I am getting ready to ice my cookies. Where do I keep them? They need to be left to dry for at least 12 - 24 hours (Antonia's icing), so can I keep them in a big box covered, but not airtight? Will the cookie be okay?

I use the same icing recipe. Do not stack the cookies until they are completely dry. That said, in a box would be fine. Because I don't have a ton of counter space, I put mine on a bunch of cookie sheets & put them in my (cold) oven. That way I have my works space & I know nothing will "accidentally" touch my cookies. Antonia's icing sets up pretty quick though. It usually doesn't even take 12 hours.

Hope that helps

I put mine back in my (cold) oven too, with the door just a tiny bit ajar - they're out of the way then and nothing is going to happen to them!

I cover a cake board with the freezer paper (shiny side up) and put my cookies on their then put them on top of my cabinets sitting on my cookbooks. This puts them about two feet from the ceiling and out of reach of little paws. They found a batch once and ate all but two cookies! The little darlings. Anyway I don't know but my thinking was heat rises and maybe they would dry a little faster. I leave them their overnight then put them in tupperware containers.

Thank you sooo much! This helps a lot!

In all honesty, I never cover mine with anything because the icing keeps them fresh. I have the stacking cooling racks from King Arthur Flour. You can make your own by using cans to stack your cookie sheets on or oven racks work nicely too. I use my oven a lot too the way you do and even with cakes when not in use.

I just let them sit on a cookie sheet with a piece of plastic wrap laying on top of them...but only after they has set. Or sometimes I'll stick them back into the COLD oven to get them out of the way....Mines usually dry within 12 hours or so.....

I used to put them in my cold oven, too...until my 1) DH didn't know they were in there and turned it on to pre-heat. 2) I left the oven light on once and my 6 yr old saw them...he looked and then opened the oven door a bit to see if it was on or not...and when he knew it was off, he got a whole sheet of cookies out and him and his brother had a grand time!!

So, now, I just put them on sheet pans or cooling racks and put them on top of my wardrobe in my bedroom.

I have those stackable cooling racks, and I just put the iced cookies on those and stack them in the corner of my countertop.
Kelly

Great respones!!!! I put them in a big cake box I have in my closet and the rest in a big cup cake carrier. I just have to watch out for my 2 yr old that almost always manages to find my baked goodies and stick her finger in them.


Thanks again!

Do you guys notice any difference in your cookies when you dry them in a closed oven vs. some place open. I am really baffled right now. I made a batch of cookies on Saturday, made a pile of Antionia's icing Sunday and iced a few cookies. They turned out great. I used more of that SAME batch of icing last night and this morning the cookies had a rough crystalized surface-exactly what I was hoping to prevent by using royal icing. I have a TERRIBLE time with glace icing doing this.

The only thing I can think I did different was the first cookies were dried in the oven propted open and the light on (I was in a hurry for those). Yesterdays were stored in a closed oven.

I dont' get it... but I'd love to figure out what is causing this crystalizing.

wasn't there a post here recently about drying them in the oven at about 160 degrees (farenheight) to dry them quickly and have a great shine?

I use Antonia's recipe also. I let the cookies dry to the touch then put them in a closed oven...no light as it seems to contribute a bit of heat. They turn out perfect every time. Check out my pics.