You put oodles of time and love into making decorated cookies for friends, family or children, send the cookies on their merry way via snail mail, only to have them arrive in a broken mess!
Has this ever happened to you?
I don’t have a picture of the ruins to share with you, but it has unfortunately happened to me. The recipient didn’t mind – she had some sweet morsels to snack on, but I’m sure you’d agree – I’d rather the cookies all arrive in one piece!
That’s where the cute new book, Cookie Craft Christmas, comes in. Valerie Peterson and Janice Fryer have yet again written an inspiring and comprehensive book to help you create impressive cookies.
I’ve written about their first book before because it’s one of my favorite *go-to’s* when I have a cookie question. Although this one is small, don’t be decieved by the size – it’s packed with adorable Christmas ideas and practical advice.
Some of the beneficial information includes a tested and successful way of sending decorated cookies in the mail. I’ve been given permission to share Valerie and Janice’s advice here with you. I’m going to follow their written instructions and use my own pictures:
Shipping Decorated Cookies
We’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like getting a box of delicious decorated cookies in the mail. Here’s what we’ve learned about how to minimize breakage when we send our cookies out into the world.
1. Choose sturdy shapes with a minimum of thin appendages to reduce the danger of your cookies breaking en route.
2. Use tins to keep cookies fresh and help protect them.
3. Make sure there’s plenty of packing material inside the cookie tin:
a. Place a layer of crumpled waxed paper on the bottom of the tin.
b. Place another sheet of waxed paper in the tin, as if you were putting tissue paper in a gift box, but instead of making it neat, crumple it to fit against the sides of the tin.
c. Add your first layer of cookies. If you haven’t individually wrapped them, fold each one in a small piece of waxed paper to keep them from jostling. Add small, crumpled pieces of waxed paper to any pockets of space to prevent cookie movement.
d. Place another crumpled piece of paper on top of the packaged cookies, and then add another layer of cookies. Repeat until the tin is nearly full. Make sure the cookies lie flat and apart from each other and leave at least 3/4 inch between the top layer of cookies and the top of the tin; add a fat top layer of protective padding (such as bubble cushioning or more crumpled waxed paper).
e. Cover with the lid and gently shake the tin. If you feel no movement, shake it a little harder. If you feel movement, add more padding and do the “shake” test again until you feel no movement inside the tin.
f. Attach your gift note to the top of the tin. Don’t forget!
4. Make sure there’s plenty of packing material between the tin and the box:
a. Choose a box that allows at least 2 to 3 inches of space around the tin on all sides and above and below.
b. Pad the bottom of the box with a healthy layer of packing peanuts, packing paper, or bubble cushioning.
c. Place the cookie tin in the box, and thoroughly pad the space between the tin and the sides of the box.
d. Pad the top tightly and close the box. Shake the package gently. If you feel no movement, shake it a little harder. If you feel movement, open the box and add more padding where needed, then close and seal the box, and ship.
Note: To help the environment, we reuse our packing materials — especially the nonrecyclable ones.
*Reprinted with permission from Cookie Craft Christmas, published by Storey Publishing, LLC., October 2009. Thank you to Michelle Blackley and Kevin Kennefick for providing the excerpt.
Now for the giveaway! CONTEST CLOSED
If you’d like the chance to win a copy of Valerie and Janice’s book, Cookie Craft Christmas, leave a comment below naming one of your favorite foods to eat at this time of the year.
Another way of entering the draw is to retweet this post on twitter. Tweets will be added to the draw! (One per twitter user please).
The draw will be held in a few days; on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009, at 10pm EST.
Good luck!
xo,
Marian
p.s. Wouldn’t the box below be adorable to fill with cookies and give as a gift?! I found it at the Hallmark store yesterday and will be hand delivering that one. (I’m thinking you could fold the tops down and send it too though).
Melissa says
Love all of the ideas from Cookie Craft. Believe it or not, I love to eat cookies at this time of year. I just organized a cookie exchange with some colleagues but I can’t stop eating all of the cookies! The best part is, that I now have 6 new recipes that I can try!
shanna politte says
my favorite thing to eat this time of year would have to be eggnog and warm cookies, any kind will do. love your website.
Amanda says
I love all the sweets, especially Peanut Butter Blossoms!
dana says
pasta fagioli soup on a cold winter’s night!
Tiffany says
I love spice cookies. Lebkuchen are the best. Anything with with a spicy, gingery,clovey kind of taste. Yum!
Diana says
I love eating all the yummy cookies that I come across this time of year! I can never get enough cookies 🙂
Keitounda Foy says
My favorite food to eat at this time of year is a big bowl of steaming hot New Orleans Seafood Gumbo , and a nice peice of French Bread for dipping.
cookienurse says
This time of year, I love anything with gingerbread or pepperming! Thanks for the giveaway, Happy Holidays!
Betsy says
sugar cookies! they are abundant this time of year!
cari says
I really like rum balls this time of the year
Teri says
My favorite thing to eat during the Christmas holiday season are homemade cookies. There is nothing so sweet as knowing that someone spent a lot of time and energy making me a gift that is priceless! What could be better!!!
Laura Trueman says
I have to say my favorite food is the tamales on Christmas eve. But then again, I have a lovely recipe for sugar cookies that are almost cake like that everyone loves.
Linda says
I love your site… such creativity and excellence. Sugar cookies are my downfall, and beginning to leave a lasting impression on my body! Their first book totally changed the way I decorate cookies. I’d love theiur Christmas one! Thanks for the give-away.
Amy says
Sugar Cookies and Peppermint Bark, can’t get enough of either!
Amy says
I love eggnog but it’s so rich it’s a good thing Christmas is only once a year!
Love you website!
Jennifer Unsell says
My favorite food this time of year has to be 7 layer bars. I have loved them since I was a young child.
nikki says
mmm, festive mince and brandy butter. Thanks for the packing tips!
lora says
I absolutely love chocolate pecan pie!
Kerry says
My favourite food this time of year is the boiled plum pudding, the recipe has been passed down through my family for generations
babskitchen says
Gotta have homemade eggnog every Christmas. Oh, and pizzelle cookies are a must each year!
nikki says
whoops I meant mince pies!
Melinda says
thank you for the chance at the giveaway!
My favorite holiday food is between sugar cookies and cinnamon rolls 🙂
Rita says
This time of year I love anything flavored gingerbread, pumpkin, sweet potato and cranberry. Any way you can bake it!
Rita-Greer, SC
lisa says
Hmm….I mixing up my FOURTH batch of sugar cookies (in the last week) today so….I think Im going to have to say sugar cookies. (In all fairness, some were for a baby shower and some (most) were for my husbands Marines….lest you think Im devouring all that buttery goodness!)
Ram says
Russian Tea Cakes and Shortbreads sweet or savory are my favorites to eat this time of the year! I’m so glad there are so many varitions of this kind of treats that you can find this time of the year!
Lori says
With all the holiday cookies parties I attend, I love eating any type of cookie this time of year!!
Kay (CookieO) says
Awesome blog!
My favorite food this time of year is Raspberry Chipoltle (sp?) Meatballs in the savory category. For sweets..it’s Coconut pie and Butter Cookies.
Ting says
Cookies! I LOVE the Christmas cookies!!!
Amanda DaybyDay says
Can Canadians enter your contest? If so…my favorite thing to eat (and I’m not going to get any this year) is an Icelandic treat called Venetarta. Yum.
yolanda says
my favorite used to be sugar cookies til i had chocolate pudding spiked with baileys irish creme!
Kim says
My favorite thing to eat is my mom’s date nut pinwheel cookies. She only makes them for Christmas so all of our family waits for this Christmas treat
Marianne says
Love your gingerbread man cookies…they are so cute! I’ve made christmas tree cookies and christmas cookie star trees as gifts this year (will have to send you a pic!)
I live in Australia and celebrate a hot christmas. My favourite foods this time of year are mangoes and cherries!
Hope you have a great christmas and new year! XXX
Shonna says
My grandma’s popcorn balls! They are absolutely amazing and she always makes them this time of year!
Colleen Barlow says
I love your website! I found Peggy Porschen’s book you recommended, and read it cover to cover late last night. Today I made my favorite — Sugar Cookies! I like the King Arthur Flour recipe. I prefer mine chewy and with icing.
Thanks for inspiring me always!
Happy Holidays!
Colleen
Adee says
Favourite to bake AND eat-decorated gingerbread cookies. So pretty & so tasty!
Yen-Ling says
Thanks for the tip! 🙂
My favorite thing to eat during this time is anything Pumpkin. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake.
BubblyGirl says
I love dinner rolls. And hot chocolate with a dash of cayenne.
🙂
Mumintochter says
Definetly cookies, espacially gingerbreadowls and plain sugar cookies!
I am going to bake again this afternoon just in case there are not enough left…
Silvia says
I love your blog.
I love the cookies: gingerbread men (or women…). are delicious.
Goodk luck.
Kisses.
zarpandit says
OMG! you’re gingermans so cute and funny 🙂 i hope i can be good as u 🙂
My favorite food to eat this time of the year is chocolate espresso pecan pie and spiced hot cacao with vanilla!
ahuvas says
Definitely love to eat mint brownies!
Kris says
My Mom makes these very tatsy almond tea cookies every Christmas. My sister and I look forward to them ever year.
Nicole says
My favorite thing to eat this time of year is peppermint sticks. And gingerbread.
Jennifer says
Gingerbread for sure! From cookies to cakes, to ice cream to martinis all inspired by gingerbread!
Great giveaway! Merry Christmas!
Vilma Pena says
My favourite food of this time of year is the pavlova the strawberries are at their best also the passionfruit. yum!!!
Jessica says
Thanks for the tips!
My favorite food this time of year is eggnog – is that a food?
Merry Christmas!
Emily says
I love to eat the cookies from my Grandma! The cookies she’s been baking for as long as my Dad can remember! Kolachkis are my favorite!
Happy Holidays!
Sugardrive says
i love my grandma’s cheesy potatoes that she makes for the family get together. they are so deliciously bad for you. 🙂
Fiona says
Thanks for the tips on posting cookies! My favourite christmas food would have to be gingerbread houses – fun to make and even better to eat!
Erin says
My new one this year is peppermint bark popcorn. Can’t stop eating it!