The pandemic has really put a damper on my food tourism this year, so tracking down amazing mail-order cookies from small bakeries across the country has been like… a virtual journey for me. I’m very happy to recommend them, because many of these shops depend heavily on tourism, which has been hit hard this year, as we all know.
Ordering these cookies by mail is a wonderful way to help ensure they’ll still be around when travel becomes safe again. what if I have to order soft, melty cookies to help keep them in business? even for me?
Well, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
Whether you’re ordering these cookies by mail as a gift this Christmas or Hanukkah, a New Year’s gift, or a fun way to fill stockings at home without all the plastic toys (don’t judge here!), these are the ones for you! excellent options.
top image: san diego cravory cookies
Related: My Favorite New York Food Gifts For Those Who Can’t Make It Here Right Now
levain bakery in new york city
Yes, I’ve been one of tens of thousands over the years to queue for an hour in the cold to try New York’s Levain Bakery’s legendary cookies, and yes, it was worth it. Thanks to their nationwide shipping, you don’t have to risk freezing to send your iconic pecan chocolate chip cookies (my personal favorite) or other variety to someone you love this holiday season. wow!
Be sure to also check out Liz’s list of her 10 favorite New York food gifts from 10 New York institutions – a smart way to treat someone who can’t get to town right now.
new jersey cookie explosion
bang cookies takes the “better than sex” joke and follows it. like, a marathon. so if you want a popular mail order cookie for an adult on your list, and don’t mind a lot of “swipe right” jokes and find a “sweet daddy”, this might be the place for you. their cookies are huge and melty (you can watch a video of how they’re made to whet your appetite) and are perfect if you’re buying them for someone who needs to treat themselves.
big fat chicago cookie
This food lover’s favorite mail order cookie shop sold me on big fat cookies. and then again when i saw the decorations in this wonderful bundle of eight crazy nights for hanukkah. Or if you’re buying Christmas cookies through the mail, the twelve-day cookie assortment looks outrageous. if you’re more into cookies, then this is the place for you.
Related: Some Food Gifts That Help Fight Hunger This Holiday Season
maui’s cookie lady from, you guessed it, maui
Hawaii has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic as its economy relies so heavily on tourism, so I was happy to discover maui cookie lady, a local bakery that ships to the mainland. And what unique flavors! I realize this eggnog rumchata can be divisive, but it already has me humming mele kalimimaka. however, if you’re looking for their best-selling product, it’s their Original Buttered Rum Triple Chunker that you’ll want to order.
tasty san diego cookies
cravory cookies specializes in cookie subscriptions (at the top), so if you’re looking for a gift that will keep on giving, this is a solid option. they also offer a cookie decorating kit, which I think, as a quarantined parent of young children, I know I’d love to get in the mail as we get ready for the holidays; or check out cookie collections for kids with stuffed animals.
uncle eddie’s vegan cookies from the
If you’re shopping for a vegan on your list, look no further than this black-owned, family-owned business that bakes fresh, chewy, plant-based cookies daily with high-quality, organic ingredients. for something that feels like the holiday season (even in the 72-and-sunny la), I’d check out the Cocoa-Spice Cookies and Everything Good by the Dozen, or the Molasses Crackers. their packaging and free greeting cards look adorably homemade, as you’d expect from a family business. it’s the closest you get to sending your own cookies.
christie cookes from nashville
As a Nashville resident, I’m pretty sure I’ve tried every variety of Christie’s cookie over the years. please believe me: you can’t go wrong. they’re also offering this personalized cookie tin option this year, with a child’s drawing or a family photo, which makes it even more fun.
new orleans gambino cookies
if you’ve been to new orleans, chances are you’ve been to this decades-old bakery. It has quite an inspiring story of rising from the ashes after katrina and is still kicking around, and churning out delicacies infused with lots of flavor and local charm. This “trust me” cookie box is a fun mail-in cookie gift idea, or check out your kringle holiday cake that comes with DIY decorations to make your season bright.
the brooklyn flour store
if the people you’re shopping for are people who prefer cookie cakes to individual cookie people (yes, this is a real debate), consider this adorable christmas cookie cake from influencer and favorite amirah kasem, the flour store in brooklyn, new york. They’re best known for their rainbow explosion cakes, but this wonderfully understated option in your holiday bakery is perfect for the season. You can also have a personalized message written on yours instead of ho ho ho, in case there’s an inside Christmas joke you want to allude to. say “6 feet apart” or “share only with your bubble.” because 2020, right?
tags: allergy friendly, christmas, cookies, food gifts, food shopping, gifts, hanukkah, holiday, vegan