If you’re like many families in North America, you probably like making Christmas cookies around the holidays, and there are plenty of types to choose from.
Some people like to bake sugar cookies that can be decorated in festive ways, while others like to make gingerbread men.
No matter your preference, it’s likely that you’re going to bake a lot of them. Most families will bake more cookies than they will reasonably be able to eat right away because they like being able to give some away to visiting family members.
The problem is that some of the cookies could become stale before you get a chance to finish them. This would obviously be a shame since no one wants to waste delicious treats that they spent time baking.
Read on to learn how to store Christmas cookies properly so you can make them last as long as possible.
Let the Cookies Cool Properly
Before you store the cookies, it’s going to be necessary to allow them to cool. The cooling process isn’t really something that you should try to rush either.
If you attempt to store your cookies before they’re cool to the touch, you could wind up ruining them. For example, if you put hot cookies in a container with a lid, this is going to create condensation.
The condensation will wind up causing the cookies to become soggy. It’ll completely ruin the texture and you won’t be able to enjoy them for long at all.
Place your cookies out somewhere that will allow them to cool completely. You could keep them on your counter or put them on a baker’s rack of some sort.
Store Your Cookies in a Container
Storing your cookies in a container of some type will help to keep them safe, and many people put them inside plastic containers that have lids. This is especially good when you need to store soft types of cookies.
Crisp cookies can be stored in a container that has a loose lid if you would prefer to use something such as that. There isn’t a problem with storing them in a container with a tight lid, though.
Just make sure that you have enough room for the cookies in whatever container you’re trying to use. If you try to store too many in one container, they might wind up crumbling.
Store Cookies in Layers
It’s a good idea to store cookies in layers to get the best results. What this means is that you will lay down the bottom layer of cookies in your chosen container and then place parchment paper on top of that layer.
After you’ve done that, you’ll be able to lay down another layer of cookies. You can keep going this way until you reach the top of the container.
Just be sure that you’re able to close the container without squishing your cookies. You might need to stop a bit before the top of the container so that you can close the lid without having any issues.
The reason you want to store cookies in layers this way is that it helps to prevent them from sticking together. It’ll be easier to grab and enjoy them if you take the time to store them in layers.
Store Cookies in a Cool Spot
Storing the cookies in a cool spot is going to be ideal when you want them to last for as long as possible.
An example of a good spot in an average kitchen is the pantry. You could place the container of cookies in the pantry and they should stay fine for quite a while.
If they’re stored in an environment that is above room temperature, they won’t last as long. Most homes have some type of temperature control in modern times, and this means that you won’t likely have to worry too much about the house being too hot.
Just don’t store the cookies near an oven or a heating vent. Keep them in a relatively cool, dry place so that you will be able to enjoy them to the fullest.
Remember to Store Different Cookie Types Separately
It wouldn’t be a good idea to store different cookies together in the same container. This is because the different ingredients and flavors used in the cookies would mingle and throw things off.
You might make some soft cookies for the holidays and some crisp cookies. If you keep soft and crisp cookies together, the crisp cookies will be moistened by the soft ones.
The different flavors will start to combine as well. Your cookies won’t taste right and it’ll just be disappointing overall.
Be sure that you have individual containers for each different cookie type that you decide to bake. This won’t be difficult, but it’s something that you’ll want to remember to get the best results.
See my tips on How to Make Sprinkles Stick to your Cookies.
What About Holiday Cookie Bars?
Holiday cookie bars are also popular even if they aren’t the most common holiday cookie type. If you’ve made some cookie bars for the family this holiday season, you’ll also want to store those properly so that they can be enjoyed for as long as possible.
The best way to go about this is to actually keep them in the same pan that you baked them in. Just cover the pan with aluminum foil and then place the pan somewhere safe.
Depending on the type of cookie bars that you made, it might be necessary to store them in the refrigerator. If the cookie bars contain perishable ingredients, they’ll definitely need to be refrigerated.
Otherwise, you’ll be fine to store them in the pantry or somewhere else that is cool and dry. Just be sure to find an appropriate spot and you’ll be good to go.
If you don’t wish to store the cookie bars in the pan that you used to bake them, it’ll be fine to store them in an airtight container. The cookie bars can then be placed in the fridge, if necessary.
How Long Will Cookies Last?
Now you might be wondering exactly how long cookies will last. If you follow the advice above, will it be possible to enjoy your Christmas cookies for many days after you’ve baked them?
So long as you’re storing them properly, it should be possible to enjoy them for at least three days. This assumes that the cookies are being stored at room temperature.
You’ll also need to keep the cookies in a container of some sort to keep them fresh. They won’t stay good indefinitely, but you’ll have several days to try to finish them off with your friends and family members.
If you don’t believe that you’ll be able to eat all of the Christmas cookies that you made within three days, you could consider freezing some of them. They should be able to stay good when frozen for up to six months.
It’s important to remember that there will be some differences depending on the types of cookies that you’re dealing with. Some might not stay good for as long depending on how they’re made.
This means that it might be necessary to look up specific information about the type that you want to store. The information being given here is about typical types of cookies that people bake during the holidays.
Final Thoughts
If you’re able to do a good job of storing the cookies, you should be able to enjoy them for a good while. Not being able to eat all of them that you made for the holidays right away shouldn’t be a huge problem.
Always remember to let them cool before you try to store them. You’re generally going to want to store them in an airtight plastic container, but crisp cookies might be able to be stored in a container with a loose lid.
You’ll get better results if you store cookies in layers, too. This prevents them from sticking together and just keeps things tidier in the storage container.
When they’re in the container that you wish to use, it’ll be necessary to store the container somewhere that’s dry and cool. Certain types of cookies might need to be refrigerated when they have perishable ingredients.
Storing the cookies adequately will allow you to keep them good for at least three days. Some types might last longer than that at room temperature depending on the ingredients that were used to bake them.
Some people also choose to freeze cookies when they have way more than they would be able to eat before they went bad. When freezing them, it’s easy to keep them good for up to six months.
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.