How to ship cookies so they stay perfectly fresh? Flash freeze and ship them to friends and family…using dry ice!

This post was created in partnership with Penguin Dry Ice. All opinions are our own.

There’s nothing we love more at the holidays than baking up goodies for our friends and family! Like many modern families these days, our loved ones are spread across the country (and world!). So this year, we decided to experiment with sending off some of our surplus baked goods. We’ve teamed up with Penguin Dry Ice to show you how to ship cookies: flash freeze and ship them with dry ice! This way, they’re 100% fresh when they get to their destination. Ready to get started?

Related: See tips on How to Pack and Ship with Dry Ice!

Dry ice handling instructions

Why ship cookies with dry ice? Flash freezing cookies with dry ice makes sure they’ll arrive in peak freshness. They’ll stay frozen 24 hours, which is enough time for them to ship overnight and arrive at your destination. This method of shipping cookies does require a few special tools and a little know how about how to handle dry ice. Here are some things to keep in mind when handling dry ice:

• Buy the dry ice 1 to 2 hours before you plan to use it. Dry ice does not last in the freezer or refrigerator, so you’ll need to use it as quick as possible.
• Never place dry ice inside airtight containers. When you get it home, place the plastic bag of dry ice in a cooler with the top off. Ventilation is key for dry ice, due to the carbon dioxide gas that is constantly released as it “melts”. Do not store it in a tightly sealed container to minimize risk of explosion.
• Always use gloves and tongs when handling dry ice. Do not touch dry ice with bare skin. It is extremely cold (-109.3° F or -78.5° C) and touching it can cause frostbite or burns.
• Keep away from pets and children. Curious kids may try to touch the dry ice, so store it out of sight until you’re ready to use. Parental supervision is required for this task!

Where to buy dry ice for shipping cookies

You can buy dry ice at most major grocery stores, which you might not realize until you’re looking for it! It’s sold in blocks and stored in a special cooler. Look towards the front of the store near the regular ice cooler. Here’s a Penguin Dry Ice store finder to help find a store near you.

Tools and equipment you need

Ready to get started? Here’s what you’ll need for how to ship cookies with dry ice:

• Festive cookies (like these!)
• Paper plates
• Sealable bag or plastic wrap
• Mallet or hammer
• Protective gloves
• Dry ice (find it here)
• Tongs
• Styrofoam cooler
• Two pieces of cardboard or other packing materials

How to ship cookies

Got the above items and have your cookies in hand? Here’s how to ship cookies with dry ice (or go to this video to watch the process):

1. Place the cookies on a plate: Place your cookies on a paper plate, then inside a sealable bag or wrap them with plastic wrap.
2. Break the dry ice into large pieces: Put on safety goggles and protective gloves. Keeping the dry ice in the plastic packaging, use a mallet or hammer to gently break the dry ice into 2 to 3 large pieces to fit inside the cooler. (Don’t chip at the dry ice with a knife or other sharp object.)
3. Add dry ice to the cooler: Place one half of the dry ice in the bottom of your cooler. Place a piece of cardboard or other packing material over the dry ice to avoid direct contact between the cookies and the dry ice.
4. Add the cookies and more dry ice: Place the sealed bags of cookies on top of the piece of cardboard or packing materials. Place another piece of cardboard or packing materials over the cookies. Place the other half of the dry ice on top of the final piece of cardboard or packing materials.
5. Close and ship: Close the lid. The cookies should stay frozen in the original cooler for 24 hours. Transport to a freezer after quick freezing if being kept for longer period of time. The packaged cooler is now ready to ship overnight to friends and family near and far.

More resources for shipping

See these other resources on the Penguin Dry Ice website for more:

• Video: How to Quick Freeze Holiday Cookies
• Pack and Send: How to Ship with Dry Ice

Cookies recipes to ship

What are our top holiday cookie recipes for the season? Here are a few top Christmas cookie recipes we love:

• Bake a batch of Soft Gingerbread Cookies
• Try festive Almond Thumbprint Cookies
• Go for Iced Applesauce Cookies with red and green icing
• Opt for Healthy Buckeyes

01

Soft Gingerbread Cookies

02

Iced Applesauce Cookies

03

Best Almond Thumbprint Cookies

04

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

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A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.