Oookaay... So, I am not a "professional" baker. I am a decorator at WalMart ( I know, I know... but I love my job and I just recently found out that I am a decent natural decorator.).

Anyhow, I made a trial batch of cookies for a friend who is getting married and wants cookies instead of cake, and they love them. It is a "cake" type of cookie. My husband's family calls them Christmas cookies. I don't know how else to describe them... but what I am trying to figure out is if I can make them in advance, how long in advance I can make them, and how I should store them.

The wedding is in October and I really don't want to make them more than a week ahead, but I need to make and decorate/glaze 300 cookies.

So, can I get a bit of advice from all the professionals? And I will give myself a touch of advice in not sticking my foot in my mouth and offering this up again.

Hello.
I make several hundred cookies at Christmas time, so I have to start in advance (usually a month or so) or I'd never sleep! After my cookies are baked and thoroughly cooled, I store them in airtight containers and pop them in the freezer until I need to plate them up to give as gifts. As for the glazing, I imagine that if you get them glazed, freeze them in a single layer, then you should be able to stack and store them in the freezer until they're needed for the wedding. I have been freezing my Christmas cookies for years; as did my mother and grandmother before me. So this is a tried and true method. I hope it helps! Best of luck!

I think that will be my only option! I don't think I am going to glaze them more than a few days in advance, though. Maybe even the day before and just store them in the cooler.

One advantage that I do have is that my husband and I run the family restaurant... so I have access to a HUGE Hobart mixer, restaurant size freezer, etc...

Well there you go! Wish I had such equipment at Christmastime! Best of luck with your cookies!

I've got myself in a similar situation. I'm doing cookies for my daughter's first birthday party. I'm planning on doing about 200-300 cookies. I'm planning on making the dough and cutting them out and then freeze them. Then when I have them all made, I can pop them into the oven one after another. Freeze the baked cookies then decorate about a week before. I guess I'm not planning on sleeping during that week. Lol! This is my first time making cut-out cookies. I've done some practice runs, but that's about it. And I want to try and make her cake too. I don't know what I was thinking!! Good luck with your cookies!!

Don't underestimate yourself Ms. Sunshine! What you do brings people joy and you get paid for it so therefore you're a pro. Whether you own a shop or work for someone else! We're just getting into cookies at my shop too! Good luck!

For large orders 2 weeks before I freeze the cut cookie raw then place them in a Ziploc bag with parchment paper in between to avoid them welding together.

About 5 days before my event I start the process:

Day 1 - I cut my ribbons & stick my business labels on the back of the cello bags
Day 2 - I bake then flood the base color
Day 3 - I do the accent detail or decoration
Day 4 - I wrap the cookies

When everything goes according to plan I am usually ahead of schedule a day but when things don't go well that day is a savior.