Best Cookie Recipes for Care Packages (2024)

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My Best Cookie Recipes for Care Packages,whether you’re sharing a plate with a neighbor, or shipping some comfort to a loved one across a continent ~ plus tips for contactless delivery!

What makes a great care package cookie recipe?

• It must be sturdy enough to pack and/or ship.
• It should stay fresh for at least a week.
• It needs to be delicious! There’s no point in going to all the trouble if you aren’t sharing something wonderful.

What not to pack in a care package

• Stay away from chocolate coatings, which can melt.
• Avoid cookies with open fillings like thumbprints, or anything sticky.
• No meringues, or lace type cookies that can shatter.
• No frosted cookies, although hard glazes are fine.

Tips for packing cookies in care packages

• Bake and ship your cookies the SAME day. Be sure to let them cool completely before packing, though.
• Stack the cookies snugly, just the way grocery store cookies are packed.
• Wrap and double wrap your cookies ~ keep that moisture in.
• Choose a box large enough for the cookies as well as extra padding around the cookies. Use crumpled paper or bubble wrap to insulate the cookies on all sides, if possible.

OATMEAL COOKIES

Oatmeal cookies are probably my number one choice for packing and shipping. They are super sturdy, and keep their chewy texture for days. You can make them plain, if you’re not sure of your recipient’s tastes, or you can fancy them up:

• Oatmeal Crispies ~ these are the originals, plain but still incredibly delicious and oaty.
• Maple Glazed Oatmeal Cookies ~ the sweet maple-y glaze on these cookies hardens nicely, so they stack fine. They have the added benefit of being beautiful!
• Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies~ tart cranberries go so well in these cookies, but you can sub in almost any dried fruit in your pantry, just chop it small.
• Soft Batch Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies~ you can never go wrong adding chocolate, and kids love these.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

It might be a cliche, but a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies is always right. If you’re sending me a care package, this is what I’d want. Choose one or make a mega chip assortment.

• Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ these are soft and plush, but sturdy enough to package. Everybody loves them.
• DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ Hilton’s secret recipe was just revealed this month, so you can give a cookie with a fun backstory.
• ‘Chipless’ Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ I like to pair these with regular chocolate chips.
• Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ chocolate chips with an adult twist.
• Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ you don’t have to eat gluten free to appreciate these flour and dairy free cookies.

SHORTBREAD COOKIES

There’s something so special and traditional about shortbread cookies, I think they’re ideal for giving. Shortbread does tend to be crumbly, so packing technique is important, make sure the cookies are tightly wrapped so there’s no room for them to jiggle or jostle against anything.

• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies ~ this cookie started a trend here at tvfgi and we’ve never looked back since.
• Pistachio Shortbread Cookies ~ sub in any nut you’ve got in the pantry.
• Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies ~ if you’re not sure what someone likes, go with plain vanilla.
• Double Dark Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies ~ your chocolate loving friends and family will be forever grateful.

SANDWICH COOKIES

Sandwich cookies are always special because you’re getting two for the price of one! As long as they’re hardy and the filling is well contained, they can be great for packaging up. Let them sit at room temperature for a while to give the fillings a chance to set up.

• Vanilla Sandwich Cookies ~ these are absolutely delicious, in a vanilla sort of way.
• Fruit Filled Galettes ~ proof that Harry and David don’t have the monopoly on soft jam filled shortbread cookies.
• Nutella Sandwich Cookies ~ these decadent and delicious sandwich cookies are some of the best I’ve ever had!

Contactless mailing for care packages

• Go to the USPS online and sign in for a free account. You can print out shipping labels, pay for postage, and have your package picked up from your doorstep.
• I keep a stash of Flat Rate boxes around, the medium size works great for sending cookies. But you can use any small box you’ve got.
• If you’re dropping them off for a neighbor or local friend, ring the doorbell and leave your goodies by the door.

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