How Long Do Sugar Cookies Last After Baking?
Preparing sugar cookies is one of the best options to satisfy your sugar cravings. It is easy to prepare some delicious sugar cookies with attractive shapes and designs at home. But how many weeks do sugar cookies stay fresh and tasty? It is a major concern of every homemaker after preparing sugar cookies.
Both plain and frosted sugar cookies must be baked rightly to extend their freshness and shelf life. Following some perfect tricks and tweaks will keep your favorite sugar cookies fresh for a long time. In this blog, we will look at how long cookies stay fresh and the tips to store sugar cookies to keep them fresh.
How long do cookies stay fresh?
If you want to keep cookies fresh for about 2 weeks, store them in an airtight container or jar. You must store this airtight container in a dry place free from moisture. Apart from that, you can also store cookies in a freezer for 6 to 7 months.
Undecorated cookies can stay fresh for a week in an air-sealed jar. Unfrosted sugar cookies can stay fresh for about two weeks in an airtight container. Undecorated sugar cookies stay fresh for about one month in a freezer.
Important things to know about storing Sugar cookies
As Christmas is around, you must have already made a list of preparations to do. This list is incomplete without decorated cookies. Sugar cookies go well in family gatherings and Christmas parties. You must store sugar cookies properly to maintain their consistency and taste. If you do not store these cookies correctly, they will turn hard.
Following the right storage options for sugar cookies is very necessary to enjoy their rich taste for many weeks.
Tips to store cookies at room temperature
If the sugar cookies get into direct contact with the air, they will turn hard within a few weeks. So, you need to reduce the contact of cookies with air. Read on further to learn the best tips for storing sugar cookies at room temperature:
Wrap sugar cookies properly
Wrapping each cookie might take time but it is one of the best tips to follow. Wrapping every cookie will extend its freshness and keep it soft. You can pick up cookie bags or wax paper to wrap individual cookies to stop air from coming in contact with cookies. Wax papers will keep cookies fresh for 2 days.
Another way to wrap sugar cookies is to store them in layers using plastic wrap or wax paper. Individual layers will protect your lovely cookies from air or moisture and retain their softness.
Choose an airtight jar or container
Every home has several air-tight containers to store sugar cookies. But some air-tight containers are opened every few hours. Avoid these containers that you use frequently. You must take an air-sealed container or jar that is kept closed for most of the time.
Air-tight containers prevent air from entering the cookies. You will get fresh, soft, and healthy cookies even after 2 weeks.
Pick a dry and cool place
The high amount of heat will spoil the texture and taste of your sugar cookies. So, the best way to maintain the texture of these cookies is to place them in a dry and cool place. You can store these cookies in a cool and dry pantry.
Do not place the cookies near to microwave or oven. These heat sources will make cookies hard and stale.
Do not cover or keep cookies for a long time
Some people keep decorated sugar cookies in an open environment while some store them in an airtight jar for long hours. Well, both these methods are wrong as they will make cookies hard. You must store the sugar cookies in an airtight container and open the container once or twice a day.
If the cookies are freshly prepared, keep them in the open air or covered until they cool down. Storing cookies in layers will keep them fresh, healthy, and delicious.
Freezing Sugar cookies
Freezing is the most effective method to store sugar cookies for a long time. It extends the shelf life of sugar cookies and maintains their taste as well. After baking the cookies, you must freeze them on the spot. You can also freeze sugar cookies after frosting them.
Cooking experts say that cookies must be stored in the freezer before frosting. This method will maintain the taste of cookies.
Method of freezing sugar cookies
Storing sugar cookies in a freezer will extend their shelf life. There is a proper procedure to follow to freeze sugar cookies to keep them fresh. Follow the below steps to freeze sugar cookies for enjoying them in a monsoon!
- You must bake the sugar cookies in the normal way that you do.
- After baking the cookies, let the cookies cool at room temperature. Do not keep them for a long time in an open atmosphere.
- Then place the cookies in layers on a cookie sheet and keep them in a freezer for 2 hours.
- You can take any freezer bag or airtight container to store the cookies in a freezer.
This method can keep your sugar cookies fresh for about 6 months. Do not refreeze sugar cookies after thawing them as it will make cookies soggy.
Sugar cookies FAQs
Can frosted cookies be stored for a long time?
Experts say not to frost cookies if you want to store them. Frosting will make sugar cookies soggy and shorten their shelf life. You can frost cookies while serving them to the guests.
How many months before Christmas should I prepare sugar cookies?
If you have planned to serve delicious and decorated sugar cookies this Christmas, prepare them before 3 months. You can make cookies before 3 months and store them in a freezer for 3 months. If you want to frost sugar cookies, you can place them in the fridge for about 5 days.
How fresh do sugar cookies stay at room temperature?
If you place sugar cookies in layers at room temperature, they will remain fresh for two weeks.
How to keep decorated sugar cookies fresh?
You can take a cello bag, heat sealer, or airtight container to keep decorated cookies fresh. These airtight containers or cello bags must be kept away from sunlight or heat sources. Direct heat will turn the colors of icing.
Final words
These are the most effective ways to store sugar cookies right before your Christmas party. All these methods will increase the shelf life of cookies and maintain their rich taste, texture and soft consistency.
You can also share some other effective storing tips for sugar cooking here!
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