Did you make a big batch of cookies and now you have leftovers? Well consider yourself lucky! Not many people have leftover cookies and there is so much you can do with them.
Having leftover cookies is a blessing and they will definitely not go to waste. Try one of these awesome ideas to use them in a creative and delicious way.
How to Store Cookies
No matter what you plan on doing with your cookies, you should always make sure to store them properly. This will help keep your cookies fresh for longer.
Even if the cookies are extra, you want them to stay as fresh as possible. So, once your cookies are out of the oven and have cooled completely, follow these storage directions.
- Place the cookies in a container that has an airtight lid. Make sure to put strong flavored cookies, like gingerbread or peanut butter cookies, separate from other more milk cookies (like sugar cookies). The best idea is to give each kind of cookie their own container.
- Place a piece of white bread in the container with the cookies. This will help to absorb any excess moisture in the container, preventing the cookies from getting too soggy.
- Keep the cookies at room temperature, sealed completely for 1-2 weeks. The cookies will also keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or in the freezer for about 2 months.
- If you plan to store the baked cookies in the freezer, be extra careful to seal the cookie container– you don’t want the cold air of the freezer to dry them out!
Now that your cookies are properly stored, eat as many as you can or try one of these tricks to help you use your leftover cookies.
1 – Freeze the Cookie Dough
If you have leftover cookie dough that you have not baked yet, you can easily save the dough for later. Roll the dough into individually sized cookies (scoop and shape the dough as if you were going to bake the cookies- but don’t put them in the oven!).
Wrap the cookie dough balls tightly in an airtight container or even in a zippered bag. Then, whenever you want a freshly baked cookie, you can place the frozen cookie ball on a sheet tray, let it thaw for a few minutes and then bake as usual!
This is one of the easiest ways to have hot-out-of-the-oven cookies anytime you’d like. What a perfect way to use leftover cookie dough!
2 – Make a Pie Crust
You can make a cookie pie crust one of two ways, using leftover baked cookies or using leftover cookie dough. Both options are delicious and will make a unique crust for your pie.
Pie Crust with Baked Cookies
To make a pie crust using leftover, baked cookies, you need to start by creating cookie crumbs. Place the left over cookies in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs form.
If the cookies are still too soft and not making nice crumbs, you can try placing them in the toaster at 200 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes to dry them out more.
Once the cookies are fine crumbs, combine them with melted butter to make the crust. For every 1 ½ cups of cookie crumbs, you will need 5 Tbsp of melted butter.
Mix well and then press the mix into a pie pan, pushing the crumb crust up the sides of the pan. The crust is now ready to be filled!
Cookie Dough Pie Crust
If you have extra cookie dough, simply press the prepared dough into a pie pan, pushing the dough as flat as possible along the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Try to make the dough as even as possible to help the crust bake uniformly.
Place a piece of foil over the cookie dough in the pie pan and then fill the pan with pie weights or dry beans (you can try these other simple alternatives as well). Bake the cookie dough crust in the same temperature oven you would usually bake the cookies I and for the same amount of time.
Remove the crust from the oven and remove the pie weights and foil. You will have a perfectly baked cookie crust, ready to use!
3 – Make Ice Cream Toppings
Leftover cookies make fantastic toppings for ice cream. This goes for just about every kind of cookie and every kind of ice cream too! Chop the left over cookies into smaller pieces using a sharp knife, or, pulse the cookies in a food processor.
Store the cookie topping in an airtight container and sprinkle on top of ice cream whenever you’d like! It is okay if the cookie pieces get a little dry since the ice cream juices will soak right into them, softening them once again!
4 – Chocolate Bark With Cookie Pieces
A wonderful way to give leftover cookies new life is to use them to make a new, chocolatey dessert. Chocolate bark is a very easy dessert to make that looks super fancy and will use up all those leftover cookies you may have.
Chop or crumble the cookies and then set aside. Melt chocolate over a double boiler, removing it from the heat when it has just finished melting (don’t forget to stir constantly to prevent the chocolate from burning!).
Pour the melted chocolate onto a parchment or silicone mat and spread it thin, to about 1/8 inch, using an offset spatula.
While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the cookie pieces over the chocolate. Let the chocolate harden and then break the chocolate bark into pieces and enjoy! You just created your own cookie candy bar!
5 – Make Cookie Brownies
Once your cookies start to go stale and are no longer appealing to eat plain, it is time to start thinking about making brownies!
Cookies pieces are actually a great addition to brownies and combines two amazing, classic desserts. Just be sure to use cookies that compliment the chocolatey goodness of a brownie (chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar cookie…you have many options!)!
Prepare your brownie batter as usual and then fold in chopped cookie pieces. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake as you normally would!
Once the brownies are cookies and cooled, slice into the dessert and enjoy a cookie and a brownie with every bite.
6 – Make Cookie Butter
Perhaps you have seen cookie butter in grocery stores and debated buying a jar or two. If you have leftover cookies at home, you don’t need to buy cookie butter- you can make it yourself!
First, make your leftover cookies into crumbs, pulsing them in a food processor until they are nice and small. Place the crumbs in the bowl of a mixer and add heavy cream, brown sugar and melted butter.
For every 2 cups of cookie crumbs that you have, you will need 1/3 cup cream, 2 Tbsp brown sugar and 1 Tbsp melted butter. Mix the ingredients together well until a smooth dough forms. Your cookie butter is ready!
Spread it on toast, sandwich two cookies together using the butter, or just eat it by the spoonful topped with some whipped cream! Your leftover cookies have a new life and it is delicious!
As you can see, having leftover cookies is never a problem. In fact, left over cookies can make for some fantastic new dessert options.
So which will you try first? Tough decision…better go make some more cookies so you have extra leftovers! Enjoy!
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.
Zena
Saturday 4th of November 2023
This is a great post Sarah! It is a well-written, concise read. And the best thing is you have given me some excellent options for using leftover cookies that are no longer tasty alone. I really hated the thought of throwing them out!