How to Store and Freeze Baked Goods (2024)

4. An alternative for longer storage is freezing. Most icing does not freeze well, so if you are planning to freeze something that is to be served iced, plan to freeze the plain (not iced) item and ice it only after thawing.

To freeze baked items, wait until they are completely cool, place on a pan or large plate, then pop into your freezer, so items freeze individually and not all joined together. Once they are frozen, you'll need to transfer things such as cookies, muffins, and slices of loaves to individual freezer bags or wrap them in plastic wrap, so you can just put them into lunch boxes and work bags, as is, to thaw before lunchtime. Alternatively, you can use a larger freezer bag and place everything inside for removal, and thawing, one by one at home. Larger items, such as pies or cakes, can be put directly into their own well-sealed freezer bags. Don't blame me if you end up with freezer-burned items if you forget to wrap them well or pop them into a freezer (not just a regular plastic) bag. Most baked goods will keep well in the freezer for up to three months.

5. To thaw your frozen baked items, you can either allow them to thaw at room temperature over the period of a few hours or thaw them in your microwave on high in 10-second bursts, until soft. The microwave method is not recommended for pies, as it may make your crust go soggy!

6. If you want to reheat items to be served warm, however they have been stored, without using the microwave, turn your oven to 300°F, wrap the thawed item in tinfoil, and place in your oven for about 10 minutes. This gives a fresh, out-of-the-oven feel to reheated goods.

Excerpted from from Quick and Easy Vegan Bake Sale: More Than 150 Delicious Sweet and Savory Vegan Treats Perfect for Sharing, copyright © Carla Kelly, 2011. Reprinted by permission of the publisher, The Experiment, LLC.

Also see: How to Use Your Freezer: Tips from 'America's Dinner Mom'