So how long do decorated cookies stay fresh?
I get this question quite often so thought I’d share some info. with you in a short post. By no means am I an expert; it’s just what I’ve found works for me through trial and error, but I hope you find this helpful.
Before I begin, a few details to go over:
- I’ll be talking about the recipes I use (you can find them here). All recipes are different. Although the answers here will help you in general, it’s best to do some testing if you’re using other recipes, to find out how long yours will last.
- No preservatives are in the recipes I use – everything is from scratch.
- In terms of planning your cookie decorating, besides figuring out how far ahead you can begin making them, these Cookie Decorating Schedules may be helpful for you.
How far ahead can I make my decorated cookies?
Although I’ve tested them for longer and the batches I’ve tried seem fine for up to 4 weeks, my general rule of thumb is up to 2 weeks. I know they’re fine to eat at 4 weeks, but I feel better about giving the cookies away when the recipients don’t need to eat them right away.
It’s important to wrap them in some sort of an airtight bag or container once they’re dry. I like to put cookies individually in cellophane bags and tie with a pretty ribbon.
Shrink wrapping isn’t necessary, but I’d love to hear from you if this is the method you use. Do your cookies generally stay fresh longer?
A few other ‘shelf-life’ tidbits of information for you:
- Gingerbread cookies typically have a long shelf life. (4-6 weeks).
- I’ve also noticed that gourmet stores with custom decorated cookies (from scratch/no preservatives), have a shelf life of about one month.
- If you’re interested in freezing decorated or undecorated cookies, you can find information in this post and the comment section here.
Once Upon a Cookie – Cinderella
This Cinderella decorated cookie is the second in a series of princess cookies (Click here to find the first one), copied from this piece of art. {Thank you, suisei-ojii-sama!}. I tried to stay true to suisei-ojii-sama’s design, and really fought back the urge cover her dress in disco dust, but I couldn’t resist adding the tips of her little shoes, and of course, covering with disco dust.
Other Sweet Tidbits
A few sweet morsels of information I’d like to share with you:
- The Cinderella cookie shape was made by hand cutting the dough with a paring knife. Easy enough to do if you’re only doing a few cookies, but a heads-up in case you don’t already know, time-consuming if you’re doing a lot of them. There’s got to be cutters out there you could use though (drop me a line please if you see one), or even just pipe her on a rectangular cookie.
- I used a Kopykake projector to help me pipe Cinderella’s shape.
- Click here for the royal icing recipe I used.
Thank you for reading me here, I appreciate each and every comment, and love to hear from you!
If you’d like, leave me a comment below, on Facebook, twitter, youtube or instagram, and share your findings about the shelf life of cookies as well – I love to hear what you’ve learned in your cookie decorating journey.
Have fun baking!
xo,
Marian
p.s.
Sara says
Great post! I make all of my decorated cookies in shortbread, which has a very long shelf life. I’d say at least 6 weeks at room temp, even longer frozen or refrigerated!
Dotty says
Thanks Marian! Love that cookie. She’s beautiful!
I tried to sign up for your newsletter but the button doesn’t seem to be working for me.
marian says
Awesome @ Sara! Thanks!
Thanks for letting me know@ Dotty. I’ll go and fix that now.
Amanda says
Just stunning Marion! And such great tips! You are the best!
marian says
Thanks @ Amanda!
@ Dotty: It’s fixed now. =)
Jacquee says
This is extremely helpful, Marian. Being fairly new to cookie making/decorating, this is a concern of mine. Although I don’t sell my confections, it’s important to me that the gifts I give are at their freshest and tastiest! BTW – I am experiencing a little tip envy… are those all #1 or 1.5?
Dotty says
@ marian:
Done. Thanks Marian!
Georganne (LilaLoa) says
She is SO soft and pretty! I am LOVING your princess series! I can’t wait for the next one. (And by the way — GORGEOUS frame in the photo!!)
Jacquee says
@ Jacquee: Forgot the most important part – she is adorable! Love the frame and background.
marian says
HI @ Jacquee: Tip envy – funny! Most are #1.5, but some are #1’s.
@ Dotty: Thanks for signing up. =)
@ Georganne (LilaLoa): I need to pop over and see what you’ve been creating.. I’m sure many amazing sweets! xo
Helena says
Those cookies are soooooooo lovely…
Just wondering why you haven’t written a book yet… 🙂 (I’m serious)
I LOVE everything I see on Sweetopia, not only your creations but also the way you write, and the fact that you share everything with us…THANK YOU!
PS: sorry for any possible mistakes :S (I’m Spanish)
Jacquee says
@ marian: Thanks for the quick response! I have one of each – gets a little frustrating when more than two colours are involved. Will have to pick up a few more. Have a great Family Day!!
marian says
Awww @ Helena: Thanks so much!! (Your English is fine by the way!)
@ Jacquee: I used to have the same problem.. it’s worth the investment! Have a great long weekend too!
Paige says
Marian, a BRILLIANT masterpiece as usual. Got the cookie decorating fever recently and find myself buying cutters at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Good and of course Michaels Arts & Crafts using their 50% off coupons. It will take me a long time to get to your level of expertise but I am addicted and will keep going!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for sharing with us. Again BRILLIANT
Julie says
Hi, I have notice in your schedule that you prepare and color your icing on one day and that you start the decorating the next day. It is true that it takes some time, especially if you have many colors, but then the icing separates and you have to mix it again by hand. Is this really what you do ?
Miriam @ Overtimecook says
I was planning to decorate cookies in the next few days and freeze them to give out in a couple of weeks. Is it better to leave them out? What happens if you freeze decorated cookies?
marian says
Yay @ Paige! So glad you caught the cookie decorating bug too.
@ Julie: Absolutely, I do. Overnight (or even 24 hours or so) isn’t too bad for icing sugar and water separating in the container. A quick mix by hand usually does the trick. It’s when the icing sits a lot longer that you can start getting a lot more separation and more mixing (machine) is required. Icing colors also deepen with time, so if you need to be really finicky about the colors you’re making, overnight is good to see how they turn out. All that being said, whether or not I color and use my icing right away or use it the next day all depends on my schedule. (and of course, how picky I am about the colours). Hope that helps!
marian says
HI @ Miriam @ Overtimecook: Please click on the link I have in the post. There’s lots of great info. in the comment section of that freezing post as well btw. Have fun decorating!
Bea @ CancunCOOKIES says
Hi Marian,
Love your post, as I get the same question quite often… I sometimes seal my cellophane bags with a mini iron flat I bought for that purpose. You have to turn it off when it gets too hot, but works great and costs around $10.
Your COOKIE is perfect! Can’t wait to see all the Princesses!! About the cutter, when I first saw it, before reading you handcut it, I thought you used Wilton’s Large Gingerbread Girl cutter (the green one that comes in the 100 Cutter Set… maybe you can see if it works! xox
marian says
Hi @ Bea @ CancunCOOKIES: What a perfect idea! I’ll have to try that! Do you have it at a really low setting? And what a great idea for the cookie cutter, thank you! xo
Brantcookies says
They’re so sweet, especially the glass slippers! I’ve ordered my first pot of disco dust after seeing those ruby red mushrooms you made, so exciting! Thank you!
Marianthi Kalaitzi says
Dear Marian,
the princess is lovely and I really like the stylling of the photo shoot. I also saw the Royal Icing link. What a wonderful illustration of the recipe. Excellent work. Thank you for all the information and the ideas you have given me all these years.x
Cookbook Queen says
Marian,I just love that cookie..her shoes are just adorable!! And I have to agree–4 weeks is longer than I’d want to wait on eating a cookie. Love your tips!!
sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more says
so cute! I have found my cookies really dry out after a week, but those are usually the ones that are left over and not wrapped up properly. They still taste great, just really crunch, and I like a softer cookie.
Alicia says
Perfection as always – You never fail to be such a fantastic source of inspiration for me. I too have the cookie bug BAD.
@ Jacquee – I understand 100% you tip envy (lol) I just made my very first batch of cookies and all i have was two #2 tips – after a few color changes it got a little frustrating.
Kim says
i love that only the shoes are glittery! adorable!
and thanks for the tips! i’ve made a few batches of decorated cookies over the past year and i’m always wary about how long to keep them out and when it’s best to give them to friends since we don’t always have time to meet up right after i’m done, but with my last batch i noticed even after 2 weeks they were still good. so i’m glad to hear that they can potentially last up to 4 weeks!
Maria says
Wow… how beautiful. I love the way you have presented Cinderella!
Thank you for all your info and talent.
ML
Janet says
As always, Marion, your work is gorgeous!
I find that my decorated sugar cookies stay fresh for about a month too. I’ve sent them to our son in Afghanistan, and he and his buddies have raved about cookies I know were baked a full month before they arrived to them. Of course, I do keep them in an air-tight container. Frozen, undecorated cookies last even longer, which is fantastic since I like to cut out hearts for Valentine’s Day cookies with my Christmas batch and Easter shapes with my shamrocks!
Keep up the great work – You inspire me daily!
Janet says
Forgive me, Marian! (Not Marion…) Marion is my cousin… Again, with apologies!
Michelle Hawkins says
Hi Marian! I love your cookie (as always)!! I especially love her headband – perfect!
I have people ask this question all the time, so I was happy to see your post about it. My cookie recipe bakes a tender cookie but with a crispy outside. I have found that after about 10 days, the consistency of the cookie changes a little, to more of a crunch. The taste/flavor is still there, but the texture is a little different. I don’t think mine is “stale” after 2 weeks but definitely a little different texture – probably wouldn’t know it was different until you had a freshly baked one next to it.
xo
Michelle
Lindsey says
Loving all your suggestions. I just recently got into cookie decorating (at christmas) and I can’t stop now! Almost every week I’m finding an occasion (excuse) to make them. But I like doing things well (as I can se you do too) and my piping isn’t as steady as I’d like. I get really frustrated because I’m so eager, but it isn’t as I’d hoped. Do you prop your arms on something, warm your icing in your hands before starting, or use small bags for piping? I would love more tips for the eager perfectionist cookie decorator! Thanks for all the great inspirations you have here.
Heleen says
I agree with you with the one month preservation. Sometimes (not very often and not for the whole set) the decoration falls apart from the cookie after a couple of weeks, I’m not sure what happens in those cases but I’ll see it more often with the cookies that have been hanging in the christmas tree.
Now I’m practicing airbrushing with the cookies and it is really fun! With a few drops of color it is possible to decorate lots of cookies!
Kristen says
Such great info in this post and the princess cookie is amazing!
Debi says
Marian, I just LOVE your site! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful work and all your knowledge with us. Sweetopia is my favorite go-to site for inspiration and this post is so helpful. Thank you!
Janet says
@ Sara:
Would you share your shortbread recipe? I have been looking for different flavors other than sugar cookie to make.
Janet says
Adorable cookie. Love the addition of the shoes.
Joe cy says
I got a question… Is my receipe of icing got problem !? After I put the icing on top of cookie, when dry, the cookie become relatively soft… Not Crispy as before… Ay tips to improve ? ( the icing I made will be “serprate” after a day, is it normal ?)
Thank you very much.. My gf is coming in march… Hope I can make something special to her.
Carrie Funk says
Marian, Thank you so much for this post. I’ve always wondered how long cookies will last. I try to make cookies for a big Halloween Party every year and making cookies 2 days before the party, I’m going insane! I don’t have time, I can’t get as creative as I want with decorating, and so on! This post solves all my problems 🙂 Well, Except that I have have every container full of cookies because I’m trying to get them to dry and I don’t want to stack them!
Thanks again!
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Hi @ Brantcookies: I looove disco dust, as I’m sure you can probably tell. Have fun with it!
Thank you so much@ Marianthi Kalaitzi! Cool name by the way. 😉
@ Cookbook Queen: Thank youuu!
@ sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more: Thanks for the tips!
Yay for the cookie bug! @ Alicia, have fun!
@ Kim, @ Maria: Thanks, guys!
@ Janet, @ Michelle Hawkins: REally appreciate the sharing. xo Oh and Janet, no worries, about the name; it’s an easy one to confuse!
Hi @ Lindsey: I completely understand! I think watching my videos on youtube will help, and yes my hand IS shaking, so i rest it on the table. Check out my videos… find them by clicking on the yellow youtube button on the top right of the blog. Good luck!!
@ Heleen: How fun!
@ Kristen, @ Janet: Thanks!
@ Joe cy: It sounds like you live in a humid area. Check out my post on ‘drying cookies decorated with royal icing’ – it’s on my youtube channel. That’s SO SWEET that you’re doing that for your girlfriend!! She’s a lucky girl!!
Hayley S says
Thanks for this post Marian!!
Stephani Austin says
Thanks so much for your great info. I’m heading out to the craft store… let’s see if I can make it home without picking up about 4 more #1 tips… And that’s so helpful. I’ve started doing events, so it’s nice to know how long cookies will stay fresh for. I should test my recipe, but it is nice to know I can deliver cookies Easter week, and not have to have them made just a day or two in advance. 🙂 Awesome information. Appreciate it a lot!
Marian (Sweetopia) says
My pleasure, @ Carrie Funk and @ Hayley S!
@ Stephani Austin: Ha ha, have fun shopping! (and making your Easter cookies 😉
Laurel says
I live in Houston, and while I’ve never tested my theory, I’m going to jump out on a limb and say that the humidity here would render a cookie rather icky after a couple of weeks. You could still eat it, but it would be REALLY soft and not the highest quality.
Cookie Crazie Pam uses treat bags and seals them with a straightening iron that she purchased for the sole purpose of packaging her cookies. It’s not shrink-wrapped, but they are individually sealed.
As far as cookie cutters go, why not make your own? The best tutorial I’ve seen (I’ll have to look for it.) suggested you first trace the shape onto plywood and cut it out with a band/scroll saw then wrapping the copper or tin around the wooden cutout. It’s an extra step, but helps with the details.
BTW, Marian, have I told you lately how talented you are??????
Laurel says
@ Laurel:
Here’s the link:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/CookieCutters.htm
Yvette says
Once again Marian, you amaze me!!! Your cookies are delightful! Thanks for all of your helpful hints, as I am new to cookie decorating and you have answered so many of my questions long before I was able to ask them. Thanks again! You are a GEM!!!
Marie LeJeune says
Gorgeous as always, I hope you do a Belle princess cookie. My little girls birthday is in April with a beauty and the beast theme that these would be perfect for.
Regina says
Thank you for the great tips Marian. Helpful and informative as always 🙂
Your Cinderella is adorable. Reminds me of a time when it was my baby-sisters favorite movie. She could watch the VHS every single day 😉
John Snediker says
This I think is the great dilemma with sugar cookies decorated with royal icing. They are beautiful but if they are not eaten with in the proper time they may not taste as good as they look.
For me, in my humble (maybe not so much) opinion these cookies are best when eaten within a couple of days of icing. You can extend that by following Marian’s tip of individually bagging each cookie to keep them fresh. I like them when the icing had dried but not hardened to the crack stage.
Once they get to the crack stage, where the icing has completely dried through the whole layer I don’t like them so much. I call that cured stage. Having switched from working concrete to royal icings hehe what is what you call concrete when it has dried, released all the moisture it is going to. Let me say royal icing tastes better if you get some in your mouth while working with it…
I have started to sell cookies at holiday time, it started as sending them as gifts to family and friends. This Valentines day I made about 1,000 cookies out of my little home kitchen. Since I am really quality conscious my goal is to ship the cookies the day after the last touches of icing go on… usually less that 24 hours. I ship priority which usually takes 2 days, I think any more than that is pushing it as far as giving the eaters the best experience.
I was having some issues when I’d ship, the people would look at the cookies, want to show them off and by the time they got to eating them a few days after getting them they have go past the optimal freshness and taste. One thing I have done is include some minimally decorated cookies ones that they’ll just eat up upon opening. So that way they can experience them they way they should. I also say “take pictures but eat your cookies now”.
Sorry for the long winded post too much caffeine this morning I guess.
Big fan of Sweetopia!
John
Katie says
Thank you for sharing!
I use a butter cookie as my base for all of my flavors rather than the typical sugar cookie. I love the nutty, toasty flavor with the sweet royal icing.
And after testing and tasting I use the same standard you do telling my customers the ‘Best By Date’ is 2 weeks after baking and ‘Still Delicious By’ after 4 weeks from the baked on date. And my impulse heat sealer is my best friend for keeping everything fresh.
Isabel says
Hi Marian!
Thanks a lot for your post. It’s fantastic… As usual! I really love your Cinderella cookie!! I’m wondering where you could find a cookie cutter for your princesses… Let me search in some online stores (I write you from Spain … (Sorry for my english) but I’ll try to find them in the USA) but my first idea is… Why don’t you make your own cookie cutter?
Here I send you a link where the material is available
http://cookiecutter.com/l9006.aspx
And here a website explaining how to make it.
http://cakecentral.com/tutorial/how-to-make-your-own-cookie-cutters
If you can make these awesome cookies, making the cookie cutter will be so easy
for you…
I’ll write you again if I find any cookie cutter for your beautiful princesses.
Thank you so much for sharing with us all your work. You ‘re fantastic!