My friend and I are going to make a bunch of care packages for our friends overseas (military). I like to brighten the day of my friends that are dealing with all of the trauma they are facing over there and her husband was killed in combat two years ago, so this is a cause particularly close to her heart.
Anywho, I’ve sent packages before and those packages mostly consisted of cookies that were a little more oily than the norm, because I figured that the cookies would maintain their moisture level a little better. I sent peanut butter cookies and frosted butter cookies in the past.
We’d certainly like to expand our horizons, as it will make the packages a little more exciting for those who will be getting them. So do you have any suggestions for us for baked goods that are going to keep well through the shipping process?
And I should note that sometimes the stuff can get there in less than a week (most of the time, actually), but there are times where stuff will be in transit for upwards of 3 weeks.
For what it’s worth, I can’t cook, but I can bake with the best of 'em. So throw whatever you’ve got at me, as I think I can handle it.
Ever make caramel corn? You can send either straight-up caramel corn balls, or take it up a notch and do a popcorn cake. Granted, popcorn cakes are nothing but sugar, but they’re fun to make, fun to eat, ship well and last a long time.
Here’s what you do:
Pop some plain popcorn – enough to fill a large mixing bowl.
Mix the popcorn with loose candy. More variety = more fun deliciousness. M&Ms, Skittles, butterscotch pieces, Red Hots, you name it.
Lightly butter a bundt pan or Jell-O mold.
Make caramel coating from any caramel corn recipe.
Pour the coating over the popcorn and candy, then swiftly shovel it all into the bundt pan and pack it down enough to ensure that everything is well stuck together.
Allow it to set. Overnight works best.
Cover with plastic wrap.
To ship it, pop a bunch more plain popcorn and use that as you would use Styrofoam packing peanuts. These protect both the flavor and the moisture level in the box.
Well, for longevity, and a cookie that can withstand shipping, I would suggest Springerle or Pfeffernusse.
If you seal them in a ziploc bag and deliver in a tin, they should be ok.
If you are shipping to Iraq, pretty much anything that contains chunks of chocolate is out during the summer. Bar cookies and brownies travel better than cookie-shaped cookies. Triple bag everything. Don’t ever put food in with scented toiletries or any kind fo soap – the heat causes the smell to cook into the baked goods no matter how well you package things.
That’s all I got. Have fun! I know the treats will be appreciated.
My friend’s Mom used to bake the best Oatmeal Raisin and Molasses cookies. The Molasses cookies were my favorite, and I think there were almonds or walnuts in her Oatmeal cookies…Yum.
Here’s a tip. I remember she used to make huge batches of these cookies and freeze half of them. Then weeks later she would pull them out and let them defrost and they would taste like fresh. So, along the same lines of reasoning, might I suggest freezing any cookies you send. Pack them frozen staright from the freezer immediately to the Post Office, and give them several extra hours of shelflife.
