How long do sugar cookies with royal icing keep?

How should they be kept so they are as fresh as
possible?

If I freeze cookie dough how should I defrost.

I seldom freeze cookie dough, but when I do I defrost in the cooler. I wrap 2 cookies back to back with plastic film. It is time consuming, but is the best way I know of to store them. I do not freeze them. I just leave them in an air conditioned area and use within a week. You can freeze them for longer storage, but they are not as good. I give mine away after a week. They still taste fine, I just don,t like to sell them.

I don't make that exact product but I have handled them for clients. They usually come individually wrapped and last at least two weeks. I personally prefer a fresher thinner cookie than the ones I have seen.

I bake my cookies before freezing due to time constraints. Look at Betty Crocker and Pillsbury cookbooks they write alot about freezing cookies. Off the top of my head, I think alot of them don't need defrosting.