Shipping Baked Goods in Hot Weather : Desert Safe Recipes (2024)

Shipping baked goods in hot weather can be tricky. Heat promotes spoilage. Sending military care packages to deployed service members is even trickier. Extreme heat, combined with shipping times from 10 days to 6 weeks (or longer), makes finding the right recipe essential.

All of the cookies, bars, candy and quick breads on The Monday Box are meant to be shared with loved ones whether they live close by or far away. Monday Box care package recipes create baked goods that stay fresh a long time and are sturdy enough to travel well. There are recipes appropriate for a variety of care package requirements, taking into account the weather and the length of shipping time.

Sending a summer care package? The Monday Box has you covered for all of your hot weather baked goods! There are over 50 recipes for chocolate cookies, sugar cookies, biscotti, bars, brownies, and mug cakes that are all made with ingredients that are “desert safe”, making shipping baked goods in hot weather safe and delicious.

I have received many questions about baking for summer care packages, especially care packages for military personnel. I hope to clear up any confusion by answering the most common questions and by offering recipe suggestions.

For even more information and ideas for deployed military care packages, be sure to read these useful guides:

Companies That Ship Sweets to APO/FPO Addresses

Military Care Package Ideas

What is a “desert safe” recipe?

A recipe that is “desert safe” contains ingredients that are least likely to mold or go rancid in extreme heat. This is especially important for care packages sent to deployed military in desert regions. Their bases and the military mail vehicles are often not air conditioned, with temperatures consistently well over 115°F for many months of the year.

What ingredients make a recipe “desert safe”?

The two basic ingredients that can cause spoilage of baked goods is the fat going rancid and moist sugar promoting mold. Vegetable shortening is shelf stable and is less likely to go rancid than butter or margarine. White sugar has the lowest moisture content of the sweeteners. Avoiding baking with brown sugar, honey, or syrups helps avoid mold.

Are there other ingredients that should be avoided in hot weather?

Many ingredients will melt in heat (i.e. chocolate chips, icing, chocolate or candy melt coating) or add moisture (i.e. fruits and vegetables) or oil (nuts) and are best used in cool weather baking. If chocolate chips are added to cookies, be sure to wrap them well to contain the melted (though delicious) chocolate.

Is this really necessary? I’ve never used “desert safe” guidelines for my military baking and never got any complaints.

There are several answers to this question. First, if you choose not to use desert safe ingredients, it is certainly possible that your baked goods will be fine when they arrive. However, is it worth the risk? If one puts time and love into baking for others, the whole idea is to make the recipient smile. How disappointing to possibly receive a box of moldy treats, or worse, a box of rancid treats that could make the recipient sick. There are so many delicious possibilities for baking “desert safe”, that I choose to play it safe.

Second, keep in mind that family and friends or the volunteers who bake hundreds of batches of cookies to send off to the desert, often don’t hear back from their care package recipients. If the service member is able to communicate their thanks, they are unlikely to comment on the baked goods that arrived moldy. They are just delighted to receive a package! Again, I choose to play it safe and not assume that no complaints means no spoiled treats.

With all of those care package restrictions, what can I bake?!

Lots of things!

Shipping baked goods in hot weather can be a challenge, but with a little knowledge you can bake and send treats that will arrive safe to be enjoyed.

Desert Safe Recipes for Shipping Baked Goods in Hot Weather

COOKIES

Biscotti

Dryer, crunchy, cookies such as biscotti are sturdy travelers that stay fresh for weeks and can be baked in dozens of irresistible flavors. Biscotti are great for dunking in coffee or tea as well as for munching on their own.

Black and White Biscotti

Chocolate Espresso Biscotti

Cinnamon Red Hot Biscotti Cookies

Cinnamon Chip Biscotti

Coconut Biscotti

Lemon Biscotti

Bars/ Brownies/ Blondies/Loaf Cakes

When time for baking is limited baking a pan of bar cookies, brownies, or blondies is the way to go! For long shipping times, bar cookies stay soft and chewy best when mailed uncut. Wrap up the whole pan and include a plastic knife or two in the care package.

Candy Bar Blondies

White Chocolate Lemon Bars

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Chocolate Marble Pound Cake

Chocolate Strawberry Blondie Bites

Decorated Fudge Brownies

Galaxy Brownies

Hugs and Kisses Brownies

Lemon-Lime Bars

Orange Creamsicle Bars

Strawberry Brownies

Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Surprise Inside Brownies

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Bars

Microwave Mug Cakes

If a care package recipient has access to a microwave, an alternative to baking is to send the ingredients for creative mug cakes made with shelf stable (mail-able) ingredients. Send a care package filled with paper snack cups, plastic spoons, and the ingredients to quickly mix up individual mug cakes.

3-2-1 Magic Mug Cake

3-2-1 Black Forest Cake

3-2-1 Lemon Poke Cake

3-2-1 Peach Cobbler

3-2-1 Piña Colada Cake

3-2-1 Pineapple Upside Down Mug Cake

3-2-1 Red, White, and Blueberry Mug Cake

3-2-1 Strawberry Lemonade Mug Cake

3-2-1 Mandarin Orange Mug Cake

Pineapple Mug Cake

Orange Mug Cake

Shipping Baked Goods in Hot Weather : Desert Safe Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to ship baked goods in hot weather? ›

Ice Packs and Insulation: When shipping cookies in the summer, it's crucial to keep them cool during transit. Consider including ice packs or frozen gel packs in your package to help maintain a lower temperature.

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How to ship desserts safely? ›

Wrapping them with wax paper, then placing them in plastic wrap or plastic storage bags. Placing them in a primary box or tin, which is the box that will protect the baked goods from the stress of being shipped. Lining the box or tin with tissue paper, newspaper, or styrofoam.

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Is it safe to ship baked goods? ›

You should only package cooled baked goods to prevent moisture build-up. Secure each item. Use food-grade bags, parchment paper, or food liners to help keep them intact. Individual wrapping also prevents sticky treats from conjoining.

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What is the cheapest way to ship baked goods? ›

In most cases, the USPS is the cheapest way to ship baked foods — but it's not always the fastest. Whether you are shipping baked goods for business or to a friend, pick one's that won't crumble easily while en route. The best way to ship baked goods is by: Choosing the appropriate packaging/box.

How do you keep baked goods fresh when mailing? ›

Shipping Baked Goods

Choose baked goods that are moist, firm and hard—not brittle. ...
Use two containers: one for your baked goods and one as the shipping container.
Wrap cookies individually or place back-to-back and wrap loosely as a pair in plastic wrap or zip-lock plastic bags.

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How do you ship baked goods without melting? ›

Wrap Baked Goods To Create an Airtight Seal

Seal in that just-baked freshness with plastic wrap. Use shrink wrap for sturdy goodies like Bundt cakes and pies, and wrap plastic around more delicate cakes by hand. Freezing cupcakes and intricate iced cakes can also help them to hold up in transit.

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What is the best baked good to ship? ›

The Best Baked Goods to Ship (and Those You Never Should)

Cookies. If you're sharing a food gift with a cookie monster, consider those that are baked until dry in consistency, such as spritz cookies, meringues, gingersnaps or biscotti. ...
Breads and Cakes. ...
Jams and Sauces. ...
Brownies and Bar Cookies.

Sep 19, 2020

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Can you send homemade brownies in the mail? ›

Parchment paper, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap are the best materials to secure your food followed by an extra layer of covering or fitted in a ziplock bag. When packing cookies, brownies, or bars, place a sheet of wax/parchment paper between each layer if you are packing them together.

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Can you mail baked goods through the USPS? ›

Keeping supplies like foil, plastic wrap, wax paper, and/or parchment paper will help prevent your baked goods from spoiling or sticking together. Choosing carrier services like USPS Priority Mail^Ⓡ will get your baked goods to your chosen destination quickly and with tracking information.

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Should you freeze baked goods before shipping? ›

Before sending it off for shipping, you should place the baked goods in the freezer for 12 to 24 hours. This ensures the item will stay moist and fresh upon delivery. It's also crucial to note that dense baked goods tend to hold their shape better during shipping versus lighter baked goods like sponge cakes.

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Is it better to ship cookies UPS or USPS? ›

The Best Way To Ship Cookies Is Fast

Select an express shipping option to get your cookies delivered as fast and as fresh as possible. Consider UPS^® Simple Rate – which offers standardized shipping rates for small packages across the United States.

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How much does it cost to ship cookies with the USPS? ›

Shipping cookies through USPS

USPS has no restrictions on the shipment of baked foods and its Priority Mail option is the cheapest way to ship cookies. Shipping with USPS Priority Mail can cost you between $15 to $15 per package. Here are the most optimal USPS shipping services for shipping cookies: USPS Priority Mail.