Here’s how to package and ship cookies to arrive safely (and still delicious!) at their destination.

Holiday gatherings and cookie exchanges aren’t taking place as usual in 2020, and I’m willing to bet more cookies will be shipped this year than ever before. But how do you ship cookies so they don’t break, still taste delicious, and look just as good as the day they were baked?

I’m here to break it down for you— the kind of cookies you should ship, the best packaging, and other tips!

frosted sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chocolate chunk cookies

Choose the Right Kind of Cookies

Not all cookies should be boxed up and sent through the mail. Delicate, fragile, and flaky cookies likely won’t arrive in the same piece. It’s better to chose sturdy cookies like chocolate chip, gingersnap, shortbread, and sugar cookies. Bar cookies like blondies and brownies are a great option too. (I’ve got a nice list of ship-able cookie recipes at the bottom of this post!)

For best results, package and ship cookies the day they are baked. But make sure the cookies have completely cooled before packaging, as moisture from warm cookies can change the texture of the cookie and even promote bacteria growth.

packaging supplies like boxes, bags, ribbon

Package Cookies Airtight

If you want to cookies to still be soft and/or chewy, and fresh when they arrive, the most important thing to do is to put them in airtight packaging. The goal is to let as little air as possible in contact with your cookies. Here are some options:

  • Tupperware container— choose a size that matches the amount of cookies you have, you don’t want too much extra space for cookies to bounce around in.
  • Ziplock bag— try to remove as much air out of the bag as possible
  • Plastic wrap— you can wrap individual cookies or a small stack of cookies
  • Plastic cellophane treat bags— these are great for stacks of cookies, and for individual decorated cookies like sugar cookies. Make sure to remove as much excess air out of the bag.

If you want to package cookies in containers that aren’t airtight, like cookie tins or boxes, I recommend wrapping them in plastic wrap or inside treat bags first, and then putting them inside boxes or tins.

Don’t Forget Padding

Cookies that can bounce around inside a shipping box will be broken and smashed before they make it to their destination. Add enough padding so the cookies are supported, snuggled and safe. Pick a shipping box that is an appropriate size (not way too big) and use packing peanuts, tissue paper, bubble wrap, crinkle cut shred paper, or even newspaper to surround your cookie cargo completely.

packaging up cookies to ship, cookies in boxes

Make it Cute!

There’s plenty of ways to make your cookie package cute, even while following all of the above steps. Craft stores and baking supply stores will have lots of options, especially around the holidays. And of course you can always find supplies online.

Use the Best Shipping Method

Most cookie recipes will last for about a week, maybe even longer. But you shouldn’t push it! Ship it as quickly as you can, though you don’t necessarily need to spend the big bucks for overnight shipping. USPS Priority or UPS Ground are both great options that will typically get your package to its destination within a few days.

packaging up cookies to ship, cookies in boxes

Cookie Recipes that Ship Well

Okay, now you know all the rules, let’s get baking! All of these recipes will still great after shipping (as long as they’re packaged correctly, of course).