It is a familiar December question at our counter: will three dozen homemade sugar cookies survive the trip to a grandchild in Denver? Usually they will, with a few changes to how they are packed. Most people know us as a Notary Newport Beach office, but in the weeks before the holidays a lot of our counter time goes to care packages and tins of homemade treats. Here is what we have learned about getting baked goods to the other side of the country in one piece, and still tasting fresh.
Which homemade treats ship best?
Sturdy, dry baked goods ship best. Cookies and bars that are firm at room temperature hold their shape and stay fresh for several days in transit.
Good choices include shortbread, biscotti, snickerdoodles, gingersnaps, oatmeal cookies, brownies, blondies, fudge, toffee and quick breads like banana or pumpkin bread. Brownies and bars travel especially well if you ship them uncut, as a whole slab, and let the recipient slice them.
Which treats should you avoid shipping?
Anything that needs refrigeration or has a soft, delicate structure is a poor fit. That includes cream-filled pastries, cheesecake, custard, meringues, frosted cupcakes, and cookies topped with buttercream that stays soft. Very thin, crisp cookies like tuiles tend to arrive as crumbs. If you want to send a decorated cookie, use royal icing and let it dry completely, usually overnight, before packing.
Can you legally mail homemade food?
Yes, within the United States. USPS allows food to be mailed as perishable matter, and treats it as sent at the mailer’s own risk. Shelf-stable baked goods like cookies and brownies need no special handling.
Avoid packing with dry ice unless you know the rules. USPS treats it as a hazardous material with weight limits and labeling requirements, and baked goods rarely need it. International shipping is a different story, covered below.
How do you keep cookies fresh during shipping?
Cool them completely, wrap them in small groups, and seal out air. Freshness problems usually come from moisture trapped in the package or from air drying the cookies out.
Let baked goods cool for several hours, ideally until the next day, before packing. Warm cookies release steam, and in a sealed container that steam turns crisp edges soft and soft centers soggy.
Wrap cookies back to back in pairs, or stack four to six and wrap the stack in plastic wrap. Bars and breads can be wrapped whole. Keep strongly flavored treats, like peppermint bark or gingerbread, in a separate container so everything does not end up tasting the same. A slice of plain white bread tucked into a tin of soft cookies helps them stay moist.
What is the best way to pack treats for shipping?
Use a rigid container inside a cushioned shipping box. The container protects the treats from crushing, and the outer box protects the container.
A cookie tin, a sturdy plastic container or a small box works as the inner layer. Pack it snugly and fill gaps with crumpled parchment or wax paper so nothing slides. Place it in a shipping box with at least two inches of cushioning on every side, using bubble wrap or packing paper.
Avoid loose packing peanuts touching the food. Shake the box gently before sealing. If you hear movement, add more padding.
How fast should you ship baked goods?
Aim for two to three days in transit, and ship early in the week. Sending on a Monday or Tuesday keeps the package from sitting in a warehouse over the weekend.
Priority Mail is a common choice for cookies because it usually delivers in one to three business days. For the holidays, USPS recommends sending Priority Mail by December 18 for expected delivery before Christmas in the lower 48 states. Baked goods are better off going out a week or two earlier, when volume is lighter.
Can you ship homemade treats internationally?
Often not. Many countries restrict or ban food imports, including homemade baked goods, and a package with food can be held or destroyed at customs. Even when food is allowed, it has to be described specifically on the customs form. For gifts going abroad, a non-food present is usually the safer choice.
How can a Notary Newport Beach shipping counter help?
We help you choose a box that fits your tin, pack it with the right cushioning, and compare delivery times so your treats spend as little time in transit as possible. Bring the treats already wrapped and in their container, and we will handle the rest.
Send something homemade
The best shipped treats are sturdy, fully cooled, wrapped in small batches and packed in a tin inside a cushioned box, then sent early in the week with fast service. Bring your cookies, bars or bread to our Notary Newport Beach location at 2618 San Miguel Drive, and we will help them arrive the way you baked them.
