Can you freeze decorated sugar cookies? Yes, you absolutely can! You can freeze them un-iced or decorated. Let’s dive into all of the best methods for how to store royal icing cookies.
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How to dry cookies decorated with royal icing
First, let’s make sure our cookies are dried properly to begin with. Make sure your cookies are drying on a flat surface (like a baking sheet–NOT a cookie drying rack with expose holes underneath the cookie). As long as the cookie is iced and is on a flat surface, the only part of the cookie exposed to their air are the sides.
You MUST wait until your cookies are completely dried before you can store them in an airtight container. You CANNOT put royal icing cookies in an airtight container until the icing is hard to the touch. This takes about 8 hours.
Read this post for more information on how long it takes royal icing to dry and troubleshooting icing not drying correctly.
How to store royal icing cookies
Short-term storage
Once the cookies are completely dried they can be stored in an airtight container (either just stacked on top of each other or for a safer storage in between layers of PARCHMENT–not wax). Whether or not you need to put parchment paper in between depends on your cookie recipe (some stick together more than others–I’ve never had that issue with my recipe) and/or if they’re decorated (generally speaking I’d recommend there always be something separating the cookies if they’re decorated).
I will store cookies this way (either un-iced or decorated) for up to 1 week. If I know I’ll be using them after 1 week, then I’ll freeze them.
Long-term storage
If keeping the cookies for longer than 1 week, I recommend freezing. For freezing, I recommend layering the cookies in between PARCHMENT (not wax) paper in an airtight container (unless you heat seal them like I do, then you don’t need to do this!). Check out this blog post on heat sealing.
For larger quantities of cookies I have a larger container where I can store two layers of cookies upright. So many cookies!!
How to thaw/defrost:
When you’re ready to defrost, you MUST leave the cookies in the container on the counter (and/or still in their heat sealed bag) until they are fully defrosted. If you take them out too early when they’re iced the icing will melt/bleed as it defrosts. I usually give them at least 6 hours to defrost. Cookies can stay frozen for at least 6 months (but I’ve gone longer!)
How far in advance can you make the cookies?
If you want to make your cookies in advance… totally doable!
1 week before event: I start the process UP TO 1 week before the event and don’t do any freezing in this time period (either of the icing or cookies).
More than 1 week before event: I usually like to freeze baked un-iced cookies and prepped fresh batches of icing (I’m always paranoid iced cookies will not defrost correctly, even though that RARELY happens). You CAN completely decorate and freeze before the event though!
Check out this post for more detailed instructions on how to store royal icing.
How long do decorated sugar cookies last?
On the counter in an airtight container, I’d say up to 3-4 weeks. Personally, I prefer to eat them within 1 week or freeze them. Frozen properly, they can easily lats 3-6 months (or more!). You can even freeze dough before it’s baked (just makes sure it is VERY securely airtight!).
Should you store royal icing cookies in the refrigerator?
The short answer is… never! Unlike other kinds of cookies or baked goods that might stay fresher stored in the fridge, royal icing cookies will actually be ruined in the fridge! The moisture in the air from the fridge can cause the icing to bleed, soften or dissolve.
I’ve had many students assume you should put them in the fridge right after decorating while the icing is drying. This is also a big no no! The icing will never fully dry if you put the wet cookies in the fridge right after decorating (the icing has to be exposed to the air to fully dry properly).
Want to try cookie decorating?
Try out one of my online cookie decorating classes!
Ally
Thursday 4th of December 2025
If I baked my cookies today for an event next Saturday and I plan to ice over the weekend do I need to frost or can i just store them in the fridge once I'm done decorating?
thegracefulbaker
Saturday 6th of December 2025
ehhhh that's on the fence of whether or not it's really necessary to freeze. I'd say if you're comfortable with freezing, then do it. but otherwise I think it's fine. also, never ever store your royal icing cookies in the fridge! always in an airtight container and either on the counter/room temperature or in the freezer!
Jay
Monday 3rd of November 2025
Just to check, are decorated cookies okay to be stored in the freezer vertically, or is that just for the naked cookies?
thegracefulbaker
Thursday 20th of November 2025
yes vertically is better for decorated cookies so they're not smooshing each other!
Katlyn
Thursday 29th of May 2025
Have you ever re-froze the cookies? I pre baked 2 different orders and put them in the same Tupperware cause they were for around the same time. But one of the orders got pushed up a bit. Could I take some of the cookies out and just thaw those? Or have to thaw all at the same time??
Kerianne
Wednesday 8th of October 2025
@thegracefulbaker, following up on this: If I freeze a large batch, then thaw to decorate, then freeze till the date, that wouldn't work, right? Or Icing the same way (make a batch, freeze, thaw to decorate, freeze decorated cookie till date)?
thegracefulbaker
Friday 30th of May 2025
I take out only what I needed from frozen cookies all the time! Sounds like what you're asking, right? Doesn't sound like you actually need to re-freeze them... you just want to take some out of the container and leave the rest in the freezer? It's ok to have the container open for a minute or two (whether they're naked or iced cookies) and that won't cause the cookies to thaw incorrectly/have color bleed on the icing :)
Deanna Naivar
Wednesday 21st of May 2025
I use self sealing bags which are not air tight. My question is can I still freeze them by stacking in containers after they have been iced, dried and put in self sealed bags? I have read not to open the container until they are completely thawed. So don't they get messed up if they are stacked in the container?
thegracefulbaker
Sunday 25th of May 2025
yes all of that works!! indeed do not open the container until the cookies are completely thawed... I'd leave them on the counter overnight to be safe :)
Krista
Thursday 3rd of April 2025
Can you freeze them with transfers on them? It looks like the picture at the top might have some transfers on it so I wasn’t sure. I’m still a super newbie, but I’m interested in trying transfers. Thank you!!
thegracefulbaker
Tuesday 8th of April 2025
yes, absolutely! the cookies don't have transfers on them in that picture, but there's no issue with that :) just makes sure they are flush to the cookie/pack them in such a way that the transfers won't break!