If you’re like me, you love a good cookie. And if you’re like me, you know that there’s just something about warm, homemade cookies that just can’t be beaten. But if you’ve ever tried to make a bunch of cookies at once, then you know that even the most delicious cookie recipe can get boring after a while.
That’s why I always keep some frozen cookie dough on hand—it’s easy to thaw when the craving hits and it gives me an excuse to break out my favorite cookie cutters and make something new.
But I’m sure we’ve all had the experience of defrosting cookie dough in the fridge only to find it rock hard when we go to bake them up later. But don’t fret! There are lots of ways to thaw cookie dough properly so that it comes out soft and perfect every time!
Why Do We Need to Freeze Cookie Dough?
Baking from scratch is a great way to make sure that your cookies are fresh, but sometimes it’s just not possible.
That’s why we’re here to help you learn how to freeze cookie dough!
First, let’s go over some reasons why you might want to freeze your cookie dough:
- You can make a big batch of dough and save it in the freezer for later use!
- You can stock up on your preferred brand of cookie dough whenever there is a sale at the supermarket and save the extra dough in the freezer for later use.
- You can freeze the dough in two different forms: as a continuous log and as individual cookies.
Regardless of what method you choose, though, defrosting the dough properly is essential if you want to keep its texture and taste intact.
Do You Need To Defrost Cookie Dough Before Baking It?
The answer is: it depends.
Not all cookie dough can be frozen, and not all frozen foods are meant to be cooked straight from the freezer. Cookie dough made with butter or shortening freezes well, but macaron dough, which uses beaten egg whites for volume and texture, does not.
Cookies made using a shortbread-style dough that has been cut into rounds may be cooked straight from the freezer without being defrosted beforehand. Many individuals think the dough turns out better when cooked from frozen.
Drop cookies, however, call for the dough ball to be flattened out into a huge circle, so it’s best to let the dough defrost before proceeding. You should anticipate considerably smaller and denser cookies if you bake this kind from frozen.
Best Ways To Defrost Cookie Dough
Refrigerator Method
If you’re a fan of baking, you know how important it is to have a good recipe. Frozen cookie dough is a great way to save time and money when you want to bake cookies but don’t have the time or ingredients on hand. However, if you want your cookies to be fresh, you need to follow some basic rules when defrosting frozen cookie dough in the refrigerator.
The best way to defrost homemade cookie dough is to leave it in the fridge overnight. This takes longer than other methods but ensures that your cookies will come out fresh and delicious.
To defrost cookie dough in the refrigerator, follow these steps:
- Take the frozen cookie dough out of the freezer at least two hours before you want to use it. (8-12 hours is excellent).
- In a bowl, wrap the cookie dough in plastic and refrigerate it.
- Allow 8-12 hours of thawing time in the fridge (could be longer, depending on the amount).
- After the dough has thawed, you may form it into cookies and place them in the oven!
Microwave Method
Microwaving cookie dough to defrost it is not a good idea. The microwave may help you get the job done faster, but only if you plan on baking the cookies right away.
The defrosting of cookie dough in the microwave requires extreme caution; things may go wrong very quickly. This is because microwaves are capable of doing more than simply defrosting food; they can also heat it. This will cause the cookie dough to warm up rapidly, making it sticky, greasy, and difficult to handle. This is a certain way to ruin your cookies with their dry, crumbly texture and awful flavor.
Read on for instructions on defrosting cookie dough in the microwave:
- First things first: prepare your dish. You can either spray it with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.
- Then cover the dough with microwaveable plastic wrap and place it on a platter. Make sure that the dough isn’t touching the plastic wrap—the microwave oven should accommodate the plate.
- Turn on the microwave before making any adjustments. You may either use the defrost setting or heat the dough for 10 seconds at 30% power. Inspect the dough for signs of firmness in the middle at that point; if not, repeat until you get what you want!
FAQs
Can You Fix Dry Cookies After Baking?
So you’ve just baked a batch of cookies and they’re… a little dry. Can you fix them?
Yes! There are a few ways to get that soft and tender texture back into your cookies:
Put them in an airtight container with a piece of bread. The bread will absorb some of the moisture from the cookies, making them softer. This trick works best if you have some bread on hand, but it’s not necessary—the cookies will still be okay without it.
Microwave the cookies for 4-5 seconds to slightly warm them up and soften their texture.
How Long Does Cookie Dough Take To Defrost?
This is a question we get all the time and one that you should definitely be asking yourself if you’re planning on making cookies from frozen dough. While it’s generally OK to bake these cookies straight from the freezer, the results won’t be identical to fresh-baked ones. Cookies will still taste the same, but won’t spread as much. We suggest thawing the dough in the refrigerator for 24 hours if you want the spread to be consistent.