Storing Butter Cut Out Cookies

Asked by Calliope. Answered on 15th October 2016

Full question

I've made a batch of Butter Cut Out Cookies for my daughter's fourth birthday party. I'm away in the next week and working and wanted to get ahead with icing them. If I ice them will they be ok 6 days later? Thank you!

Our answer

Nigella's Butter Cut-Out Cookies (from HOW TO BE A DOMESTIC GODDESS are made with a dough that is easy to roll out and cut into shapes and the dough bakes into a crisp cookie. The un-iced cookies will keep well in an airtight container for 5-7 days, though they will soften as time goes on. Unfortunately once the cookies are iced they will turn soft more quickly, particularly if they are completely coated, as they absorb moisture from the icing. For best results we would recommend icing them only a day ahead.

The cookies can also be frozen but again they should be un-iced as the icing can turn a little runny when it thaws. Put the cookies in resealable containers, with a piece of baking parchment (parchment paper) in between each layer and freeze for up to a month. The cookies will thaw very quickly if put on a wire rack at room temperature and should be ready to ice after about an hour but check that the surface of the cookies is dry and doesn't have any beads of condensation, as this can thin the icing.