Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you’re more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies.
As a general rule of thumb, you should refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. More than that and you won’t see a noticeable difference in the final product, says Haught Brown.
As a general rule, any cookie dough left on the counter at room temperature will be good for 2-4 hours but then may risk going bad, especially if it is already past its “best by” date. The cool, dark, air-free container in your fridge or freezer will be the best place to maximize the lifespan of your cookie dough.
What happens if you don’t refrigerate sugar cookie dough? For cookies, they’ll spread out too quickly, tasting doughy and soft instead of full-bodied and chewy. … So, if you can’t wait the entire time requested by your cookie recipe, at least try to chill your dough for at least 30 minutes.
For starters, chilling prevents cookies from spreading out too quickly once they’re in the oven. If you use a higher fat butter (like Kerrygold), chilling your dough is absolutely essential. Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. … Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful.
Anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. The longer you chill the dough, the more flavor will develop. The flour will also absorb more of the moisture so the thicker and chewier the final texture will be. After 72 hours the dough will begin to dry out and you risk it going bad.
The most important thing to remember when thawing your cookie dough, whether shortbread-style or drop cookies, is to place it in the fridge. Do not thaw at room temperature, as this will encourage bacteria growth from the eggs in the cookie dough.
Stored properly, chewy cookies should last for up to a week at room temperature. Without storing them in an airtight container, chewy cookies get stale very quickly – in two to three days.
Merrill recommends putting dough near a warm stove, and pounding it with a rolling pin once it starts to soften. Trena cuts the dough into smaller pieces using a pastry cutter, figuring that they will come to room temperature faster.
Chilling cookie dough before baking solidifies the fat in the cookies. As the cookies bake, the fat in the chilled cookie dough takes longer to melt than room-temperature fat. And the longer the fat remains solid, the less cookies spread. In addition, the sugar in the dough gradually absorbs liquid.
How long can I keep cookie dough in the refrigerator before baking? Most cookie dough can be refrigerated, well-wrapped, for three to five days before baking. If you want to make it farther in advance, freeze the dough.
Place the log in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge (make sure to thaw in the fridge because you want the dough to still be cold and firm). Slice and bake according to recipe instructions.
Mistake: When cookies turn out flat, the bad guy is often butter that is too soft or even melted. This makes cookies spread. The other culprit is too little flour—don’t hold back and make sure you master measuring. … If too-little flour was the issue, try adding an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of flour to the dough.
Baked cookies can be kept stacked in an airtight container or popped in a zip-top bag. At room temperature: Eat baked icebox or slice-and-bake cookies within five days so they taste their best. … Keep logs of icebox cookie dough in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for six months.
How do I handle sticky NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Cookie Dough?
- Preheat the oven to 325º F. …
- Place the whole bar of dough with score lines or marks down on a prepared baking sheet or pizza pan.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the baking sheet or pan.