How to Pack and Ship Cookies

Simple tips on how to pack and ship cookies that will look as beautiful when they arrive as the moment you box them.

This post was originally published on December 4, 2014. I’m republishing due to its popularity. Enjoy!

I am a big proponent of Homemade Gifts and Creative Christmas Ideas. In fact, this post with 50 of the BEST Christmas Cookie Recipes has been shared countless times!

There’s nothing sweeter than sending Christmas cookies, but as I learned years ago, it’s important to know exactly how to package and ship them. 

Chris, I hope you’re not reading this…when I was 18, I made my boyfriend my signature chocolate chip cookies and shipped them across country. Young, naive and just in love, I thought shipping them overnight via FedEx would be the best option.

It didn’t even occur to me that FedEx couldn’t deliver to a military box until they showed up on my doorstep a week later. The good news? While nearing the end of their freshness, they were perfectly intact.

Why? Because I knew how to pack and ship cookies. Well, almost. I’ve learned a few things along the way.

Here are my favorite secrets to ship picture perfect cookies that will remain fresh.

Tips for Packing and Shipping Cookies

• Choose wisely – some cookies ship better than others, like shortbreads, sugar cookies, etc. (See a list of great recipes for packing and shipping at the bottom of this post)
• Use food safe materials. Parchment paper is easy to cut to fit any box and of course, food safe.
• Choose sturdy materials. If they need to be airtight, use tins.
• Package your cookies inside a box, then fill a second box with packing material, insert the box and surround it with packing material.
• Don’t skimp on the packing supplies. Save peanuts, bubble wrap, etc to ensure that the box inside the box won’t move.
• Ship USPS Priority. It’s quick, reasonable and can deliver anywhere… even military bases. Lesson learned.

How to Package Cookies

1. Start with a sturdy box (like these paper mache ones pictured here) that you want to present them in. Add food safe packing material (this wood style pictured is so pretty, and I also like a simple kraft paper shred) so that they don’t shift within the box.

2. Cut parchment paper to fit the box…this box is 8 inches wide and 3″ tall, so I cut paper 20″ so that it folds over beautifully and “seals”. I use a paper cutter for straight lines. Place the parchment on top of the fill.

3. Add your cookies! If you’re stacking them, cut a parchment square to fit to separate them.

Don’t forget to label them! We’re all more encouraged to enjoy something when we know what they are and who they came from.

How to Ship Cookies

Tie the inner box with a ribbon to secure it.

Add plenty of packing material, insert your inner box and fill with packing material to secure your inner box.

More Gift Ideas

• Holiday Cheer Christmas Wine Gift Tags
• Wishing You a Sweet Christmas (subscriber only, subscribe here)
• Printable Recipe Cards Gift
• Latte Joy Espresso Cookies with Latte Joy Gift Tags
• Christmas Gift Tags
• Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas
• Gift Card Wrapping Ideas

Quick Tip: If it shakes with you, imagine what it would do being tossed on and off trucks. We want them to look like this (below) when they open them.

Are you mailing any cookies this Christmas? I’d love to hear!

Great Cookies for Stacking, Packing, Shipping and Gifting

• Pecan Thumbprint Cookies (pictured in this post)
• Oatmeal Lace Cookies
• Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
• Funfetti Cookies
• Kitchen Sink Cookies
• Lemon Shortbread Cookies
• Latte Joy Espresso Cookies