The Ultimate Guide to Reheating Cookies

Who doesn’t like cookies? More specifically, who doesn’t like fresh and warm cookies that just came out of the oven? Whether you are enjoying a nice dessert or just want a treat to get through the day, cookies are great for any occasion.

It’s easy to make cookies nice and warm again. You can reheat cookies in the oven or in the microwave. Both options work well to make your cookies taste fresh once more. 

In the Oven

This method works great if you want to reheat the entire batch or want the cookies to be reheated evenly. 

  • Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350℉
  • Step 2: Line your baking sheet with the cookies that you want to reheat. You can put parchment paper on the baking sheet first but the cookies shouldn’t stick since they’re already cooked. 
  • Step 3: Once the oven has been preheated, place the cookies in for 5 minutes. 
  • Step 4: Check the cookies. If they aren’t as hot as you’d like, put them in for another 5 minutes.
  • Step 5: Allow to cool and enjoy!

Pros:

  • Results in very warm and tasty cookies
  • Doesn’t take too much effort
  • Even reheated

Cons:

  • Takes more time than the microwave method
  • Not convenient for reheating a couple of cookies instead of a whole batch

In the Microwave

This method works great if you want to reheat just a few cookies. Also, this method is commonly used to soften stale/hardened cookies. 

  • Step 1: Wrap the cookies in a damp paper towel. Don’t wrap more than two cookies in one paper towel. Making the towel damp will help keep the cookies soft or add moisture to the hardened cookies.
  • Step 2: Heat for 20-second increments. Check the cookies after each increment. Cookies shouldn’t take too long for them to reheat.
  • Step 3: Remove from the paper towel and enjoy!
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Pros:

  • Great for reheating a couple of cookies at a time
  • Takes very little time
  • Little preparation needed

Cons:

  • May not heat evenly
  • Might make the cookies too soft
  • Not great if you need to reheat a lot of cookies 

Storing Cookies

To keep your cookies fresh for longer, store them in an air-tight container. Add a slice of bread into the container to keep them soft. The bread provides moisture for the cookies to absorb. That way you won’t need to throw them in the microwave for the purpose of softening.

Can Cookies be Frozen?

If frozen in an air-tight bag, cookies can be frozen for up to two months. This can keep them lasting a lot longer without the worry of them going stale.

To thaw them, leave them in the fridge overnight. This is the best way to thaw them without messing with the moisture content. The slow thawing keeps them soft. From there you can reheat them with the method of your choice. 

Don’t reheat cookies right from the freezer. The large change in temperature can dry out the cookies or make them heat unevenly. The only exception is if you are using the oven method at a very low temperature. That way it thaws at a slower rate and then cooks. 

Tips

  • To add extra moisture, drizzle some honey onto the bottom of the cookies before placing them in the oven. Don’t do this for the microwave as it can get quite sticky. The honey will make the cookies both sweeter and softer.
  • If your cookies have chocolate chips or something else that gets melty, reheat until they are melty again. That adds to recreating the fresh taste that they once had.
  • Microwave with a mug of water. If you microwave the cookies next to a mug of water, the water will help keep the cookies from drying out.
  • That being said, don’t put stale cookies in the oven. It’s only going to dry them out more.
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Final Thoughts

With either the microwave or oven, you can make your cookies hot and like they are fresh again. As long as you remember the tips to keep your cookies soft, you are sure to have hot cookies to enjoy once again. 

Reheating cookies is a great way to bring back the flavors that warmth brings. They also make the house smell nice once again. Who doesn’t like the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies?