Freezing Cookie Dough and Baked Cookies and Pies

Source: The Staff at Allrecipes
This article was written by Ursula Dalzell, a former member of the Allrecipes
editorial staff.

Too many cookies on your hands? Want to have a large variety of cookies
ready-made at your fingertips? Like to have cookie dough around for those
last-minute needs? Move those frozen chicken pot pies and cartons of fudge swirl
ice cream aside. It's cookie-freezing time!


Freezing unbaked cookie dough
Most cookie doughs freeze extremely well and can be kept frozen for up to 4 or 6
weeks. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the dough will absorb
any odd odors present in your freezer if it's not properly wrapped and sealed.
To prevent this smell-sponge effect-as well as freezer burn-wrap the dough
securely twice. It's also a very good idea to write the type of cookie dough and
the date it was frozen on the outside of the package. When you are ready to bake
simply let the dough defrost in the refrigerator. This will take several hours,
so plan ahead. The cookie doughs that freeze best are shortbreads, chocolate
chip, peanut butter, refrigerator, sugar, and brownies, just to name a few. The
types of cookie doughs that do not freeze well are cake-like cookies and cookies
that have a very liquidy batter, such as madeleines and tuiles.


Freezing already baked cookies
Freezing baked cookies is a great way to preserve their freshness. Baked cookies
will keep in the freezer for up to 3 or 4 weeks. As with freezing cookie dough,
the most important thing to keep in mind is that you don't want your cookies to
absorb any odors. Double-wrap the cookies securely and write the date and the
type of cookie on the outside of the package. When you are ready to eat your
frozen cookies, just let them come to room temperature, or, for you impatient
types, pop them in the microwave on high for about 30 seconds. (Times will
differ depending on the size of cookie you're defrosting.) We still haven't come
across a baked cookie that doesn't freeze well. So feel free to freeze loads of
assorted cookies to keep yourself supplied with yummy goodies, any time.



* Pies. Custard and cream pies do not freeze well, which unfortunately means
that the requisite Thanksgiving pumpkin pie cannot be made ahead of time.
However, fruit pies, especially unbaked ones, freeze beautifully, as do baked
pecan pies and cheesecakes. To prevent sogginess, brush the bottom crust of
fruit pies with egg white before adding the filling. Before freezing, wrap pies
and cheesecakes securely in several layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer
of aluminum foil. Allow already-baked items to thaw overnight in the
refrigerator before serving. To bake a frozen fruit pie, leave it at room
temperature for 20 minutes to allow the glass plate to warm up, brush with
beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar if desired, then bake as usual, adding about
20 minutes to the baking time.