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Can you freeze cookie dough with eggs? The answer is YES! There are few things in life as satisfying as a warm cookie that has come right out of the oven.
In this post, we will use chocolate chip cookie dough as an example, but this technique will work for just about any cookie. Keep reading to learn more about how easy is it to do!
FREEZING HOMEMADE COOKIE DOUGH
The main concern that people have with eating cookie dough containing raw eggs is the fear of salmonella and e-coli.
With this process that we’ll show you, you will be making the raw cookie dough and freezing it immediately and safely. We’d recommend keeping them in the freezer for 2-3 months (but if you’re like us, they won’t even last nearly that long!)
Cookie dough freezes beautifully. After we describe the freezing process, we’ll also explain why chilling your dough will result in the best cookies.
Here is the freezing process that we recommend in 3 simple steps, regardless of the type of cookie dough that you’re making.
STEP 1: PREPARE YOUR COOKIE DOUGH
The first step is to make your favorite cookie dough. This will work for whatever kind of cookie that you’d like to make. Whether you are making chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, or peanut butter cookies, try this out.
After you’ve made your cookie dough, use a cookie scoop (they are usually approximately 2 tablespoons in size) to scoop out individual dough balls.
Next, you’re going to place them on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Keep in mind that you’ll want to use the right size cookie sheet so that it can fit in your freezer.
(In the next step, you’ll place the entire cookie sheet in the freezer so make sure it will fit flat in your freezer. Use smaller cookie sheets if you don’t have as much space in the freezer for a larger cookie sheet.)
Don’t worry about the spacing of your dough balls because you are only freezing the dough balls and then transferring them to an airtight container later.
Just space them far enough apart so that the raw dough balls are not touching.
Once you’ve fit all the dough balls that you can fit on your cookie sheet, move onto the next step.
STEP 2: FREEZE THE COOKIE DOUGH BALLS TO PREPARE FOR STORAGE
This step is simple. Take your cookie sheet and place it right into your freezer for 1 hour. There is no need to cover the dough balls with plastic wrap.
Your cookie dough will only be in your freezer uncovered for 1 hour, so there is no need to worry about freezer burn.
STEP 3: PACKAGE UP THE DOUGH BALLS IN A FREEZER BAG
After an hour has passed, take your cookie sheet out of the freezer. You’ll now want to transfer your frozen cookie dough balls immediately into an airtight container.
The reason that you froze the individual dough balls in the previous step is so that they won’t stick together when you finally package them up for longer-term storage.
You can use any type of airtight container, but we like to use freezer ziplock bags for this purpose. Smaller freezer bags (1 quart size) work very well. Into each bag, you can even freeze just enough cookies that would fit onto one cookie sheet.
Stack your cookie balls into the plastic bag. Partially close the bag, squeeze out any extra air, and close the bag up completely.
Then simply place your baggies right into the freezer! They will easily and safely keep for 2-3 months or more when they are frozen this way.
Whenever you’re ready to bake cookies, simply take your dough balls right out of the freezer and pop them right into the oven like you normally would bake them.
WHY FREEZE COOKIE DOUGH?
1. CONVENIENCE
After you’ve made a whole batch of cookie dough, you can freeze it like we described above and have them ready to bake anytime you need them.
If you have unexpected guests arriving to your home, or even if you don’t have time to prepare dessert for your family for dinner, this is a game changer.
It is a great way to save time since you’ll already have dough balls sitting in your freezer. You can make a fresh batch of cookies anytime you need them, in a matter of minutes!
And who doesn’t like fresh chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven?
Even if you’re whipping up a batch of dough that you need to bake immediately, consider doubling the batch so you can have leftover dough to flash freeze and then store in a ziplock bag like we described above.
2. IT CHANGES THE SPREAD OF THE COOKIE
When you chill your dough, the resulting fresh-baked cookies will spread less in the oven. Why is this?
The butter that is in the cookies will solidify in the freezer. As cookies bake, the longer the butter stays solid, the less your cookies will spread.
3. BROWNING, TASTE, AND TEXTURE
Chilling the cookie dough before baking will result in the cookies browning more in the oven. They will also be more pronounced in flavor and have a chewier texture versus making cookies from room temperature dough.
If you don’t want to freeze the cookie dough, you can still achieve these effects by using the refrigerator.
For best results, King Arthur Baking Company states that chilling cookie dough in the refrigerator for as little as 30 minutes will accomplish a reduction in spread of cookies, as well as achieve more browning, better taste, and a chewier texture.
King Arthur also states that you’ll see the most dramatic difference between zero chilling and chilling for 30 minutes. Any effects after 30 minutes of chilling will be diminishing returns.
But nothing beats the convenience of having frozen dough balls in your freezer that are ready to bake at the drop of a hat. And who doesn’t want a good cookie fix whenever we need it? You can even bake individual cookies (or a handful) as needed.
Freezing your cookie dough truly is a game changer. Pick your favorite cookie recipe and give it a shot. Although there are varying opinions on what makes a perfect cookie, it’s useful to know how chilling affects the quality of your homemade cookies.