With the holiday season around the corner, I get too excited for many reasons. One of them being I get to bake my favorite Christmas treat, gingerbread cookies!
I can devour an entire batch of these spicy bites by myself – not to mention that all my family loves them too!
So, this begs an important question: Can you freeze gingerbread cookies?
That can help you save time by baking batches ahead of time and heating them on demand. And if you’re a cookie monster like me, you’ll be able to save the extra treats for after the holidays.
In this article, I’ll let you in on the secrets of keeping your heavenly baked goods for as long as possible. Let’s dive into the details!
Can You Freeze Cooked Gingerbread Cookies?
Yes. You can freeze your Christmas treats and eat them later. In perfect storage conditions, they can last up to three months!
The thing is, gingerbread cookies freeze well because they contain little to no water content.
That means they freeze well, and you’ll get to enjoy these festive treats for months after the holiday season.
However, you can’t just throw your baked goods on a plate in your freezer and expect them to taste as nice as fresh ones. There’s a right way to freeze your cooked cookies, and I’ll tell you about it.
How to Freeze Cooked Gingerbread Cookies
Freezing baked goods is easy, but there’s one rule you can’t skip:
You should never freeze cookies if they’re still hot.
Not only will it thaw items around it, but it’ll also create a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.
That said, here’s how you can freeze baked cookies:
- Start by preparing your favorite recipe as you normally would.
- Then, let the baked goods cool off completely.
- After that, place your treats in a single layer on a parchment baking sheet.
- Next, put your cookies in a freezer bag and squeeze out the air, or use a vacuum sealer.
- To keep the cookies as fresh as possible, stack the freezer bags in an airtight container.
- Finally, put your confectioneries in the freezer.
How to Reheat Gingerbread Cookies
In my house, we continue to enjoy these festive treats for months after the holiday. Whenever someone craves a warm, spicy cookie, it’s ready in a matter of minutes.
Reheating gingerbread treats is easy. If you’re not in a hurry, you can grab a cookie from the freezer and leave it at room temperature for around an hour, and you’re good to go.
Here are the best ways to reheat your delicious baked goods:
1 – Microwave
If you want to grab a quick, hot cookie on the go, just put it in the microwave!
Ideally, you want to heat it at five-second intervals until it’s warm. This is to avoid overheating your delicious cookie and drying it out.
Generally, this method is suitable for heating one or two cookies at a time. So, if you want to reheat a big batch, this method isn’t for you.
Pro tip:
If you love a chewy cookie, cover it with a damp paper towel, and it’ll taste like it’s fresh out of the oven! You can also put a glass of water in the microwave next to the cookie to provide it with some moisture.
I highly recommend eating the cookie straight out of the microwave, but be careful not to burn yourself!
2 – Air Fryer
I personally love my cookies extra crispy. So, this method is my favorite!
Just spread your baked goods in the air fryer and set the temperature to 300°F. After two to three minutes, the smell of festive cookies will fill the place, and that means they’re ready.
Unfortunately, if you leave them inside for too long, they’ll dry out. So, you should keep a close eye on the treats during the process.
Additionally, it’s best not to stack the cookies on top of each other, as it’ll reduce the airflow. In other words, the air fryer won’t heat your cookies efficiently.
3 – Oven
Do you want to reheat a big batch of gingerbread cookies? This method is for you.
To start, preheat your oven to 350°F. Then, put your delicious baked goods on a rack and heat them for 5 to 10 minutes, and voila. You’ll get to enjoy the cookies as if they’ve been freshly baked.
If you want your cookies to be a little moist, you can put them on a wire rack with a tray of water underneath.
4 – Skillet
Yes. You read that right, and you won’t believe how delicious these cookies taste.
It might not be the easiest or quickest method on my list, but it’s definitely worth trying.
Just grab a non-stick pan or skillet, add your bakeries, and spray the top with a small amount of water. Then, cover the pan and heat it on medium-low for four minutes.
You can skip out on the water part if you want to keep your cookies crispy.
That’s not all. You can add a small amount of butter to the pan, which makes your cookies taste even more mouthwatering!
I don’t recommend consuming a large number of buttery bakeries, though.
The thing is, these cookies already contain enough fat and sugar. So, you don’t want to load your cookie with more unhealthy ingredients.
Can Gingerbread Cookie Dough Be Frozen?
Absolutely! You can freeze your dough, and it’ll last around three months in the freezer.
In fact, I personally prefer freezing dough over cookies.
Freezing gingerbread cookies might alter their taste and texture, even if you pack them tightly.
On the other hand, if you freeze the dough and bake it on demand, you’ll get to enjoy freshly baked cookies.
Heads up:
Waiting for the dough to thaw and baking it might take time. So, this method isn’t the most time-saving.
How to Freeze Gingerbread Cookie Dough
Freezing gingerbread dough is easy, but you have to do it the right way to ensure the freshness of your cookies.
Pro tip:
Cut your dough into layers or small portions to make the process easier.
You don’t want to thaw the entire dough just to bake a small batch of cookies and refreeze them. It might alter the texture of the dough.
That said, here’s how I freeze my dough:
- After preparing your favorite recipe, roll your dough into small balls. Each ball should be enough to make one cookie.
- Then, put your dough balls in the fridge for around an hour.
- Next, grab the dough and wrap it tightly with plastic film.
- Cover your dough with another layer of plastic wrap and bag it up in a freezer bag or an airtight container.
- Finally, label the container with the date and put it in the freezer.
Can You Freeze Decorated Gingerbread Cookies?
Luckily, you can freeze decorated gingerbread treats just like traditional ones.
However, if I have the option, I prefer freezing the baked goods without the decorations. Then, after they thaw, I decorate them.
This will ensure the decorations taste fresh. However, most decorations freeze well, so you have nothing to worry about.
Here are some important tips for freezing decorations:
1 – Let the Decorations Dry First
Before freezing the bakeries, you need to let the icing dry. Otherwise, the situation will get messy.
The icing typically dries in a few hours, depending on its type.
2 – Wrap Each Cookie
To keep the decorations in place, I recommend wrapping each cookie separately.
I understand it can be time-consuming. So, if you don’t have enough time, you can layer parchment or wax paper between the bakeries.
3 – Thaw At Room Temperature
With icing on top, you can heat the cookies. So, you’ll need to let the cookies thaw on their own at room temperature.
Reheating decorated cookies in the oven will ruin the decorations, and I’ve learned that the hard way.
Do Gingerbread Cookies Freeze Well?
Yes! Gingerbread cookies are fairly dry, which means they freeze well.
However, you’re better off freezing dough instead of baked cookies. This will ensure the freshness of your festive treats.
That doesn’t mean frozen bakeries are bad. The problem is that no matter how perfect your storage conditions are, nothing beats a fresh cookie straight out of the oven.
Still, not many people can tell the difference between a frozen cookie and a fresh one.
How Long Can You Freeze Gingerbread Cookies?
In perfect storage conditions, your gingerbread cookies can last up to three months in the freezer.
Yet, don’t expect the decorations to make it through this long period. That’s why it’s best to leave the decorations last.
How Long Do Gingerbread Cookies Last?
Baked gingerbread cookies can last around four to six weeks. These Christmas treats have low water content, which makes them less susceptible to mold.
I generally prefer keeping my cookies in an airtight container away from any moisture to keep them fresh for as long as possible.
Final Thoughts
The answer is yes! You can freeze your Christmas treats and enjoy them whenever you want.
I generally prefer freezing the dough and baking the cookies fresh. Still, baked gingerbread cookies freeze just as well.
While you can freeze decorated cookies too, you have to take some extra precautions to keep them perfect. For starters, you’ll have to let the icing dry completely before freezing. Additionally, you’ll need to wrap each cookie individually.
And when it comes to reheating your cookies, it’s easier than you think. Let the cookies thaw at room temperature, then put them in your microwave, oven, or even air fryer.
Happy baking!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.