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Whether baked from scratch or made from a mix, a batch of homemade cookies fresh from the oven is one of life’s little delights.
“I’ve always been a firm believer that when you’re making cookies, you are making them to be eaten,” attests Rushion McDonald, a popular podcast host, award-winning film/TV producer and creator of Rushion’s Kitchen (an online destination for quick and easy recipes and more).
That’s why enjoying a homemade cookie immediately after it’s cooled is his idea of perfect cookie-eating timing.
“You should allow a cookie to hit room temperature and then serve it—because cookies are generally delivered and eaten in your hands,” he relates. But what if you want to keep these baked goodies around a bit longer? Here, McDonald was more than happy to share his easy tips on how to keep cookies fresh for enjoying now…and later.
How to Keep Cookies Fresh: Freezing
“Freezing a cookie is a fantastic way to maintain its overall quality,” says McDonald about how to keep cookies fresh with minimal effort. First, he points out the importance of allowing cookies to cool before placing them in the freezer.
His technique involves tightly wrapping cookies in plastic wrap, followed by a cover of aluminum foil (to help further “seal” the cookies), then placing the treats in the freezer.
As for how long frozen cookies will remain fresh, McDonald’s offers, “We’re not trying to keep that cookie until next year! So maybe a week, two weeks, it will be fine. It will not be damaged.”
McDonald also says to skip using plastic sandwich bags or plastic containers, as these won’t provide the proper protection for the cookies in the freezer. He notes, “Some people think a plastic container is sealed, and that’s not always the case because there’s space in there where air can get inside.”
To reheat previously frozen homemade cookies, McDonald places them in a microwave-safe platter and heats them in the microwave for about ten seconds. “If you start going beyond ten seconds, that’s exceedingly too warm for consumption,” he offers. “You always want to enjoy your food—the only thing you want to ‘blow’ on is soup.”
The Cookie Jar Myth
A cute cookie jar is indispensable when learning how to keep cookies fresh, right? The podcast host of Money Making Conversations Master Class is ready to bust that myth.
“A cookie jar is not a storage container—it’s a serving container,” clarifies McDonald. “A cookie jar is there for people to eat the cookies immediately…You make the cookies, they cool down and then you put them in the cookie jar. And when you have people over, or you have kids, then you put them in the cookie jar so they can immediately be eaten.”
For any cookie leftovers (if any), McDonald says plastic, zip-seal sandwich bags work perfectly as to-go bags.
The Ideal Cookie Container
So, the question of how to keep cookies fresh without using a cookie jar remains. The creator of Rushion’s Kitchen opts for a glass container with a sealable lid instead. “I like a glass [container] because it doesn’t retain odor. I like glass with a plastic snap-on lid,” he shares.
“Once those cookies hit room temperature, I put plastic wrap on top of the container, so my lid has an extra seal, add the cookies and then I slide that container into the refrigerator.”
He tells us this method of placing the container in the fridge will help keep homemade cookies fresher longer since they won’t be exposed to any temperature changes that may occur in your home due to heating or air conditioning.
RELATED: Rushion McDonald’s Passion for Perfect Baking
For the Love of Cookies
As a self-described “big cookie guy,” McDonald acknowledges that his philosophy is one of enjoying cookies sooner rather than later—especially when it comes to the homemade variety.
“Don’t turn your nose up on cookie mixes—they can save you a lot of time and deliver the results you want,” he advises about cookie making at home.
This renaissance man reveals he enjoys whipping up his favorite cookie, oatmeal raisin, from a Better Crocker oatmeal cookie mix.
“Drop some raisins in there, or chop up some pecans, and you get oatmeal raisin pecan cookies,” shares McDonald. “I love it. Easiest way to do it. Tastes fantastic.”
So the next time you whip up a batch of cookies in the oven (homemade or from a mix), enjoy the moment and indulge. Should there be any leftovers, well, you know what to do and how to keep cookies fresh now too!
For more about Rushion McDonald and Rushion’s Kitchen, visit his website or follow him on social media.
