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Sugar cookies are one of the most popular Christmas cookies. They are also one of the easiest to make. In this blog post, I will discuss how many days in advance you can make sugar cookies and still have them taste delicious and fresh.
As a general rule, baked sugar cookies can last in the freezer for up to 3 months if stored well. When stored properly, sugar cookies can be made up to 5 days in advance. The key to making sugar cookies that taste just as good as they did when they were first baked is to store them properly.
When I have a lot of guests coming over, I try to bake my desserts ahead of time to save on cooking time. As a result, it’s important to know how many days in advance you can bake sugar cookies. Read on for more information!
How Early Can You Make Sugar Cookie Dough?
As a whole, sugar cookie dough can stay fresh in the fridge for about 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and place it into an airtight container. This, therefore, means you can make your dough well in advance and have it ready to go when you need it.
*By the way, if you’re looking for some new cookie sheets/baking pans to replace for your kitchen, I recently came across the Perfect Nonstick Cookie Sheets / Baking Sheets Set that I got for myself and they work great! You can check out these Nonstick Cookie Sheet Set on Amazon!
So if you intend to bake in a few days, you can make your cookie dough 5 days in advance and store it in the fridge. If you want to bake them further down the line, make your dough early and freeze it.
When storing sugar cookie dough in the freezer, be sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. This will help to prevent freezer burn and keep the dough fresh for longer.
Keep reading to see how to keep your cookies fresh for longer periods of time!
Can You Make Sugar Cookies Ahead Of Time?
As a whole, it is possible to make sugar cookies ahead of time. It’s often recommended to bake them a few days in advance so they have time to properly set and harden. This will help ensure that they hold their shape when you go to decorate them later on.
Sugar cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If you want to extend their shelf life, you can freeze them for up to three months.
Just be sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container before freezing.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about How To Fix & Save Your Burnt Cookies. This article breaks down the best ways to fix your burnt cookies so that they look freshly baked. You can check out this article here!
Below is a table that shows how long sugar cookies can remain fresh when stored in an airtight container:
| Storage at Room Temperature | Storage in Refrigerator | Storage in Freezer |
| For up to 5 days | For up to 2 weeks | For up to 3 months |
When you are ready to eat the sugar cookies, simply thaw them at room temperature or pop them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp them up again. Either way, they will taste just as fresh and delicious as the day you made them.
So, if you are looking to save time during the holiday season, be sure to make your sugar cookies well in advance. They will taste just as good and fresh as if you had made them the day before as long as you store them properly!
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Properly Store Cookies. I recently wrote an article that talks about all you need to know for Storing Cookies To Make Them Last, which you can check out here!
How Do You Keep Sugar Cookies Fresh For A Week?
To keep sugar cookies fresh for a week, they need to be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. If you are looking to extend their shelf life, you can wrap them in a layer of plastic wrap and then place them in an airtight container and shove them in the fridge.
It is also a good idea to wrap the cookies individually before placing them in the container. This will help to prevent them from sticking together and becoming one big cookie blob.
You want to avoid placing them in a cookie jar that’s not airtight or that’s opened frequently as this will cause them to dry out and become hard.
Note, however, that there is a difference between cookies with icing and those without. If your cookies have icing, they will not last as long. Keep them away from direct sunlight or heat as this will cause the icing to melt or fade.
Ideally, you should eat them within three to five days of making them. If you want to keep them for longer, it’s best to freeze them.
Properly-stored iced sugar cookies will often last longer than sugar cookies without icing. This is because the icing acts as a barrier and protects the cookie from drying out.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article talking about How Many Cookies Do You Need Per Person For Christmas. In this article, I created a calculation of how many cookies to make per person for Christmas. This is important to know so that you will always have enough cookies! You can check out this article here!
How to Keep Sugar Cookie Dough Fresh Over Time?
As a general rule, when storing the dough in a fridge, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. If the dough is stored in an airtight container, make sure to put a layer of plastic wrap around the dough to prevent freezer burn and dehydrating it.
*By the way, I came across the perfect 24 Piece Set of Cookie Cutters that come in different shapes and sizes perfect for shaping your cookie dough the right way. You can check out these cutters on Amazon!
To store cookie dough in a freezer, first, flatten it into a disk shape. Wrap the disk tightly in plastic wrap, making sure there are no air pockets.
Then, place the wrapped dough in a freezer-safe bag. Remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing it shut.
If you do not have freezer-safe bags, you may use an airtight container that helps prevent moisture from entering or escaping.
How Long Do Sugar Cookies With Royal Icing Stay Fresh?
Generally speaking, storing sugar cookies with royal icing depends on how they are stored. Usually, they can stay fresh for up to a week when stored properly in the fridge. Storage in an airtight container will prevent the icing from going bad and overall drying out.
As with other iced sugar cookies, store them away from direct sunlight in airtight containers. If you want them to last longer, you can place them in the fridge or freezer.
If you want your cookies to soften a bit after refrigeration, wrap the cookie in a damp paper towel and microwave for 10 seconds or until soft.
*Side Note: You might also want to know How To Bake Cookies Without A Cookie Sheet. I recently wrote an article that talks about What Can You Use To Bake Cookies Without A Cookie Sheet, which you can check out here!
Can I Leave Sugar Cookies Out Overnight to Dry?
You can leave sugar cookies out overnight to dry, but they need to be properly covered. Leaving iced sugar cookies out overnight is recommended so they can set properly and the icing doesn’t run. Make sure to seal them with plastic wrap or place them into an airtight container to keep them fresh.
It is usually recommended to leave sugar cookies out to dry. This helps achieve the crisp texture that is so famous with these delicious cookies.
However, if you leave them out to dry, there’s a chance they’ll completely dry out.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about Why Do Cookies Become Soft When Left Out. This article talks about why cookies get soft when they are left out over time. You can check out this article here!
To prevent them from drying out, you can place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. This will help to keep them fresh and moist.
Can You Refrigerate Sugar Cookie Dough Overnight?
In general, it is perfectly fine to refrigerate sugar cookie dough overnight. In fact, it is recommended as it helps to prevent the cookies from spreading too much when baking. Usually, recipes prefer for cookie dough to be chilled before baking. Refrigerating overnight will benefit the dough.
When baking any kind of cookie, it is important to chill the dough prior to putting it in the oven. This solidifies the fats in the dough so that the cookies won’t melt and spread everywhere on your baking sheet.
If it’s chilled in the fridge, they will maintain their shape and have uniformity when baking!
A great way to make sure your cookie dough is chilled enough for baking is to leave it in the fridge overnight.
To prevent the dough from drying out, make sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container before putting it in the fridge.
*By the way, I recently wrote an article about Why Your Cookies Might Not be Spreading. This article speaks about all the reasons your cookies will remain in a ball instead of spreading into a cookie shape. You can check out this article here!
Final Thoughts
Sugar cookies are a staple to have for any holiday or season in the year. To make the holiday season easier, it’s important to know how to make cookies ahead of time to save yourself a headache!
