Halloween Cookie
Gift Ideas
Every year on October 31, kids around the nation celebrate Halloween. They dress up as princesses, pirates, and everything in between. Then, you know the drill. They go house to house bumming free candy off of people. Once they’ve had their fill, or their parents have, they head home to trade their treasures with siblings and friends or to devour their sweets until their stomachs ache.
That need for sweets doesn’t magically disappear as soon as you enter the teenage years. Unfortunately for adults, knocking on doors and asking for candy is frowned upon. So, how are grown-ups supposed to get their sugar fix? We recommend cookies. Like candy, they come well-portioned but don’t require 15+ “fun size” bars to satisfy the raving cravings.
Halloween cookie gifts are perfect for a night spent watching a spooky movie, a snack at a Halloween party, or a gift to a college-age child who is not home to celebrate with you.
What is the History Behind the Treat in “Trick or Treat.”
Halloween originates from a Celtic holiday called Samhain. Initially, the holiday honored the start of the harvest after the summer months. Celtic people would light bonfires and don costumes to ward off spirits in celebration.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III instated a separate holiday called All Saints Day to honor, well, Saints. As time passed, Samhain and All Saints Day mixed. The night before All Saints Day was called All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Many of the Celtic traditions were honored, like ghosts and dressing up.
There are three theories on how trick-or-treating came to be. The first claims that it stems from Samhain. Celts would leave out food and drink for the undead spirits, and door-knocking evolved from there.
The second theory asserts trick-or-treating is from a Scottish practice called “guising” or “souling.” On All Souls Day, poor individuals and children would go door to door and ask for money or food in trade for a prayer for the dead. Later, the prayers were supplemented or replaced with songs or tricks.
The third theory argues that trick-or-treating is derived from German “belsnickeling.” Children would dress up in disguise and knock on the doors of neighbors and friends. If the adults could not identify the dressed-up child, the kids were rewarded with food or treats. (Even if people can’t agree that this is the right theory, we think all of humanity can agree that “belsnickeling” is ridiculously fun to say.)
Whatever the reason behind knocking on doors, all we know is that we are grateful for another excuse to eat some dessert. And to wear our Harry Potter robes and not get weird looks. We like that, too.
Why Halloween Cookies?
We understand that cookies aren’t the conventional choice for a Halloween treat. But here are just a few reasons that should change:
- Well-portioned. Let’s walk a mile in Goldilock’s shoes. If the candy is too tiny, but the cake is too big? What’s the “just right” dessert? Cookies. Cookies are perfectly portioned, gooey goodness. With cookies, you only need two or three to satisfy your sweet tooth. Meanwhile, with candy, you must eat 10 or more pieces to dent your need for sweets. And with cake, there is no clear portion line. Cookies are the sweet spot.
- Neighborhood fame. There is always one house in the neighborhood that goes all out for Halloween and buys king-sized candy bars. All the kids know it and plan their Halloween route around snagging one giant-sized hunk of chocolate. But imagine the popularity you would gain if you offered cookies. Kids (and adults) would come running. You would be the talk of the neighborhood.
- Candy is overdone. Candy is the old reliable staple at every Halloween party. But let’s be honest: Skittles do not hit the same when you get past 12. Cookies are the perfect alternative. They get you the sugar you need to stay hyped through the last game of wrap the mummy. But cookies have a more refined taste. Crisp on the outside, perfectly gooey on the inside. Need we say more?
- Less mess. Let’s talk cakewalks. There is bound to be a cakewalk at any church or school Halloween function. And boy, what a mess do they cause? Cupcakes and cake are delicious, but their appeal decreases when five cupcakes have hit the ground and smeared neon green frosting everywhere. Kids are clumsy; we can’t sidestep that. But you can prevent the inevitable by getting fresh Halloween cookies delivered. If a cookie falls, sure, there are a couple of crumbs, but you won’t be cleaning up stepped-on frosting for days.
- A perfect connection with loved ones. Got a college student in Michigan? Or a child serving a church mission in Cali? Do you miss your old college buddies and your Halloween pranks? Bridge the distance by sending your loved ones a Halloween cookie care package. You’ll feel a little closer to them. They’ll feel a little closer to you. Bask in the uniting power of cookies.
Best Flavors for Halloween Cookies
Excellent choice! You’ve decided on getting some gourmet Halloween cookies delivered (either to yourself or a loved one), but now you need assistance picking the right flavors.
Here are our top picks:
Halloween’s trademark colors are black and orange. In keeping with that color scheme, we recommend either chocolate cookies or decorated sugar cookies (or both). If you choose both, our favorite chocolate cookies to pair with orange-frosted sugar cookies are brownie cookies, peanut butter chocolate cookies, and chocolate chip cookies.
Or you may want to go with an autumn theme. For that, we recommend snickerdoodles. Snickerdoodles pair perfectly with apple cider and hot chocolate—two gotta-haves at any Halloween bash.
But you can’t go wrong with any cookie for Halloween. Everyone has different taste buds, so look into ordering various cookies for your Halloween cookie gifts to cater to all taste buds.
Halloween Cookie Allergens
When ordering your Halloween cookie care package, be mindful of the allergens in cookies. Kids are the most at risk for allergies, so be especially careful if your cookies are destined for children. There are nine major allergens; cookies often contain three: wheat, dairy, and eggs. But, depending on the flavor, the cookie could also contain tree nuts and peanuts.
Who to Send Halloween Cookies to
- The teachers that will be dealing with your sugar-crazed kiddos
- Your next-door neighbors
- Stateside missionaries who’s door knocking is a little less cute and fun
- College students far from home
- Old friends
- Parents and grandparents
Or, send them to yourself. Say you are hosting the biggest Halloween party on the block. Cookies would be a major hit and earn you the coveted title of “the party house.”
Or say you are in a pinch and need something to bring to the church trunk-or-treat. You’ve got enough on your plate trying to convince your daughter not to change her costume for the 18th time. Getting fresh Halloween cookies delivered to you will save you some incredibly precious time (and everyone will think you are a kitchen god/goddess).
Why Buy Halloween Cookie Gifts vs. Baking Them Yourself?
Sure, you can bake cookies yourself, but here’s why you should leave the baking to the cookie professionals.
- Saves time. Halloween is the precursor to the busiest time of the year. Do you want to be spending hours in a kitchen? Didn’t think so. Time is money, so save a little and order cookies. Ordering cookies takes 5 minutes, max. The only supplies needed are two opposable thumbs and a device that connects to the internet. Then, within just a few business days, you will have gourmet Halloween cookies delivered right to your doorstep.
- Avoids baking mishaps. Baking is an exact science. A little too much baking powder or sugar and your cookie will come out of the oven all out of whack. That means you spent hours pouring your blood, sweat, and tears (figuratively, we hope) into that dough, all for a dessert that can barely pass as a second cousin to a cookie. Or, heaven forbid, you open the oven to discover burnt cookies. The horror! Burning cookies is a sad inevitability. And if you’re in a time crunch, there is no worse feeling than discovering charred cookies. Ordering cookies bypasses baking blunders and ensures every cookie you receive is beautiful.
- Skips the shipping. If you are baking cookies and trying to send them to your college student or missionary, we’ve got some bad news. Homemaking cookies and sending them across the country requires braving the post office. That entails lines that rival Disneyworld. Ain’t nobody got time for that! Skip the lines and the headache and let the cookie companies take care of the shipping. They have it down to a science and can get your cookies to their destination as efficiently as possible—and perfectly intact. And, if you choose the correct company, your Halloween cookie care package will arrive in beautiful packaging instead of a USPS box.
- Guarantees freshness. Imagine slaving away over homemade cookies, only to have them arrive at their destination as stale hockey pucks. Luckily, cookie shipping businesses know a thing or two about keeping their cookies fresh. They package, or double-package, each cookie in guaranteed air-tight wrapping. That way, no air can touch the cookies, meaning when you or the package recipient takes a bite, it will taste fresh from the oven.
- Prevents the mess. Baking is messy! Somehow, even weeks after making something, you find caked-on flour behind the mixer or feel stray chocolate chips underfoot. If you are hosting a Halloween party, the last thing you need is a dirty kitchen. Give the vacuum and rag a rest and buy the cookies.
How to Find the Best Halloween Cookie Care Package.
Sifting through the dozens of cookie companies trying to find the best one doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here is a guide to identifying the perfect cookie company.
- Find a company that uses top-tier ingredients. Some cookie companies put the “trick” in trick-or-treat. They make ghoulish ingredient swaps that lead to a subpar cookie. Make sure the cookie company you pick uses butter, not oil, and sugar, not corn syrup. You’re paying for the best, so don’t settle for mediocrity.
- Look for companies that use top-of-the-line technology. Ensuring your Halloween cookie gift is the best means you pick the company with state-of-the-art baking tech. The best cookie companies have ovens specifically designed for cookies. They have constant temperature monitoring to ensure every cookie is baked perfectly. They ensure a crisp exterior and soft and chewy middle, and they bake for lasting freshness.
- Make sure the company has variety. Don’t box yourself into three or four flavors. Everyone has unique taste buds, and seeing as it’s Halloween, you should indulge them.
- Ensure that the cookie company uses air-tight packaging. Cookies and air don’t play well together. Choose a company that seals their cookies entirely so that they taste fresh out of the oven when they arrive. If you want double assurances, which we would, go with a company that double seals their cookies. Double the protection, double the freshness.
How Many Halloween Cookies to Order?
The rule of thumb is two or three cookies per person. But here’s the thing. It is Halloween! Once a year, you can indulge in as many sweet treats as you desire. So, let’s be honest. Two to three cookies aren’t going to cut it.
We recommend generously allotting your CPP (cookies per person). Maybe four or five CPPs will suffice; perhaps a dozen CPPs is more up your alley. All we know is that once you take a bite, you’ll want to be goblin-up cookies all night long.