How To Keep Those Christmas Cookies Fresh
’Tis the season for sweets! Nothing says, "Festive" more than some warm and gooey Christmas cookies.
Whether you’re a purist with the almighty chocolate chip cookie, feeling a bit nutty with peanut butter, or you are going all out with something from your ethnic heritage, you want those cookies to last a long, long time.
One of the hardest things for us to determine is when to start baking. Is December 15th too soon? Is December 20th too late? Is Christmas Eve your traditional baking day?
If you’re the early bird, don’t worry. Below are some ways to store those cookies so they stay fresher longer. In reality, we are all still eating Christmas cookies well into the new year.
Cool Fully Before Storing
Cookies in general take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes to fully cool after taken out of the oven. If they are put away too soon, the moisture will get trapped in the container and will lead to soggy cookies. We all like to dip the cookies in milk, but we want the cookie to have a good crunch for days after they come out of the oven.
What Containers Are You Using?
How many cookie tins do we have stored away in garbage bags in our basements or closets? How about those flimsy aluminum pans that were perfect in year one but are just falling apart every year after? What you keep your cookies in will determine how long they’ll last, so we go with airtight containers. Always use a sheet of wax paper between cookie layers to prevent them from sticking together. Storing this way, and in airtight containers, will help to store cookies for up to 2 weeks (or longer)!
Dry Cookies? Warm Them Up!
We all crave warm and gooey cookies fresh from the oven, but did you know that you can achieve the same if they are microwaved for up to 10 seconds? Covering them in a damp paper towel helps to lock in the moisture. If you also add half a slice of bread to your container the bread will reabsorb some moisture.
