My mom's 80th b'day is in December and she's having a huge party! She wants me to make the 'favor cookies' for everyone to take home.
Question....she lives in Arizona and I live in Michigan. I know I can figure out shape and probable design, but what is the best means of packing them?
Do I freeze them first and send?
Do I put them in bags with ribbons (as though finished) and send?
Do I send them overnight delivery?
What has everyone attempted with success?
I also would appreciate any design help. I know I'll go with the No Fail cookies, and either Antonia's or Alices icing recipes. I've seen the 'wedding cookie cutter' but turning it into a b'day cake. I just know my mom wants PINK.
I'm freaking out about this already, even though I have plenty of time.
Thanks so much for ALL help!!

You don't have to overnight them. 2-3 day shipping will be fine. I'm trying to find heavy duty cardboard dividers that will keep the cookies separate so I can put cookie, bubble wrap, cookie, bubble wrap, etc. The timeI shipped I put a layer of craft paper crumpled on the bottom but peanuts would work too.

Thanks so much! Didn't think of the dividers!
So now another question....
do I wrap each in their bag that's a final decoration, or do I wrap them in something else and have someone there put them into the final bags?

I'd put them in their final packages. I sent 100 cookies completed and they turned out fine. I just made sure I tied the bows really tight. Happy (early) Birthday to your mom too!

I just had an idea to keep them from shifting around - haven't tried it yet, but I think it might work.

Put the cookies in bags, tie with ribbon (tightly as mentioned above), and find a box large enough to layer them with bubble wrap between each layer.

Use the glad press'n'seal to hold them in place, like this: Put a layer of bubble wrap in the bottom of the box, then a layer of the press'n'seal with the "sticky" side up, then put a layer of the wrapped cookies on it. The press'n'seal should keep the cookies from shifting. Put another layer of bubble wrap, another press'n'seal, more cookies, etc.

Another thing that might work would be to use the non-skid shelf liners like we use to keep cake boxes from sliding around in the back of the van when delivering cakes. You can get it at the dollar stores, and could use that between the layers of cookies, which should also keep them from shifting.

Be sure to use enough bubble wrap to fill the box firmly. I would also line the sides of the box with bubble wrap, to keep the cookies away from the edges of the box so that if it does get bumped, there is less chance of the actual cookies being damaged.

Good luck!

Laura.

I was thinking-you could also layer the cookies between the bubble wrap accordian style. You know how bubble wrap comes in rolls. You could put wrap, cookie, wrap over that then cookie, and so on. Does that make sense. Just don't separate the sheets of the wrap just keep going back and forth. Then you could put crumpled paper between the stacks of cookies to keep them in place. Now we have to experiment to see what will work. I need to get some press n seal. Everyone raves about it!!

I have shipped cookies by using a heavy duty shipping box. I put the cookies in cello. wrap (each). I pack the cookies into smaller boxes (like candy/cake boxes). Then I use that non slip stuff (the stuff they put under rugs, etc. - can buy at .99 cent stores) between the layers of smaller boxes. They have all arrived intact.

Hope this helps!
XOXOXOX
PerryStCakes

Thank you so much everyone! Sounds like everyone has done this at least once and with success! Now that I feel like I will be able to successfully SEND them, all I have to do now is think of an idea and get baking!
Thank you so much again for taking the time to help!!

When my older brothers were in the service.
My Mom and Sisters and I would bake cookies
and treats to send to them.
We popped popcorn (air popped no butter) to use as packing peanuts to pack up all of our treats.

My brothers said that the popcorn worked great to protect the cookies ...
*they also ate the popcorn hehehe *

Oooooooo......popcorn would never make it to the box in our house!
But it sounds like everyone says LAYERING, BUBBLEWRAP, DIVIDERS, even PRE-PACKAGING the cookies would do fine. Thanks to all!