Did you know that chilling cookie dough before baking makes a big difference? I'm sure you can successfully freeze the dough before baking, but it won't do what the recipe's author has in mind when giving the instruction to refrigerate it before baking. All other variables kept as is. You can even leave your dough in the fridge for up to a day or longer! The resting time also “gives the butter time to saturate the dry ingredients (which is why some recipes require melted butter), for softer cookies,” says pastry chef and author David Lebovitz.Of course, we didn't just take the experts' word for it, we put their theory to the test by baking our favorite classic chocolate chip cookie recipe three different ways—one batch was baked immediately, one batch was baked after chilling for one hour, and the last was baked after 24 hours of refrigeration. You can shape the dough first before letting it warm up. Not only will refrigerated dough be safe from ruin, many bakers swear that allowing dough to proof completely in the fridge produces a superior bake. Doing so leaves you with excess flour in the cookie dough. I made some sugar cookie dough and put it in the refrigerator (like you are supposed to for a few hours). While this step may seem unnecessary, it’s actually an important detail that can make a significant difference in how your cookies come out. Rolled biscuits will be lighter if you roll and cut them before refrigeration, rather than chilling the dough in a ball. If you need ideas for your holiday baking, see our collection of Cookie Recipes. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. If you are going to eat the cookies one or two at a time, rather than serve them to a group, consider wrapping each cookie individually before freezing. Great for when: You want to get the prep work out of the way, so that you can cut out and bake the cookies on another day. These cookies spread a little when baking, but if you want them to maintain a cookie cutter shape, add additional flour. If you want to make it farther in advance, freeze the dough. • Use frozen cookie dough within 4 to 6 months for best quality. Among her other favorite baking tools, Stella calls on a cookie scoop to portion out her cookies before baking.Any leftover dough—or the whole batch, if you're saving it for later—can then be scooped onto wax, parchment, or deli paper in groups of six, 10, or whatever single-bake servings you … These cookies were definitely more crispy and chewy than the cake-like cookies from round one. Did you know that chilling cookie dough before baking makes a big difference? Epperson said that like many foods, cookie dough benefits from resting (in the refrigerator, specifically) to let the flavors infuse and basically marinate together. Epperson said that like many foods, cookie dough benefits from resting (in the refrigerator, specifically) to let the flavors infuse and basically marinate together. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. First, it gives the enzymes adequate time to work on the complex chemicals to realize better and tastier results. Use a soft white flour that's low in protein, such as cake flour or pastry flour. Store in a tightly-covered container. Refrigerating the dough for even 30 minutes can improve the texture and flavor of that famous $250 Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookie or a tried-and-true Toll House recipe.“Chilling dough prior to baking lends itself to more tender, well-shaped, and slightly stronger flavored cookies," explains Meredith Tomason, Test Kitchen Manager for Nestle Toll House. Some recipes claim that chilling cookie dough creates a more flavorful cookie with impeccable texture. Wrap tightly with plastic freezer wrap or place log in a heavy-duty freezer bag. It is also important to consider that the dough can dry out in the refrigerator. Cookie dough typically stays good for around 5 days in the fridge. MyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. I'm sure you can successfully freeze the dough before baking, but it won't do what the recipe's author has in mind when giving the instruction to refrigerate it before baking. Unbaked, you’ve got about 7 days. If you freeze the dough and then let it come to room temp before baking, it won't set up as well as the dough that has been refrigerated before baking. Let the finished cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes prior to transferring to a wire rack. If you have the luxury of chilling the dough overnight to develop flavor, go for it. You can also freeze cutout cookie dough and other doughs that you’d roll out. Chilling the dough for just 30 minutes is enough to make a pronounced difference, but you can leave them in longer if you like. © Copyright 2020, 10 Virtual Games to Play When You Can't Be Together, 21 Easy Christmas Breakfast Casseroles to Make Ahead (or the Morning Of), Easy Homemade Carpet Cleaners to Tackle Every Stain, The Ultimate Holiday Tipping Checklist (and How Much to Give), 14 Great Christmas Movies You Can Watch Right Now on Netflix, How to Make the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie, According to Science. To freeze cookie dough for easy use later, place scoops of dough on lined baking sheets and freeze them for at least an hour, until the dough balls are firm. ... A traditional refrigerator cookie rolled in cinnamon sugar before baking. However, these were more soft and chewy, than crispy and chewy. "The flavor-enhancing ingredients such as vanilla, salt, spices, and sweeteners all become a bit more concentrated and heightened.”. Put the portioned-out and packaged cookie dough that you think you will use within 5 days into the fridge and freeze any leftover dough. Most cookie dough can be refrigerated, well-wrapped, for three to five days before baking. Try to put your cookie dough into the smallest container possible so there is less room for air in the container. The colder your dough is before it heads into the oven, the less it will spread during baking, which makes for loftier cookies. If you’re starting out with frozen dough, allow extra baking time to ensure that the centers are done. Among her other favorite baking tools, Stella calls on a cookie scoop to portion out her cookies before baking. How Long to Refrigerate Cookie Dough. You can refrigerate all kinds of yeast-bread dough. The extra crispiness also held up well to dunking, which checks off another criterion for perfect cookies.