Few things are as comforting as homemade cookies from a loved one, which is why they’re a classic holiday gift. But if you’re mailing cookies to far-away friends and family, you’ll need to take care to ensure they don’t crumble, go stale, or invite bugs. Here are some holiday cookie mailing tips that ensure your cookies can be truly enjoyed by their recipients!
Schedule accordingly
In order to keep your cookies as fresh as possible, you should ship them as soon as you can. Therefore, try to schedule your baking with mailing in mind. If you’re making a variety of cookies, spend the first few days making dough that can be refrigerated, and spend the next few days in an oven-time marathon. Note that, even though many cookies can be made in advance and frozen, the thawing will release moisture, which will make the cookies soggy, crumbly, or moldy. Fresh is infinitely preferable, if you have the time.
Choose your cookies
You should also take a moment to plan the type of cookies you will be making. Cookies that have icing on top are notoriously hard to ship, as the icing tends to melt and become a mess. And crisp, sturdy gingersnaps will always hold up better than something delicate or soft. Some cookies that tend to hold up well in transit include:
- Biscotti
- Shortbread cookies
- Chocolate chip cookies with nuts
- Russian Tea Cakes (also called Mexican Wedding Cookies or “Snowballs”)
- Coconut macaroons
- Gingersnaps
Eliminate moisture
To reduce moisture, make sure your cookies are cool before packing them up for shipment. Warm cookies, like frozen ones, will release moisture and spoil faster in an enclosed space.
Once the cookies are cool, store them in airtight containers. Plastic food containers work best, but most people prefer the pretty, traditional holiday tins that are sold this time of year. You can make decorative cookie tins even more airtight by layering plastic wrap over the edge of the tin before putting on the lid. You can also try wrapping each cookie in a plastic treat bag. Finally, for extra protection, try putting a layer of waxed paper on the bottom of the tin.
If you have multiple types of cookies, try to keep them together—crisp with crisp, and soft with soft. Otherwise, the crisp cookies will absorb the moisture from your soft cookies, to the detriment of both. If you have cookies with strong flavors—like peppermint—consider wrapping them individually so they don’t “contaminate” the whole tin.
Pack the cookies snugly
When you pack your cookies, be sure to place the heaviest ones on the bottom, and the lightest ones on top. Use bubble wrap, packing paper, or some other type of void fill material from keeping the cookies from bouncing around in transit. After you’ve closed the tin, go ahead and gently shake it—if you hear any bouncing, you need more cushioning.
Use a quality shipping box
Ideally, your shipping box should be made of sturdy corrugated cardboard, and should be larger than your container by at least an inch on each side. Again, you will want to pack any extra space with bubble wrap, crumpled newspaper or packing peanuts. Tape up the box securely, and remember to mark it as “Fragile!”
Choose a shipping carrier
When shipping cookies, you will want to choose the fastest speed you can to ensure the cookies arrive while they’re fresh. USPS, FedEx, and UPS all allow you to calculate shipping costs on their respective websites. Note that there are often special guidelines for care packages sent to military personnel stationed overseas.
Notify the recipient
We know, the best types of gifts are surprises. However, it’s just not a good idea to try to surprise someone with cookies—they might be out of town, and the cookies could sit on their porch for a week. Notifying the recipient that cookies are on their way will help ensure that the treat you worked so hard on can be enjoyed!
What should I do with my extra cookies?
If you’ve got a lot of extra cookies that wouldn’t fit into the tin, you’re probably wondering how to store them all without losing their texture or flavor. Here are some tips:
- Don’t put them in an unsealed cookie jar. Though these look adorable, they are often not airtight. Try sealing the cookies in a plastic bag, then placing that bag inside the jar.
- Eat them within 2-3 days. After that, they will start to go stale, and should be frozen.
- Don’t freeze them in cookie tins. For long-term storage, plastic or glass is best.
- Eat frozen cookies within a year. Otherwise, they’ll become freezer-burnt.
- Reheat cookies in the oven. Cookies reheated in a microwave simply can’t compare! Most holiday cookies can be reheated in a 350-degree oven for a few minutes.
Need more holiday shipping help?
This holiday season, SSI Packaging is ready to help you with all your packing and shipping needs! We provide everything you need to get your gifts where they need to go, from cardboard boxes, to bubble wrap, to packing tape. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here. Happy holidays, and thanks for reading!