I've been shipping cookies for, oh, 20 years now? Some years I mail cookies more than others...but shipping cookies is kind of my jam now. Let me share all of my tips and tricks for packaging, boxing, and even which service to use.
What's the best service for shipping cookies?
For mailing cookies, I always use UPS. Their tracking system is superior, they give a specific arrival date (as opposed to USPS's "three-day delivery" estimate), and...this seems silly, but...the parking lots are a lot less congested and crazy. We have a "post office parking lot incident" in our family, and well, the place makes me anxious. Still, though, I shipped UPS before the INCIDENT.
Supplies for shipping decorated cookies
- poly treat bags (I buy in bulk from Uline)
- ribbon or heat sealer
- roll of foam sheets
- document/literature boxes (approx. 11 x 8.5 x 2")
- shipping box
- packing peanuts
- packing tape
How to ship decorated cookies
First, use the UPS Estimated Time and Cost feature to check how many days your cookies will be in transit. I choose ground shipping 99% of the time. I never want my cookies in transit over a weekend, so seeing how many days ground shipping takes informs me on what day I'll ship.
Package cookies in individual treat bags. If shipping mini cookies and you want several in one bag, just make sure to lay them flat, not in a jumble. Tie with ribbon or use a heat sealer.
I use sturdy document or literature boxes for the interior boxes. They typically come flat and fold together easily. A size like 11 x 8.5 x 2" or 12 x 9 x 3" works beautifully. Find them at Uline or a local shipping store. These sturdy boxes keep cookies from getting crushed.
Line the box with a sheet of foam. You'll probably have to trim the foam to fit.
Lay the cookies in a single layer on the bottom. Here I've added 3 large cookies, and I'll tuck the smaller ones in, still laying flat, in the empty spaces.
Cover with a sheet of foam.
Repeat one time.
Cover with a final top sheet of foam.
Close the box and secure with a piece of packing tape, so it doesn't pop open in shipping.
You can tie a ribbon or baker's twine, or add stickers...whatever strikes your fancy! No need to go crazy with the wrapping - the cookies are the star of the show.
Now, put together your shipping box. I like the 14 x 14 x 10" size. It'll fit 2-3 of the literature boxes inside with plenty of room for packing material.
Pour in packing peanuts to cover the bottom of the box.
Place cookie boxes inside. Don't put peanuts between the white boxes. Stack them.
Cover with packing peanuts, making sure that the peanuts go around the sides of the cookie boxes.
Seal and ship! Track obsessively!