Hi all,
I'm going to make my first batch of decorated cookies. How far in advance can i bake the cookies and have them decorated with them still being fresh by the time i deliver them - which will be a saturday?

thanks!

If you want to get a head start, they can be frozen. You can freeze the dough, freeze the cut cookies, freeze the baked cookies AND freeze the decorated cookies. Just be sure they are wrapped well and protected from frost and odors. If they are decorated, there may be some condensation. If you have lots of decorations, lay the frozen cookies out and don't touch them until they are dry again. Other wise, they can defrost in a couple of hours on the counter in the containers.

Good luck.

thx smuffin...i was about to ask the same question. I need to make some for my DH's students next thursday. So this being my first batch, wanted to know how early i can start. What if u dont want to freeze them...how early??

If the decorated cookies are frozen do you let them dry in what they are wrapped in? Thanks

I made cookies for Valentines Day for sons 3rd grade class, VD was on Tues and I had surgery on Monday, made the cookies a week before and froze them, decorated them with fondant Sunday, laid them out flat on large baking sheets, put a few slices of bread on top of some foil on top of some cookies and covered tightly in foil. They were fine for 2 days.

I heard that these cookies stay fresh for up to 10 days. I know that I have eaten them 5 or 6 days after they were baked and they were great .

ml

I'd say without being frozen, they're probably best within 7-10 days.

Have fun!

thx all for all the useful information!!

thanks everyone for your helpful advice!