Absolutely the BEST Cookies to Ship to Iraq
January 23, 2008 by Marye Audet
Filed under Cookies
Suzanne asked about the best cookies to ship to Iraq, and I wanted to go ahead and devote a post to the recipes.
Chris/Kyrie: Leave 2006
You see, my son leaves for his second tour of Iraq in a month. From there he will head to an Asian country for two years. I understand the heart of someone who wants to send some “home” to someone they love. I understand praying that the cookies make it and that somehow they will miraculously create comfort and warmth in the heart of the receiver. And I know, too, that cookies do exactly that.
I know it because once upon a time, many eons ago, in the dark ages, I was in the military too. And I know what it is to close your eyes, stick your face in the box, and smell that amazing scent of “home”. For a moment, you are there.
So, again, when Suzanne asked, I decided to not just email her, but to check my WW2 cookbooks to see what THOSE women sent overseas. And then I checked for the best, the very best, packing instructions. These cookies are guaranteed to get there fresh, delicious, and in no more than two pieces…I can’t do better than that…I have been subjected to military shipping myself, remember.
Packing:
1. Use a vacuum sealer. Seal the bag and then place the sealed bag into a bag that you blow up like a balloon. Just place to original bag in, zip all but one edge, blow it up like you were inflating a party balloon and finish zipping.
2. Pack the inflated bags in popcorn.
3.Another thing to do is to be sure to use a label on each package. For example:
4 doz. chocolate chip cookies
Baked 1/23/08
4. Add a packing list to the inside of the package, with the recipient’s address as well as your own.
O.k…so now that that is out of the way…which cookies are best to send?
Remember the 40 Best Cookie Recipes for Shipping? Well any of those are great. But OF those there are a few that are the absolute best.
Basically good candidates for shipping are not crispy cookies, but cookies that are chewy. Dried fruits in the recipes will help the cookie stay moist and fresh longer. Cookies with eggs in the recipe are by far better travelers than cookies without eggs.
- Molasses Crinkles
- Ranger Cookies
- Quaker Famous Oatmeal
- Chocolate Pixie cookies
- Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Intrigue Cookies
- The Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever
- Almond & Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Kisses
- White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
And remember to pack some pictures and some prayers…Because those are the things that keep you going when the cookies are long gone.
If you are serving, thank you so much. If you have a loved one serving, again, thank you so much. My prayers are with you, always.
This is me in 1979: Marc in 1979 Chris in Iraq 2006
{{{{Marye}}}} I know you must miss your son. Shoot, seeing Marc in his uniform makes me miss my son and he is only an hour away up at Camp Pendleton!. I saw him on Saturday.
I’m always worried about baked goods getting there in one piece! We’re sending my brother Girl Scout cookies from his Brownie niece.
someone just mentioned a chicken/artichoke pie, looked for it -couldn’t find it–help please.sounds wonderful…norma..p.s .i’m praying for your dad too!
my son is in iraq, i would like to send him banana nut bread.will it make it & not mold or get yucky. please let me know
my son is in iraq, would like banana nut bread, will take 7-10 days, will it make it & not get yucky. anybody know
Maddie, Banana bread is too moist. It will get there moldy or in crumbles. You could try banana muffins but that would be iffy. My son has been in Iraq twice and it has always taken more than 7 days…, usually closer to 14-20.
HI I my husband just left for Iraq and from talking to the ladies who have done this before ( and the soldiers) they say that you shouldn’t include things like chocolate chips because they all melt and make a huge mess. Have you found this to be true?
Ali I have not. But what I do is take two cookies and put the flat sides together and wrap in plastic wrap. Then I do the same with the rest. It helps them to get there in one piece AND keeps them from becoming melty. At least my son hasn’t complained yet.
Hi Marye, These are great recipes and information. I have a recipe blog and several military families have asked about recipes and shipping oversees. In an effort to give them as much information as I kind find, I’ve re-posted this recipe and linked back to this site. I hope your son remains safe and please thank him from all of us for his service. Best wishes, Laura
Thanks Laura. I generally prefer that you just link back to my page with the recipe title. Thanks for letting me know.
Does anyone know of a lemon cookie recipe that will ship to Iraq well?
Jennifer…try the blueberry white chocolate on this site..but leave out the blueberry and add more lemon zest…those should ship well if you wrap them carefully.
I found a banana nut bread recipe that is titled Davises’ Banana Bread for The Troops that has been in use since Desert Storm. I assume this recipe was developed or modified specifically to ship to the troops and has been tested for enough years, including Operation Iraqi Freedom, that it gets to its intended destination okay without getting moldy. I just found the recipe and haven’t tried it yet myself. Maybe it would be worth it to bake a loaf and pack it up the same way as if you were going to ship it, but Don’t. Then after a week or 10 days, unpack it and take a look at it to see what condition it’s in, and if you’re really brave, taste it. Maybe I’ll try that too. But I wouldn’t ship it where you know the mail takes longer than a week and a half. DOes anyone else know of any other quick bread recipes that they or others have tried and know for sure would do well to ship to Iraq or A-stan?
Mona,
quick bread may not be a good choice. It is just so iffy as to how long items will take to get there!