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Freezing Cookie Dough Made Easy: Step By Step Guide

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Freezing cookie dough is your secret weapon for stress-free holiday baking and last minute bake sales or potluck desserts.

Stash ready-to-bake dough in your freezer, and you’re always just minutes away from fresh cookies—no mixing bowl required.

resealable freezer bags containing cookie dough on a marble countertop.
Whatever you're going to freeze, be sure to label it. You won't remember what it contains or when it went into the freezer.
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One question I hear all the time: “Can I make cookie dough ahead of time?” or “When can I start baking Christmas cookies?”

Here's the upshot: you can freeze cookie dough or already baked cookies up to three months ahead of time.

Just be sure to seal the cookies or raw dough well.

The easiest way to freeze raw cookie dough is to portion the dough into balls using your cookie scoop or teaspoon.

Put those balls on a rimmed baking sheet and flash freeze them until frozen.

Once frozen, wrap the dough balls in wax paper or plastic wrap, then seal in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container to prevent freezer burn.

You can also freeze brownies that have already been baked.

Lemon Bars freeze really well too.

Get more tips in my freezer dessert resource page.

rows of chocolate chip cookie dough balls on baking sheet.
This photo is for fun only. These balls of chocolate chip cookie dough are spaced way too close together for baking. You want to leave at least 1.5 inches to two inches between each cookie unless the recipe specifies otherwise. These balls of cookie dough were portioned with a #40 cookie scoop.

Most all cookie doughs freeze well.

You can also freeze lemon bars.

The best cookies to freeze are drop cookies, shortbread cookie dough and cut-outs. 

Drop cookies are doughs that you form into balls and then bake like chocolate chips, peanut butter, gingersnaps, sugar cookies. 

Shortbread, however, also freezes very well.

And remember the key to successfully freezing cookie dough or baked cookies for that matter is to make sure you double wrap them in wax paper or plastic wrap then put them in a resealable freezer bag or an airtight container.

I like Reynolds Quick Cut Plastic Wrap for a clean edge every time and Hefty Slider Freezer Bags because the seals actually stay closed.

If you’ve got one of those fancy, put it in and seal it and suck all the air out automatic machines, then by all means use that . 

Pizzelles don’t need to be frozen because they last for a long time at room temperature if kept inside a tin with a good fitting lid. 

You can also freeze snowballs quite well. Those are also called Mexican wedding cookies. I have a similar recipe on my site for something called Butter Balls that freeze great.

More storage tips for bars and cookies you might find useful include how to freeze lemon bars.

You can also find out how to freeze lemon zest.

Tips for Freezing Already Baked Cookies

Freezing dough or freezing already baked cookies is really a matter of personal choice.

You can get great results with both. 

  • Be sure to cool cookies completely before freezing. 
  • Freeze in a base layer of wax paper or plastic wrap. Make sure you have a layer of wax paper or plastic over the top of the cookies to protect them from the air.
  • Tuck this into a freezer bag or an airtight container.
  • You could also wrap cookies individually before putting them in freezer containers.
  • If you’re going to freeze frosted cookies, put them on a cookie sheet and flash freeze them until the icing has set and then package them up.

How to Thaw Frozen Cookies

When ready to defrost, take the package of cookies from the freezer and leave it on your kitchen counter for an hour or two.

Keep the packaging sealed until the cookies have thawed so you don't have moisture or condensation issues with the thawing cookies.

There's no need to put the cookies back in the oven if you've already baked them.

Sticking already baked cookies back in the oven is just going to dry them out.

Mark your containers or freezer safe bags with the name of the dough or cookie and the date the package is going in the freezer.

Use a Sharpie Permanent Marker so your labels don’t fade in the cold. If you’re labeling freezer tape, the chisel tip works best.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wrapped up cookie dough and stuck it in the freezer and thought about marking the package and decided 'oh no need, I'll remember.'

Dear friend, I did not remember. I do not remember. And neither will you. 

Frozen cookie dough will stay fresh for up to three months if well wrapped and sealed.

Follow the time and temperature listed in the recipe of the cookie you've made.

Frozen balls of dough are pretty small. You might need to add an extra minute or two to the baking time but that's it.

Set of 3 Snapware containers, lightweight, lots of great reviews.

FreezerWare made by Glad is also a good choice.

Glad freezer ware package.
Freezing Cookie Dough is fine just be sure to use freezer safe packaging.

If you prefer stackable hard-sided containers, these Sistema Klip It Plus Boxes are another great option — airtight and easy to label.

I have and love the Systema 7L size but I usually have plenty of freezer safe for this larger container.

If you have a lot of food in your freezer the Sistema 5L might be a better choice for you.

What Kind of Cookies Can I Freeze?

Friend, you can freeze so many cookies. Here are some Kitchen Serf reader-favorite recipes that freeze beautifully:

Gingersnaps, Roll-Out Sugar Cookies, and Eggless Sugar Cookies are all great options for early holiday prep. You can also freeze cookies like Peanut Butter Blossoms, Confetti Cookies, and even chewy Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Want something different? Chocolate Crinkles, Brownie Cookies (with or without M&Ms), Espresso Chocolate Shortbread, Chewy Toffee Cookies, and Milkbar Cornflake Cookies are also freezer-friendly.

👉 Click any link to grab the recipe and stock your freezer!

Can I Freeze Cookies with Powdered Sugar?

Yes, you can. I've frozen Mexican Snowballs and Chocolate Crinkle cookies, both of which are coated in powdered sugar.

Just know that the freezer will "eat" some of the powdered sugar so you'll want one last shower of sugar before placing in a cookie box or serving.

Pin to Save for Later

how to freeze cookie dough pin.
The Ultimate Guide to Freezing Cookie Dough and Baked Cookies

Sources of information used in this post include Minnesota University.

My Freezer Favorites:

My Freezer Favorites:
Hefty Freezer Bags: good for sealing and stacking dough balls
Reynolds Plastic Wrap: cuts cleanly every time
365 Wax Paper: perfect for layering cookies
Sharpie Markers: because mystery dough is not the move
Sistema Containers: keeps baked cookies fresh and organized

🍪 Want freezer-friendly cookie ideas? Check out my Top Christmas Cookies for Freezing or browse my entire cookie archive.

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Recipe

Yield: 36 cookies
resealable freezer bags containing cookie dough on a marble countertop.

Learn the best way to freeze cookie dough and baked cookies so you can always have fresh cookies on hand. These simple steps make it easy to prep ahead for holidays or any time a cookie craving hits.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Additional Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • Your favorite cookie dough recipe (chocolate chip, sugar cookies, peanut butter, etc.)
  • Wax paper or plastic wrap
  • Freezer-safe resealable bags or airtight containers
  • Freezer pen or permanent marker (for labeling bags/containers)

Instructions

  1. Scoop Dough – Portion cookie dough using a cookie scoop or teaspoon into uniform balls.
  2. Flash Freeze – Place dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 1–2 hours.
  3. Wrap & Store – Transfer frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container. Double-wrap with wax paper or plastic wrap if storing for longer periods.
  4. Label – Use your freezer pen to write the cookie type and date on the bag. Dough can be stored up to 3 months.
  5. Bake from Frozen – Place frozen dough balls on a baking sheet. Bake according to your recipe, adding 1–2 extra minutes to the baking time if needed.

Notes

  • Most cookie doughs freeze well, especially drop cookies, shortbread, and cut-outs.
  • Frosted cookies can also be frozen—just flash freeze first so the icing sets before packaging.
  • For best results, always cool baked cookies completely before freezing.24

    • Nutrition Information

    Yield 36 Serving Size 1
    Amount Per Serving Calories 11Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 13mgCarbohydrates 2gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g

    Did you make this recipe? Please give it a rating

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

    © Jennifer Osborn
    Category: Baking Basics
    how to freeze cookie dough pin.

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    About Jennifer Osborn

    Reporter by trade, dessert blogger by compulsion. Jennifer Osborn shares dessert recipes people actually make.

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