How Long Do Sugar Cookies Last? – Storage Tips
Sweet treats can often brighten our days. What better sweet treat to add to your day than a sweet and delicious sugar cookie? You can have them plain, you can have them frosted, you can have them in shapes, or you can have them in traditional circles. You simply can’t go wrong with a sweet sugar cookie!
Sugar cookies are a bit of an art. They sometimes require a certain skill to make them just right. You need them to taste great and you don’t want them to be hard and crunchy. On the same note, they can’t be too soft or you might not be able to frost them (if you choose to do so).
So, how long do sugar cookies last, and what are the best ways to store them? Sugar cookies can typically last up to 2 weeks in an airtight container on the counter or in the pantry and up to 6 months in the freezer.
In this guide, we will discuss everything you should know about properly storing your sugar cookies. We will provide several helpful tips to give you the best storage experience and to help you make your sugar cookies last as long as possible so you can enjoy them for days, weeks, or even months to come.
Keep reading to learn the best storage tips for your sugar cookies and more.
The Ultimate Guide to Storing Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies – you see them a lot. Maybe you make them, maybe you purchase them from bakers for holidays and birthdays.
Whatever you do with your sugar cookies, we’re sure you’re familiar with how delicious and yet versatile they can be.
You can do so many things with sugar cookies. There truly is a bit of an art to making sugar cookies. Sometimes this art varies based on how you plan to use your cookies.
Traditional sugar cookies, like the ones we made—you can find the recipe here—may be simple and round and left plain to enjoy that way, while on the other hand, you have soft and firm cookies that are decorated or frosted to celebrate an occasion or simply have some fun.
The best thing about sugar cookies is they can be made so many different ways and you can do so many different things with them. There are really no limitations and some of the details can boil down to your preferences or even your needs with that particular batch of cookies.
What you will find is that sugar cookies tend to turn hard if they aren’t stored properly. We don’t mean just slightly firm but it seems like the longer they sit, the harder they turn. This makes them hard to bite into and nearly impossible to enjoy sometimes.
But don’t worry! There are several storage tips and tricks that you can put to use to preserve your sugar cookies for the long haul. We’re quite sure with these tips you will be pleasantly surprised to grab a sugar cookie after several days and still enjoy the flavor and texture.
Let’s get started!
Storing Fresh Sugar Cookies at Room Temperature
The real key to enjoying your sugar cookies for the long haul is to keep them from being hit by open-air every time you open the cookie jar. You see, it’s the air that causes them to get hard or stale much too quickly.
We know it can be too much of a pain to wrap each cookie individually but this is an ideal solution if you have the materials.
That being said, it can feel rather wasteful to wrap every single cookie in its own protective layer and we understand most people won’t want to do that.
Here are a few alternative tips for storing sugar cookies at room temperature:
- Keep out of direct heat or sunlight
- Store in layers separated by plastic wrap or wax paper
- Store in small portions
- Store in an airtight method
- Don’t use a cookie jar
These are just a few tips.
When it comes to storing your sugar cookies just on the counter or in a pantry, these are your tips to follow. When we say store your sugar cookies at room temperature, we simply mean you aren’t placing them in the fridge or the freezer.
Whatever you do, do not leave them sitting on the counter uncovered or uncontained for extended periods of time.
When it comes to storing your sugar cookies initially, we recommend separating layers or separating portions.
Keep in mind that every time you open the lid on your storage container, the remaining cookies will be affected by the air that seeps in. This is why we recommend the protective layers so only the revealed cookies will be hit by that air.
Ideally, your sugar cookies should stay fresh for about 2 weeks if you are making the efforts to ensure they are properly stored and protected. You may start to notice their quality deteriorating after 1 week.
To truly extend the life of your sugar cookies, you can freeze them.
Can You Freeze Sugar Cookies?
Can you freeze sugar cookies? Sugar cookies are easy to freeze. You can simply bake them and cool them and then put them straight in the freezer or you can freeze them with frosting or icing.
Make yourself a bulk batch of sugar cookies and prepare to be blown away by your freezer possibilities!
We will tell you that if you know you will be frosting your sugar cookies, the best results come when you freeze the sugar cookies unfrosted and simply frost them later when you’re ready to use them.
Here is how to freeze sugar cookies:
- Bake the sugar cookies according to your favorite recipe. We highly recommend our own sugar cookie recipe – they are delicious!
- Allow cookies to cool to room temperature but don’t leave them sitting out an excessive length of time.
- Pre-freeze your cookies so they don’t fall apart or break. You can do this part by layering the cookies (much like in step 5) on a cookie sheet and freezing them 1-2 hours. Then transfer those layers into your final storage method.
- Put the cookies into a heavy-duty freezer bag or an airtight container.
- Place cookies in layers into chose storage method, separating each layer with wax paper to keep the cookies from sticking together.
- Label and date all packing.
- Seal tightly so that no air can get through.
- Freeze sugar cookies for up to 6 months.
In this process, you will want to be sure that your cookies are not touching. This will make it much easier to use your cookies when you pull them out of the freezer.
The pre-freeze process is not required, but if your cookies are at all soft, it might be worth the effort to protect your cookies from sticking, breaking, cracking, or any other nasty side effects of freezer life.
When you’re ready to use those cookies, it’s really quite simple. You can let them thaw in the refrigerator a few hours if you want to but typically you can pull them straight from the freezer and go to work on them.
If you feel like they need to be warmed slightly, you can slide the frozen cookies in the oven for just a few minutes to take off the edge.
Remember, they are already baked so you are just heating them. You don’t need to bake them very long.
With all of these tips and information, you should have great success in storing your cookies, whether you need short-term options or something that will last much longer.
Related Questions
We hope that you find this guide detailing just how long sugar cookies last and appropriate storage tips to be a valuable resource for storing your sugar cookies and enjoying them at their best.
You can enjoy your sugar cookies in many ways, they don’t have to become hard and crumbly!
We invite you to review the following question and answer section for some additional information that you might find valuable as well.
Is There an Ideal Room Temperature for Sugar Cookies?
There is not necessarily a recommended standard temperature. However, we have found that the best way to store your sugar cookies at room temperature is in a cool, dry place.
Don’t leave them near heat or direct sunlight. Your best bet is to store them in a closed pantry that is slightly cool and dry.
Can You Store Frosted Sugar Cookies Long-Term?
For long-term storage, we recommend holding off on the frosting part. It’s best to frost them right before you serve or use them.
However, you can frost them and freeze them for about a month and not have any issues with them.
Should You Store Sugar Cookies in the Fridge?
We don’t really recommend storing your sugar cookies in the fridge unless you are struggling to find a cool, dry place to store them.
If you do store them in the fridge, keep them away from the fan.
