Sending a batch of your homemade cookies overseas to a loved one in the military is a thoughtful and much-appreciated gesture. Not only will the recipient be grateful that he is in your thoughts, but the cookies will more than likely be a very welcome break from the usual fare. A common worry is that cookies will become stale during the shipping process, but that does not have to happen. Following some simple guidelines will ensure that your cookies arrive still fresh and delicious.
Select cookies that are sturdy and will not easily spoil. Keep in mind that it could take more than two weeks for your package to arrive, so do not send cookies that are extremely delicate, frosted or filled with custard. Cookies such as chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, biscotti, shortbread and bar cookies travel well.
Tightly wrap the cookies in plastic wrap, aluminum foil or parchment paper. Wrap sticky cookies individually.
Put crumpled paper into the bottom of a tin or other airtight container to act as a cushion. Place wrapped cookies into the tin, making sure that they are packed snugly so they do not move around and break during shipping. If there are any gaps between the tin and the cookies, fill with more crumpled paper.
Close the lid of the tin and fasten with tape so that it will not open during transit.
Place the tin inside a flat-rate shipping box filled with more crumpled paper or bubble wrap so the tin does not move.