That sweet crunch of sugar cookies is one of the best things in the world. I don’t think that there is anyone who doesn’t like sugar cookies. However, I can say that there are people who might not like stale and soggy sugar cookies.
Sweet treats are made to brighten our day and make us happy when we are feeling low. And one such sweet treat is sugar cookies.
You can have sugar cookies any way you want; without frosting, with tea, or plain without anything. Sugar cookies earn full marks in every setting and situation.
Sugar cookies should always be at home because a sweet emergency can arise at any time. However, the big question is, for how long can you keep your sugar cookies nice and crispy?
Well, you are going to find out pretty soon.
How long your cookies will last depends on how you prepare and store your cookies. If you keep them with utmost care and in an airtight bag or in an airtight container, then they can last in a good state for up to a week.
However, if you just place them in any container that doesn’t seal them or pack them properly in a place, then your cookies might not last even a few days.
If your sugar cookies are undecorated, you can place them in an airtight bag or container and refrigerate them so they stay fresh for a long time.
On the other hand, if you have decorated sugar cookies, you can put them in a cookie jar, which can stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. And if you put them in the fridge, they will be good for a week.
It’s all about how you store them.
Again, how you store your cookies makes all the difference in how long they last. If you store your decorated cookies with icing in an airtight container and put it on the kitchen counter, it will last in the best condition for up to 2 weeks; however, if you want to refrigerate them in an airtight container, then it will last a week in the fridge.
However, if you place them on the counter, ensure they are in a cool and dry place with almost no humidity. And if you want to have your cookies soft, then before putting them in the fridge or counter, line the container with a slightly damp kitchen towel.
When it comes to the sugar cookie dough, you can freeze it. Freezing cookie dough is a convenient way to have freshly baked cookies on hand whenever you want them.
Here’s how you can freeze sugar cookie dough: we are going to tell you the steps so that you can freeze your dough without any issues.
- Prepare the dough according to your favorite sugar cookie recipe.
- Start mixing your dough and prepare it properly. Once it is ready, either make small balls of the dough or you can freeze the dough as it is.
- If you are freezing dough balls, you can make small ones and freeze them on your baking sheet. However, if you want to freeze your whole dough without making balls, then tightly wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a zip-lock bag or airtight container.
- Let’s come back to dough balls; once your dough balls are frozen, put them in a zip lock or container and freeze them. Make sure that no freezer air enters the zip lock or container, or else your cookies can get freezer burn.
By freezing sugar cookie dough, you can get fresh cookies whenever you crave them or whenever unexpected guests arrive.
More readings:
- How long does cake last in the fridge?
- How long does bread last in the freezer?
- How long is cookie dough good for in the fridge?
Freezing sugar cookies isn’t a difficult task. All you need to do is store them in the best way possible. Follow these steps to freeze your sugar cookies.
- Once your cookies are all baked, place them on a wire rack and let them cool completely so that there is no steam left to make them soggy.
- Once cooled, take a single baking sheet and place it on a cool baking pan; place your cookies side by side on the sheet.
- Place your cookies in the freezer and leave them to freeze for 2-3 hours. Once they solidify, they can be stored in a container or zip lock bag.
- Safely put all your cookies in a Ziploc bag/ airtight container and remove as much air as you can from the bag.
- Once packed securely, put your bag or container in the freezer. And don’t forget to label the date of freezing on it.
Your cookies will stay fresh for a good 2-3 weeks. Whenever you crave your cookies, take out as many as you want and leave them on the counter for 30 minutes, or wrap them in a slightly wet paper towel and pop them in the microwave for 15 seconds.
Enjoy your fresh cookies.
Do Sugar Cookies Go Bad?
Sugar cookies can go bad, but they don’t go bad like the other foods, they don’t get fungus, or they don’t expire unless you forget about them for 2-3 months; then yes, they will go bad.
But, other than that, they have a relatively long shelf life because sugar, butter, and baking soda help preserve the cookies and stop them from going bad.
In preserving cookies, storage plays an important role. Because if you store them properly and ensure that not even the slightest air enters the container, you can even eat the cookies after two weeks. But if you leave them open, they will indeed become stale and might even get fungus.
Do Homemade Sugar Cookies Go Bad?
Like any other food item, sugar cookies can also go bad if they aren’t stored correctly or if they are left unattended for longer durations.
The shelf life of your homemade cookies varies from the store-bought cookies because, usually, homemade cookies don’t have preservatives included.
However, they can still last in good condition for up to 2 weeks if you store them properly at room temperature. Or freeze them in airtight bags.
If you want to consume your cookies after a week, ensure that you first check them for any sign of mold or spoilage. It is best to discard them if you think they aren’t good anymore.
Can You Eat 2-Month-Old Sugar Cookies?
If your cookies are stored in the fridge or freezer, you can consume them after two months. However, if they were outside, it’s better first to check them to see if they have not gone bad, and if you find them fine to eat, then you can eat them.
Always check the quality of your 2-month-old cookies by sniffing or tasting small crumbs of them. Trust your gut feeling when it comes to checking old food. Because it’s better to be safe than sorry
How Long Do Sugar Cookies Last with Royal Icing?
If your cookies are decorated with royal icing, then it’s better to consume your sugar cookies in the first 2-3 days of decorating them.
They can stay fresh and good at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, but they taste the best when consumed in the initial days of decorating.
To help your cookies to last longer, it is ideal to never expose them to any moisture or to never leave them without wrapping them properly. You can either store them ]in the fridge/ freezer or at room temperature.
Always store them in an airtight jar or container and line the bottom of their jar/container with baking paper so that all moisture is absorbed by it and your cookies don’t go stale.
Are Week Old Cookies Safe to Eat?
There is nothing wrong with eating weak old cookies, especially if they have been stored properly. And even if they aren’t stored properly, they will become stale but will still be consumable.
Apart from this, in my other blog, I told you how you can make your stale cookies fresh. So if you face the issue of stale cookies, make them fresh and then enjoy them!
Final Verdict:
Do you know now how long your sugar cookies will last? I’m sure with the help of this blog, you can even make a batch of sugar cookies for your upcoming event beforehand so that you will have wonderful cookies ready when it’s time for your event.
You can also enjoy your week-old cookies, so go ahead and eat those week-old cookies all you can because they are perfectly fine to consume.
