When do you start Christmas cookies?

[Anonymous]

Every year I start cookies too soon and they are dry or mostly gone by Christmas. When do you start? Is today too soon? Still 4 days till Christmas. I usually do 4 types, 1 cut out, 1 bar, 1 spritz, 1 drop.

[Anonymous]

Freeze them right after they cool. They thaw very quickly. I do this if there will be more than a day before eating them. Stale cookies are the worst.

[Anonymous]

I will start today or tomorrow. I make some cookies that are better after a couple of days. Chocolate chip cookies will be made on the 24th though.
Italian Rainbow cookies probably tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Cookies freeze really well and so does most cookie dough.

For cookies:

If the cookies are still warm at all, or even if you’re not completely sure, freeze them first flat and uncovered on a cookie sheet or a cutting board lined in parchment paper. Just for 30 min or an hour. If you forget them for a few hours that’s fine. This is a really good step to do if it’s the evening. Speeds it all up.

Then put them in a container (the gift container if gifting, with the ribbon and everything if you want) and wrap it well in plastic or put it in a freezer ziploc. The longer they will be frozen, the more care is required on the wrapping.

It’s very important that you let the cookies thaw STILL WRAPPED IN THE PLASTIC. If it’s a box full, put them out over night. This is so that any condensation forms outside the plastic. If you’re shipping them I would just leave the plastic on and pop the whole thing right in the box.

For dough, form the cookie balls and freeze them uncovered on a parchment lined sheet or cutting board for a couple hours. Then you can drop the frozen balls into a ziploc. Pull them out and bake them off as needed. Baking from frozen will definitely work but may affect spread and baking time a little. You could also thaw them in the fridge uncovered and separated.

[Anonymous]

I make the dough, shape, and freeze them. Then bake whenever I have time. They easily keep in air tight containers in the refrigerator for weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cookies freeze really well and so does most cookie dough.

For cookies:

If the cookies are still warm at all, or even if you’re not completely sure, freeze them first flat and uncovered on a cookie sheet or a cutting board lined in parchment paper. Just for 30 min or an hour. If you forget them for a few hours that’s fine. This is a really good step to do if it’s the evening. Speeds it all up.

Then put them in a container (the gift container if gifting, with the ribbon and everything if you want) and wrap it well in plastic or put it in a freezer ziploc. The longer they will be frozen, the more care is required on the wrapping.

It’s very important that you let the cookies thaw STILL WRAPPED IN THE PLASTIC. If it’s a box full, put them out over night. This is so that any condensation forms outside the plastic. If you’re shipping them I would just leave the plastic on and pop the whole thing right in the box.

For dough, form the cookie balls and freeze them uncovered on a parchment lined sheet or cutting board for a couple hours. Then you can drop the frozen balls into a ziploc. Pull them out and bake them off as needed. Baking from frozen will definitely work but may affect spread and baking time a little. You could also thaw them in the fridge uncovered and separated.

DP. I don't have that much freezer space. What kind of freezer do you have? I do need a new fridge/freezer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make the dough, shape, and freeze them. Then bake whenever I have time. They easily keep in air tight containers in the refrigerator for weeks.

Great idea though I lack the freezer space for this!

[Anonymous]

I can't do everything right on Christmas Eve, nor do I have the space in the run-up to Christmas. So it's been years since we've done cookies, because other foods have taken priority in the kitchen.

I'm writing this in case you needed support that it's OK not to do everything.

[Anonymous]

I make multiple batches to give out out to neighbors and friends and for my family to eat in the week leading up to Christmas. Once one batch it gone I make more as needed so I am always handing out fairly fresh cookies. I have a solid group of recipes I make so I can whip up a few different types quickly. We don't actually eat any on Christmas as we have a different dessert.

[Anonymous]

You are fine. You need them starting on Tuesday. I would do anything moist last, as those tend to dry out. I would make them in this order - cut out, spritz, drop, bar. If your cookies aren’t holding for four days, you need better tins. Do not mix types - every cookie gets its own container. This year I am making more slice and bakes and baking one half and putting the other log in the freezer so we can bake them later when we run out of the first batch. Or, as I always do, next November when I find them in the back of the freezer and decide it’s holiday time!

[Anonymous]

Lots of cookie dough can be made ahead and kept in the fridge and you can bake as needed. Much better than baking and freezing cookies.

Also, if you stick a piece of bread in the cookie tin it helps keep baked cookies fresh longer. My grandma always did this and it really does work. Obviously not a savory flavored bread. White or wheat works the best.

[Anonymous]

I bake mine on the 23rd because I like them fresh for Christmas. My KIDS however want them starting Dec 1. Sorry no.

[Anonymous]

I started Wednesday and will finish today. Mainly using them tomorrow, so I am not worried about them lasting until Christmas.

[Anonymous]

I gave up on Christmas cookies years ago because there is just too much to do. But I make cut outs in January when I have the time. I have a mitten, a star, and a snowflake cookie cutter and I love my January cookies!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cookies freeze really well and so does most cookie dough.

For cookies:

If the cookies are still warm at all, or even if you’re not completely sure, freeze them first flat and uncovered on a cookie sheet or a cutting board lined in parchment paper. Just for 30 min or an hour. If you forget them for a few hours that’s fine. This is a really good step to do if it’s the evening. Speeds it all up.

Then put them in a container (the gift container if gifting, with the ribbon and everything if you want) and wrap it well in plastic or put it in a freezer ziploc. The longer they will be frozen, the more care is required on the wrapping.

It’s very important that you let the cookies thaw STILL WRAPPED IN THE PLASTIC. If it’s a box full, put them out over night. This is so that any condensation forms outside the plastic. If you’re shipping them I would just leave the plastic on and pop the whole thing right in the box.

For dough, form the cookie balls and freeze them uncovered on a parchment lined sheet or cutting board for a couple hours. Then you can drop the frozen balls into a ziploc. Pull them out and bake them off as needed. Baking from frozen will definitely work but may affect spread and baking time a little. You could also thaw them in the fridge uncovered and separated.

DP. I don't have that much freezer space. What kind of freezer do you have? I do need a new fridge/freezer.

I have a normal drawer freezer. Cookie time is a good prompt to clean it out. Cookies don’t take up that much space though, no? Half empty is more than enough.