Someone across the country needs your love, which is to say…they need your cookies. But cookies, multiple days in transit, and heavy jostling don’t necessarily mix. So, what are your options?
We’ve been shipping cookie gift packages for years and have learned a thing or two in the process. In this article, we’ll answer your top questions, so your cookie delivery arrives fresh and intact.
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What’s the Best Kind of Cookie to Ship?
Sturdy is the name of the game here. Save your delicate macarons and Florentines for your next event, but don’t subject them to a cross-country journey. They’re not made for it.
Our top picks include dry cookies like shortbread, biscotti, gingersnaps, and meringue cookies. Because these cookies don’t have a lot moisture, they are less likely to go stale. No-bake chocolate peanut butter cookies also last a long time (usually a couple of weeks) and travel well. So do homemade rice krispie treats.
Sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip cookies, and peanut butter cookies are fan favorites, but because their moisture content is relatively high, they have a shorter window of freshness.
Can I Ship Them Straight Out of the Oven?
We get it…you want those cookies out of the oven and into the mail as quickly as possible, but if you rush the process too much, it will backfire. Stick your warm cookies into airtight packaging, and you could end up with condensation, soggy cookies, and mold. Cookies must cool completely before shipping.
How Should I Wrap My Cookies?
Air is the enemy; your job is to keep it away from your cookies. And so, brave cookie defenders, store your cookies in airtight bags. Two cookies per zip-lock sandwich baggie works well. For extra insulation, you can invest in individual stick-and-seal bubble wrap packages.
If you’re wrapping bar cookies, like brownies, stick a piece of parchment in between them so that they don’t stick together, stack them up inside the bag, and lay them on their side in the box.
Do not mix cookie types–unless you want your sugar cookies to taste like the peanut butter cookies they were packaged with.
Can I Keep Things Fresher on Ice?
Your package will likely spend time outside on a loading dock or in a truck that isn’t air-conditioned. If you’re worried about the warm air melting your chocolate chip cookies, you can store cookies with refrigerant gel packs in an insulated cooler. The cool temperatures can also help cookies stay fresh longer. Be mindful that this will cost you more (both for the fridge packs and the extra shipping weight).
What Kind of Box Is Best?
A tough one! Your cookies could take a beating, so don’t use an old, used box that won’t hold up. If in doubt, go with a box from UPS or USPS. USPS has a priority mail flat rate box (11.25” x 8.75” x 6”) that costs about $18.40 for domestic shipping and is usually delivered in one to three days.
You can put wrapped cookies directly in the box if you include adequate packing to keep cookies from breaking. Or you can put your wrapped cookies in a bakery box (prettied up with a liner of colored tissue paper) or in a cookie tin that fits within the mailing box.
Seal your box and mark it “perishable” and/or “fragile.”
How Do I Keep My Cookies from Breaking Inside the Box?
Once your cookies are bagged, place them inside the box. If you are sending multiple layers of cookies, put the sturdy, heavier cookies on the bottom. Then, fill in all of the gaps with crinkled paper, packing peanuts, or air-popped popcorn. (Bonus: popcorn is cheap and biodegradable.) Give the whole thing the old jiggle test when you’re done, shaking it to make sure you don’t feel much movement inside. If you still feel motion, add more packaging. You want your box to be packed tight.
What About Decorated Sugar Cookies?
Opt for an icing that will harden (like royal icing or a simple sugar icing). Wait until the cookies are cool to frost them; then allow an extra 24 hours for the design to dry. Once dry, decorated cookies travel well in individual bubble wrap packages, which give an extra layer of buffering to protect the icing.
Is It Cheaper to Ship My Own Cookies or Use a Cookie Delivery Company?
Strictly speaking, you can ship your own cookies for less money, but time is money. Remember that when you make your own cookie package, you’ll invest time in baking your cookies, possibly decorating them (for sugar, gingerbread, etc.), wrapping them, going to the post office for the right box, packaging them up, and mailing them. If you’re up for it, you can ship cookies relatively economically.
But if you’re low on time, want bakery-grade cookies that will stay fresh longer, and want a sleek, professional presentation, opt for a cookie shipping service. Another perk of mail order cookies from the pros is that you can usually get a better variety. You may only want to bake one kind of cookie, but when you order from a service, you can send an assortment of individually wrapped cookies to satisfy the whole range of cookie cravings.
Cookie deliveries are just right for loved ones away on business, kids off at college, kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, and your bestie who is going through a hard time. We have yet to find a bad day that cookies can’t brighten.
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Sending cookies is a great way to brighten the day for loved ones away on business, kids at college, and friends who could use some cheering up. Discover the top questions in this infographic to ensure your cookie delivery arrives fresh and intact.
