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When you ship baked goods for the holidays, nothing’s more discouraging than
reviews like these: “The bottom of the box was covered in sprinkles,” “all the cookies were broken,” or “the cake arrived crushed.” However, you can easily avoid these disappointing scenarios. Follow a few simple guidelines and your baked gifts should arrive undamaged, fresh and delicious just in time for the holidays.
- Choose soft, dense baked goods, such as muffins, soft cookies, brownies, or rum, coffee or fruitcake. Whole loaf breads, or baked items that aren’t crumbly, like soft pretzels, bread sticks, focaccia and croissants, are also good choices. You should ship baked goods immediately to ensure they arrive fresh, but be careful to let them cool completely before you pack them.
- Pack extras separately, especially if they’re fragile or might melt. For example, if you’re shipping cookies, you might include an unopened container of frosting, soft candies, or sprinkles in your box, as opposed to sending decorated cookies. You could even include a cookie decorating kit, complete with templates and piping bags, to make your gift an opportunity for an impromptu decorating party. Alternatively, include a container of whole, shelled nuts, wrapped caramels, fresh or dried fruit like apples or pears, dipping spices, a tin of cheese dip or whole hot peppers (wrapped!) as accompaniment to your baked gift. Make sure that all containers are sturdy, undamaged and securely closed, and be careful not to ship anything that might make a mess if it’s crushed or heated, such as hard candies, olives or grapes.
- Pack everything securely. Every baked item, even cookies, should either be wrapped individually in plastic wrap and packed in tight, or placed inside a crush-proof tin or a hard plastic container with a strong, secure lid. Some bakers like to put small items inside sealed plastic baggies to give them an added air cushion. Make sure nothing has room to slide around in the box; if you still have room after everything’s in, fill up the extra space with bubble wrap, packing peanuts or wadded-up newspapers.
- Choose sturdy packaging and containers. It’s best to use new shipping boxes, but if you’re on a budget and want to maximize your savings with used boxes and/or free shipping, rip off any old, dangling labels or tags and cover them with fresh labels. Reinforce worn corners or seams with professional-grade shipping tape. If you’re unsure whether your box is strong enough to withstand a long journey, it’s probably best — and cheaper in the long run — to use a new box.
- Avoid lost packages by ensuring that your package labels are filled out completely and with the current address. This step is especially important if your gift recipient is serving in the military and moves frequently. You can also avoid a theft or a scam by choosing a reputable shipper.
Obviously holiday baking is a lot of work. Sometimes you just don’t have the time to bake and when that happens, consider ordering gourmet gifts online. You can even try services like FreeShipping.com to get these items sent for free. Remember, the goal is to get delicious food into the hands of people you care about, while minimizing complaints.
