With a freezer, you can bake your Christmas biscuits in November and serve them as freshly baked in December. Here is which types work, and how to stop them going chewy.
Black Month pack Type by type
| Type | Freeze? | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Shortbread and butter biscuits | Yes | Freeze them undecorated |
| Soft gingerbread and loaf cakes | Yes | Wrap them well |
| Gingerbread dough and shortcrust dough | Yes | Thaw in the fridge overnight |
| Fried biscuits and doughnuts | Yes | Freeze the same day |
| Crisp gingerbread and syrup biscuits | Not needed | Keep well in an airtight box for several weeks |
| Thin wafer biscuits | Not needed | Fragile, so bake them closer to Christmas |
| Iced and dusted biscuits | Without decoration | Ice and dust after thawing |
How to freeze Christmas biscuits
- Let the biscuits cool completely. Warm biscuits create moisture in the box.
- Put them in an airtight box, with baking paper between the layers.
- Keep to one type per box, so the flavours do not mix.
- Write the type and date on the box.
- Put the box in the freezer. The biscuits are at their best for about 2 months.
How to thaw them without going chewy
When something cold meets warm air, moisture settles on the biscuits. So thaw crisp biscuits with the lid off, ideally spread out on a tray. Soft biscuits can thaw with the lid on.
If the biscuits have lost their crispness, put them in the oven at 150 °C for a few minutes. Let them cool completely before they go back in the box.
Freeze the dough instead
Gingerbread dough and shortcrust dough freeze well. You can then bake when you like, and the biscuits are freshly baked. Thaw the dough in the fridge overnight, and roll it out while it is cold.
When should you bake?
Freeze the butter biscuits in November, and take them out the day before you serve them. The whole plan is in Christmas baking ahead. Where the biscuits should be kept outside the freezer is covered in storing Christmas biscuits.
A box that can go in the freezer
The box must be airtight and cope with the cold. The Food Container 1,600 ml can take −20 °C to 120 °C. The lid clicks on, and the pump draws out the air. It is washed by hand.
Frequently asked questions
How long can Christmas biscuits stay in the freezer?
About 2 months. After that they lose a little flavour, but they are still good to eat.
Can I freeze thin wafer biscuits?
You can, but they are fragile and break easily. Better to bake them closer to Christmas and keep them in an airtight box.
Why did the biscuits go chewy after thawing?
Moisture settled on them. Thaw crisp biscuits with the lid off next time, and give them a few minutes in the oven at 150 °C.
Can I freeze biscuits a second time?
Best avoided, because the quality gets worse. Take out only what you will serve.
Can gingerbread biscuits be frozen?
Yes, but crisp gingerbread does not need it. It keeps well in an airtight box. See storing gingerbread biscuits.
Freezing a cake? See marzipan cake and cream cake.
Christmas biscuits ready in good time
The Food Container 1,600 ml has a lid and pump, and it copes with both cold and heat.
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