How far in advance can you make sugar cookies (with icing) for a birthday party?

Question

I just don't want them to get stale or soggy by Saturday! I was planning to store them in a big Tupperware bin. Do you need to put a napkin in there first?

Answer 1

You should be able to safely make these cookies up to about 5 days in advance, assuming the cookies are meant to have a slightly hard texture and the icing will cover most of the cookie. Make sure you cool them on a cooling rack (a clean oven rack will do) before icing, after icing-before storing. This will help ensure a crisp cookie.
As long as the cookies are completely cool, and the icing is meant to be completely set (hard, and dry) and is cooled, itself, you shouldn't need any separators in your plastic container. A divider like wax/parchment paper will work, or even plastic wrap, to keep the cookies a little neater, and less crumbs on top of the cookies.
I'm not sure how much this truly helps, but when I store things in plastic containers, I always apply pressure to the center of the lid, before closing to get out as much air as I can.

Hope this helps. Get bakin', girl.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Have you considered making the dough in advance and leaving it in the frig. Then bake and ice the cookies the day before the party.
If you do this let the dough come to room temp before you start baking.
Store the cookies in an air tight container lined with parchment paper. Put parchment paper between the layers of the cookies.

Answer 4

I would separate them with something to keep them from sticking together. Generally I don't make cookies sooner than the day before but my great-aunt makes them at least 3-4 days in advance and sometimes further out but freezes them.

Answer 5

I make most of my Christmas cookies in mid Nov. put wax paper between them and freeze them. When i take them out it's about 2-3 days before and they do stay fresh and taste fresh as long as they are in a protective container.

Answer 6

I would say about two days.