I’m a Baking Expert: Here’s Exactly How to Create a Holiday Cookie Box That Lasts for Days

The question of how to put together a holiday cookie platter, care package, or gift basket may not seem that complicated: just make a bunch of your favorite cookies and give them away! But the reality can be a little more complex, especially when all cookies end up having an equally short shelf life, leaving the recipient with a box of goodies that expire before the end of the week, rather than an assortment of treats that can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season. For this reason, it’s helpful to mix and match cookie styles to create a longer window of enjoyment: think chewy lemon fudge, soft and chewy no-bake cookies, delicately crunchy gingerbread men, crunchy biscotti, and sandwich cookies with a creamy filling.

Not only does this extend the overall shelf life of a cookie tray or care package, but opting for different styles usually results in a wider range of flavors and textures, as well as techniques, creating a more flavorful mix with greater flexibility if you want to do some of the prep ahead of time. (On that note, check out our guide to prep strategies for holiday baking.)

To help you get started, I’ve put together a collection of my favorite cookies to give. Remember that even if a cookie doesn’t her This holiday, a double dip in tempered chocolate and seasonal sprinkles will elevate even the humblest sliced ​​and baked shortbread.

Cut-out cookies

With or without frosting, my holiday favorites are rolled sugar cookie cutouts and gingerbread cookies. Because their flavors and textures are so different (one tender and soft, the other crispy and spicy), I often include both when giving cookies as gifts.

The dough for this style of cookie can be refrigerated up to a week in advance or frozen for several months, and it tends to produce cookies with a shelf life of a week or more.

Get the recipes:

Delete cookies

Classic cookies are quick and easy, both to make and to personalize. Plus, the dough can be prepared, portioned, and refrigerated or frozen in advance, then thawed and baked to order (more details embedded in each recipe). On the other hand, they tend to go stale more quickly than crispier biscuits, so they should only be used to make up a small part of a gift set.

My absolute favorite in this category would be my Ricotta Lace Cookies, as they have an exceptionally long shelf life for set cookies – about a week, if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. And they’re a sweet, simple counterpoint to an assortment of cookies loaded with nuts, chocolate, or spices.

No-bake cookies are another major contender in this space, as they’re really just fudge drops in disguise, which means they also have a great shelf life.

Get the recipes:

Dough cookies

Where cookies are crispy on the edges, this style of cookie is soft and tender all the way through. My first choice would have to be Homemade Fig Newtons, as the dough and filling can be made in advance and refrigerated before assembling.

Once baked, these cookie bars benefit from an overnight rest, and beyond that, the moisture from the fig filling helps extend their shelf life beyond what you’d normally expect from a homemade cookie. Their fruity flavor is a welcome note to offset all the hearty spices and nuts found in other seasonal treats.

Homemade Lofthouse Cookies are another holiday favorite in my family, especially since the frosting and sprinkles allow for customization.

Get the recipes:

Sand cookies

In the South, Mexican wedding cookies (sometimes called snowballs or Russian teacakes) are a Christmas staple. Done right, they bake sand like a good shortbread, rather than dry. Their tender, crumbly nature helps them survive long periods of storage: perfect for care packages and holiday gifts.

Get the recipes:

Extra-crunchy cookies

Where gingerbread cookies are delicately crisp, ginger cookies have an almost seismic crunch. This also gives them epic keeping qualities, a cookie that can go hand-in-hand with my other favorite long-lasting option: biscotti (which look especially chic when dipped in chocolate).

Get the recipes:

Sandwich cookies

Because sandwich cookies need a sturdy, low-moisture filling that won’t crush with every bite, they tend to have an excellent shelf life. My favorites to give as gifts include homemade Oreos (especially when the filling is spiked with peppermint extract and a drop of green food coloring), tied with the bright, spicy flavors of Carr-style homemade lemon ginger creams.

Get the recipes:

Take it easy!

Despite all the technical considerations related to shelf life and balanced flavor profiles, textures and techniques, the goal of gifting a box of Christmas cookies is to spread holiday cheer. And it’s almost impossible to achieve if the baker in charge is exhausted and stressed. So set aside some time to plan, choose recipes that match your skill level, give yourself plenty of time to get the work done, and have fun!

December 2018