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).
Elena says
I always find great ideas in your blog.
My favourite food for these days are Spanish “turron” and “polvorones”. Have you ever try them? Delicious….
Merry Christmas¡¡
Allie says
I have so many favorites at Christmas but I think my most fav. is my mom’s homemade chocolate pie with her whipped cream that is out of this world!!
Nancy says
I seen one that mentioned gumdrop cookies making memories–and that they are. There was a family book made years ago with entries about great-grandma and many members mentioned her famous gumdrop cookies. I recently started cake & cookie decorating classes—so maybe in years to come, my own cookies will be memory makers. My favorite food is old fashion crisp fudge !! Merry Christmas!!
Nancy says
@ Kay (CookieO):
Those meatballs sound soooooo good. Would love that recipe. I used to be able to get a raspberry chipolte sauce, from tastefully simple, but I guess they no longer carry it. Oh, if I could make my own. yum !!
jenny says
I think my favorite food is mince pies. Thanks for the cookie shipping tips!
liv says
homemade chinese food. we always a big feast on Christmas eve.
Becky D says
How exciting…another book on cookie craft..sign me up.
Amy B says
I love anything peppermint this time of year, it’s addicting!!
Chan says
My favorite thing to eat during the holidays are gingerbread cookies! The ones you made are adorable! Thanks for the giveaway!
Alicia says
Can I adopt you as my sister?
And my favorite food this year is definitely Any Christmas cookie (Lady fingers and Sweet Spots are tops). Thanks for the tips!
Jodi L. says
My mom makes amazing buckeyes and fudge. In fact, my husband told my mom that the only thing he wanted for Christmas was buckeyes!
I have the original Cookie Craft book and use it all the time! I’m thrilled that the authors have put together one specifically for Christmas!
Carol says
I love my grandmother’s Christmas Stollen
Carol says
I tweeted http://twitter.com/cdziuba/status/6866985538
Lori says
This time of year its the little sugar cookies
I make with an antique cookie press, or as the
box says, cookie gun. I can make a ton of
shaped cookies in no time!
Jennifer M. says
My favorite holiday food is cookies. Specifically, peanut blossoms. Yummy!
Amy says
My favourites this time of year are gingerbread cookies and candy canes!
Cyndi says
Peppermint! Any peppermint-flavored desserts this time of year I totally devour!
Laura says
I would definitley have to go with stuffing!! For me it’s what Christmas is all about. Eating with those you love 🙂
Suzanne Turgeon says
I love to make peanut brittle but I am learning to decorate cookies so I would have to pick both of these. If anyone holds a Christmas cookie in front of me I am their new best friend.
Gis says
Oh my this is a great tip Mar xD Now i want to receive cookies on the mail xD hahaha the tin can its too pretty and matchy xD
Ashley G. says
My favorite food to eat at Christmas time is all the sweets! Fudge, my grandmother’s lace cookies, peanut brittle, peppermint bark, so many good things to eat!! =)
Verono says
I just love anything sweet… lol !
Julie says
I love eating anything with a chocolate mint combo this time of the year.
Destini says
My favorite holiday treat is eggnog! I’m even making cake with it this year. YUM!!
dawn from Houston says
Wine biscuits, I really should post this recipe so others can share in the joy.
Lanie says
I love buckeyes, and of course Sugar cookies!
Kathy Schotte says
Great tips, thanks for the beautiful photos and info that you share.
Carrie says
My favorite thing to eat this time of year is roasted chestnuts.
Manuelita says
I love to eat so many things this time of year… Can’t decide, between all the sweets my mom makes (chocolate with pecans, coconut, peanut butter, fudge, white chocolate and dried fruit, raining rock cookies, maseca cookies, sugar cookies, “coquitos”, lime gumdrops, strawberry gumdrops, “chicloso”, “cacahuates garampinados”, etc, etc) and all the tamales (pork, turkey – Christmas leftover, “rajas” and elote)…Besides the traditional Christmas diner: turkey, stuffed potatoes, deviled eggs, pecan and pumpkin pie, etc, etc… I guess… I like my mom’s cooking and baking this time of year!
Kelly Ann T. says
I would love this book. My favorite cookie is ginger mounds.
1 gingerbread mix
1/3 cup water
1 cup raisins
1 cup almonds chopped
no eggs or oil. Mix all ingredients bake a 350 for 10 minutes
Sara F says
Chocolate cherry fudge cookies that my friend makes for me every year. It always tastes better when someone else makes it!!
Kelly Huggins says
I love your site. Always such helpful and good stuff. My favorite holiday food is simply the cookies. Every year I host a Cookie Exchange the week before Christmas. I love the variety and so does Santa!
Laci says
oh my word I would die to have this cookbook!!!!!! i have been wanting both cookie craft and this!!!!! My all time favorite christmas treat is decorated sugar cookies……its not Christmas without it
Kimberly Myers-Schuh says
As usual a wonderful tutorial. Those gingerbread men turned out awesome. I love the box, I’m going to go and buy one tomorrow (well I hope I can get out). Ummm what is my favourite thing to eat at Christmas???? My mother in laws cookies….they are an assortment of German cookies, all homemade and I love eating them.
Lisa H says
I Love your site!!! My favorite thing to eat this time of year is Pumpkin Pie!
vicki says
my fave food is caramel donuts (cuz I’m a chanuka observer, but still love the cookie craft books!)
Maria says
again a wonderful tutorial, and beautiful gingerbread cookies. love your site.
My favourite food this time of the year is.. all sorts of swiss chocolates and cookies.
ML
jean says
I’m looking forward to eating the Butter Balls that my mother makes. I’ve tried making them myself but they just don’t taste the same.
Erin Benner says
Favorite holiday foods??? hmmmm I Love Buckeyes.. I make a huge batch each year for friends and family ( and me too lol!!). Mmmmmm and ham.. not together of course although…..
Thank you for reprinting these suggestions. I have lots of out of state family that I would love to be able to send cookies to.
Carolyn says
mmmmmmm…..I love the mincemeat tarts & jam tarts that my mother makes this time of year.
irma crawford says
@ Amy Murphy:
I love decorating and eating sugar cookies me and the kids love to make gingerbread men
Carol says
@ Amy Murphy:
I love making and eating Scotch Kisses…marshmallows dipped in homemade butterscotch….YUM!
Those gingerbread men are the CUTEST cookies…wish mine would look like that!
Abby says
I love to eat chocolate covered pretzels!!
Brooke Richardson says
I LOVE eating all different kinds of cookies at Christmas, but I absolutely love anything with peanut butter. Especially crunchy peanut butter balls dipped in semi-sweet chocolate.
Illona says
A box of those gingerbread cookies in the mail would be divine – then I’d be heartbroken to bite into them. They are just waaay too pretty. I visit your site often and it is just feast for the eyes!
My favourite food this time of year? – That would be Gammon Ham, Pickled Green Chillies with Green Papaya Stuffing, and my Aunty Liz’s Pineapple Jam Tarts. She used to pack them in tins and send them via whoever was heading our way. My brother and I would observe a moment of silence when we hit the bottom of the tin.
Melissa Knodell says
My favorite food this time of year is tamales! Even though we can eat them anytime they’re always on the menu for Christmas and New Year’s.
Ally says
hmmmm… favorite thing to eat this time of year? Cookies! There’s more cookies around this time of year than any other!
Ally & High Heels & Aprons
The Sugar Fairy says
It’s not a proper Christmas if I don’t get to eat pavlova!
Elizabeth says
My favorite food this time of the year would have to be cookies!
You have wonderful tips and photos! Thanks for the chance to win this book!