Just keep in mind that mini marshmallows are softer than marshmallow bits, so they will melt while baking and won't have the same look and texture.
Cinnamon Roll MacaronsCinnamon rolls are one of those magical Christmas morning breakfasts. They make the house smell extra cozy and they're so easy to make when all you want to do is lounge with the family. Luckily, the macaron version of this irresistible breakfast treat takes just under an hour to make. Enjoy these macarons as a dessert or as a midday snack with a cup of coffee or tea. To switch up the flavor, swap out the cinnamon filling for a custard or ganache.
Lemon SnowdropsAlthough lemon is often synonymous with spring or summer, these snowdrop cookies add a pleasant tanginess to any Christmas cookie display. To save on time, make the cookies ahead and freeze them. When you're ready to serve, thaw the cookies in covered containers and make the filling fresh. Add a wintery touch by dusting the cookies with confectioners' sugar.
Cherry SnowballsMaraschino cherries add an effortless garnish to classic cocktails, but have you ever tried them in cookies? These coconut-covered snowballs with a cherry inside will add a bite of sweetness to your Christmas cookie display.
Linzer TartsLinzer cookies but make them Nutella-filled instead of jam-filled? Absolutely. Though Linzer cookies take more detail work than your average cookie, the final result will be worth the effort.
Scottish ShortbreadShortbread always seems to be a hit at Christmas, and it's no wonder why. With only three ingredients, you can bake a delicious batch of cookies. Don't forget to prick holes into the tops of these Christmas cookies so the steam from the melting butter has somewhere to escape.
Italian Rainbow CookiesYou can't get much more on-theme than with these beautiful Italian rainbow cookies. You'll need almond paste and food coloring to perfect them, but the rest of the ingredients might be things you already have around your kitchen. If you love a dessert that's more cake-like than cookie, then you need to try this Christmas confection.
No-Bake Christmas Wreath TreatsKids will love these no-bake marshmallow wreaths, and you'll love not having to get every mixing bowl and cooking sheet out of the cupboard. To get the shape just right, work quickly once you microwave and mix the ingredients. In about 20 minutes, you'll have adorable holly-specked wreaths to put in your cookie jar.
Coconut Cranberry YummiesThe cranberry bits and flaky coconut texture just can't be beat during the holidays. The cranberries add just the right amount of tartness and they'll be a great way to use up all your cranberries if you stocked up for the season.
SnickerdoodlesSoft, pillowy snickerdoodles might be one of the coziest Christmas cookies ever. This recipe uses staple ingredients and pairs so well with a cup of black tea or coffee.
Almond Raspberry StarsChristmas cookie cutters are so fun to experiment with during the holidays. Why not use two sizes to create a decorative touch on a simple cookie? If you don't want to use stars, try a different shape like snowflakes or Christmas trees.
Gingerbread Cookies with Buttercream IcingWe have quite a few tips for decorating gingerbread cookies, and these are just the cookies to put your decorating skills to the test. Make the buttercream icing festive by adding red or green food coloring.
Candied Fruit CookiesIf you've made snacks like oatmeal date bars before, you'll know how amazing the texture of dates are in baked goods. These candied cookies are filled with fruits like dates and cherries and sprinkled with bits of nuts for added crunch.
Cranberry Cookies with Browned Butter GlazeThe glaze on these cranberry cookies will set them apart from the rest of your Christmas confections. While the cookies are cooling, you can brown the butter before mixing in the remaining glaze ingredients. This will give the glaze a sweet nutty hint that will add depth to the fruity cookies.
Amish Sugar CookiesThere are a lot of uses for cream of tartar, but one of the most important ones in baking is that it prevents sugar from clumping together. Since sugar cookies—you know—use a lot of sugar, cream of tartar is a vital ingredient.
Cream Cheese SpritzHomemade cookies are thoughtful gifts for neighbors, and these cream cheese spritz cookies will definitely bring the charm. Get your spritz press ready and in one hour, you can have 6 dozen cookies prepped and ready in cute winter tins to be passed out.
Santa’s Elf CookiesAre these the cutest Christmas cutout cookies you've ever seen? These little elves are sure to be a showstopper on a dessert table or as a gift for family and friends.
Molasses Crackle CookiesMany cookie recipes are filled with butter, but these crackle cookies only call for 1/4 cup of canola oil, making it a nice lower-fat option. Unlike sugar cookies or gingerbread, these are meant to crackle a bit as they bake, so don't worry if the dough separates a bit.
Santa Claus CookiesNutter Butters but make them festive? We're here for it. You can definitely get the kids involved with decorating these easy cookies. Doesn't get much better than pre-baked cookies that you just have to dip and sprinkle!
Grandma Krause’s Coconut CookiesThis recipe calls for old-fashioned oats, so make sure you have those on hand before baking. Different types of oats affect baking textures and consistency, so stick with the recipe for a soft, chewy cookie.
Butterscotch Gingerbread CookiesIt can be hard to get creative with classic gingerbread, but this butterscotch variation does the trick. The sweet butterscotch mixed with the spiced gingerbread will have your house smelling heavenly!
Hungarian Walnut CookiesApart from all the health benefits walnuts have, they're also a tasty addition to cookies around the holidays. If you're in a pinch, the dough for these Christmas cookies can be make two days in advance.
Date Swirl CookiesThese Christmas cookies are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, and they're one of those desserts that look harder to make than they actually are. Make sure you save time for chilling: These cookies need to stay in the fridge overnight.
Originally Published: December 14, 2020
