How to Reheat Cookies - Cookies for Days (2024)

Baking Basics

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I am convinced that warm gooey cookies have superpowers. If you want to know how to reheat cookies and get their mojo back, let’s chat.

How to Reheat Cookies - Cookies for Days (1)

Why Reheat Cookies

If you’ve ever waited anxiously by the oven for the timer to go off or stood in line at a popular cookie store (ahem, hi Crumbl Cookies), then you are no stranger to the majesty that is a warm cookie. Being completely honest, I’m always a tiny bit sad when I pull the cookies out of storage (be it the counter, fridge, or freezer) and they are no longer warm and perfectly gooey. If this feeling resonates with you, I’m about to make your day with the knowledge of how to reheat cookies.

Reheating cookies is super simple and can be easily done in a matter of minutes. And it’s a skill that is really delicious to have! So don’t worry about trying to eat the entire batch of cookies fresh out of the oven. Don’t cry over leftover Crumbl cookies in the box. Don’t mourn your freezer stash or the cookies you’ve hidden in your fridge. Instead, celebrate knowing that you can reheat your cookies to their original glory whenever you please!

How to Reheat Cookies - Cookies for Days (2)

The Best Ways to Reheat Cookies

These methods work well for reheating all kinds of cookies (yes – even monstrous Crumbl cookies)! If you need to warm up cookies that have been sitting on your counter, in your fridge or even in your freezer for a month, give one of these tips a shot!

  1. Microwave: This method works best with one cookie at a time! Place the cookie on a microwave-safe plate and heat them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Be careful not to overheat the cookies, as they can quickly become hard and chewy.
  2. Oven: This method is especially great for bigger cookies and larger batches of cookies. Think chocolate chip, oatmeal or served-warm Crumbl cookies. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the cookies on a baking sheet and heat them in the oven for 3-5 minutes, or until they are warm and slightly soft.
  3. Toaster oven: Use this method if you’re wanting to warm a smaller batch of cookies at once. Preheat the toaster oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the cookies on a toaster oven-safe tray and heat them for 3-5 minutes, or until they are warm and slightly soft.
  4. Air fryer: What can’t the air fryer do? I like this method as an alternative to the toaster oven for smaller batches of cookies. Simply preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the cookies in the air fryer basket and heat them for 2-3 minutes, or until they are warm and slightly soft.
  5. Steam: This method is great for single cookies that may have gotten a little hard. The steam from the paper towel will help to soften and warm the cookies in seconds. All you have to do is wrap the cookies in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 10-15 seconds. Voila! Warm cookies.
  6. Thaw: Okay, I know this isn’t necessarily ‘reheating’ but I thought I’d include it for you anyway! This method is great for cookies that are typically served chilled (like Crumbl’s mud pie or sugar cookies, etc) but have been in the freezer. All you have to do is remove it from the freezer and let it sit on the counter until it is softened to your liking!
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How many times can I reheat cookies before they go bad?

I would recommend reheating cookies when you are ready to eat them. Each time you reheat a cookie it will lose a little moisture and you don’t want your cookies to become dry!

How do I keep cookies from burning when reheating them?

Watch your time and temperature closely! Be sure to use a low temperature (when applicable) and stick close by your cookies while they reheat to ensure they aren’t warming for too long.

Can I reheat cookies that contain toppings?

Absolutely! Just choose the method that works best for you and give it a go! If you’d like to add frosting or additional toppings after, give the cookie a second to cool and apply normally as if you just pulled it from the oven.

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How to Reheat Cookies - Cookies for Days (2024)

FAQs

How to Reheat Cookies - Cookies for Days? ›

To Reheat Cookies in an Oven

How to reheat cookies without drying them out? ›

Steam: This method is great for single cookies that may have gotten a little hard. The steam from the paper towel will help to soften and warm the cookies in seconds. All you have to do is wrap the cookies in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 10-15 seconds. Voila!

How long to reheat cookies in the oven? ›

Preheat oven to 300°F. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Once the oven is heated, place the tray on the middle rack and allow the cookies to warm up for 4 to 6 minutes, or until warm. Remove your cookies from the oven and enjoy them right away.

How do you make cookies soft the next day? ›

Microwave Stale Cookies

Cookies go softer when they are warm - even if they have gone a little stale. So, go ahead and wrap wet kitchen tissues around a few cookies, and place them in the microwave on half power for 8 seconds (a second or two longer for really large cookies).

How do I save cookies for the next day? ›

If you're wondering how to store cookies overnight, keeping them in the refrigerator is a great technique for maintaining freshness. To store cookies in the refrigerator effectively, use airtight containers or resealable plastic bags.

How do you make cookies moist again? ›

Another way to soften cookies is by placing the cookies in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. The paper towel will release moisture and help to soften the cookies without making them too soft or mushy. Another way is to place the cookies in a plastic bag with a slice of apple or a damp tea towel.

How do you keep baked cookies from drying out? ›

Putting a slice of fresh white bread in the container with the cookies will help the cookies stay soft: fresh bread is moist, and that slice will give up its moisture for the greater good: keeping the cookies from drying out. We recommend white bread so that no flavor is transferred to the cookies.

Can you put cookies back in the oven the next day? ›

If your cookies have cooled all the way down and they're still more on the raw side, they'll have to go back in the oven. As per Food52's instructions, preheat your oven to about 300 or 325 degrees Fahrenheit, then add the cookies in for 10 to 15 minutes at most, depending on how underbaked they were to begin with.

Do cookies harden once out of the oven? ›

If the dough is shiny as it bakes (thanks to the butter or other fat in it), that shine will significantly reduce or go away once the cookies are set. As soon as they reach that stage, remove them from the oven. Even if they don't feel firm yet, they'll continue to set and harden as they cool.

Does microwaving cookies make them soft again? ›

Just wrap a cookie or two in a damp paper towel and then put them in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds. The moisture from the paper towel should soften the cookies right up. So if you wonder how to soften hard cookies quickly? Microwave is the way!

How do bakeries keep their cookies soft? ›

It's all about moisture. To keep it simple, cookie recipes that contain a lot of butter, brown sugar or egg yolks are going to yield soft and chewy cookies, because those ingredients add moisture and retain it for a longer amount of time.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

Cornstarch Is The Secret To Soft And Chewy Cookies.

What keeps cookies soft and chewy? ›

Keep Them Sealed

The key to keeping cookies fresh and soft is to seal them in an airtight container, like a resealable freezer bag. And here's a nifty little trick: add a piece of bread to the bag. You might think that the bread trick works because the cookies absorb moisture from the bread.

How do you keep cookies fresh for 5 days? ›

Store different types of cookies separately

But to keep cookies soft and chewy, store them in a container that has a tight-fitting lid. Test Kitchen Tip: If your cookies get too soft, crisp them up in a 300ºF oven for five minutes. If they're too crispy, you may be able to soften cookies with a slice of bread.

How long do cookies last in a Ziploc bag? ›

Place cookies in a fully sealable plastic bag or container. Store them in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Can you make cookies 2 days in advance? ›

Cookie Prep Tip #2: Make Ahead

With a few exceptions (say, piped meringue kisses), most cookie doughs are happy to live in the fridge for up to a week, and many will actually improve with age.

How do you make cookies soft again in the microwave? ›

Just wrap a cookie or two in a damp paper towel and then put them in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds. The moisture from the paper towel should soften the cookies right up. So if you wonder how to soften hard cookies quickly? Microwave is the way!

How to harden cookies that are too soft? ›

You can crisp up nearly any baked good. Preheat your oven to 350F, put the cookies or whatever on a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake for 5 to 10 minutes. Take them out and cool them like you would home baked cookies.

Can you put cookies back in after they cool? ›

When cookies turn out underbaked, they can still be salvaged. Quickly return them to the oven if they're fresh, or reheat at a lower temperature if they've cooled. For cookies too soft to crisp, repurpose them in desserts like parfaits or trifles. These strategies ensure no batch of cookies is wasted.

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