The Best Baked Goods To Ship This Holiday Season

December is officially baking season, and few things are better than sharing cookies, cakes, pies and breads with loved ones. This year, however, the COVID-19 pandemic may mean that your annual family bake-offs and friendly cookie swaps are postponed or canceled. But just because you can't swap in-person doesn't mean you can't still send your loved ones baked goods through the mail.

The best baked goods to send in the mail are sturdy ones. Crumbly cookies and pillowy rolls need not apply. Luckily, some holiday classics like gingerbread, pound cakes, biscotti and a large selection of cookies are perfect for sending to those near and far. To make sure they arrive intact, pack them snugly in an airtight container (you shouldn't be able to hear or feel them shifting around when you gently shake the tin), then pack that container in a mailing box with bubble wrap. Here are some of the best baked goods to send by mail.

As red as Santa's suit, these red velvet crinkle cookies will surely make your loved ones feel jolly, even from miles away.

For the Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies recipe, click here.

There are so many things you can make with gingerbread flavors during the holiday season. But these gingerbread biscotti ship particularly well. Pair with a pound of coffee and a new mug for a festive gift.

For the Gingerbread Biscotti recipe, click here.

Pound cake is a classic, dense dessert. This version is especially delicious thanks to liqueur-soaked cherries and a splash of bourbon in the batter. For best shipping, omit the glaze in this recipe.

For the Old-Fashioned Pound Cake recipe, click here.

You don't need to send your family candy canes to give them the gift of peppermint this holiday season. These red and white striped cookies will give them a minty sweet fix.

For the Peppermint Swirl Cookies recipe, click here.

Oat-based bars may not sound thrilling, but with the addition of maraschino cherries, chopped nuts and shredded coconut, these treats certainly are.

For the Cherry Bars recipe, click here.

You may not think of a light lemon loaf as a holiday treat, but after eating hearty holiday dinners, this bright dessert will be a welcome addition to the table. To ship, skip the glaze.

For the Very Lemon Loaf recipe, click here.

A classic Christmas cookie recipe, spritz cookies are easy to decorate with red, green and white sprinkles and food coloring. They also wonderfully fill the gaps on any holiday platter you're shipping.

For the Spritz Cookies recipe, click here.

Cranberries have uses far beyond cranberry sauce. Take, for instance, these delicate, sweet and salty scones, which make the perfect gift for the brunch-lover in your life.

For the Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Scones recipe, click here.

A classic Christmastime cookie, shortbreads are simple and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, even if the crowd is across the country.

For the Shortbread Cookies recipe, click here.

Who says gingerbread flavors have to be in cookies? This dense yet delicious cake delightfully highlights the flavors of cinnamon, cloves, allspice and molasses .

For the Gingerbread Cake recipe, click here.

If you're mailing baked goods to a family with children, chocolate chip cookies are a must. And a touch of cinnamon adds a warm winter touch to these nostalgic sweets.

For the Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe, click here.

Chocolate bark is a holiday favorite. This one uses dried fruit and shredded coconut for just the right amount of natural sweetness.

For the Fruit and Nut Dark Chocolate Bark recipe, click here.

As fun to eat as they are to say, snickerdoodles are a school lunch classic cookie. Want to give them a wintery twist? Add a touch of nutmeg to the dough.

For The Best Snickerdoodles recipe, click here.

You may not believe it, but brownies ship surprisingly well since they tend to be dense. And these brownies just so happen to be the same recipe served at Boston's Fenway Park, so it's the perfect thing to give someone who missed their favorite stadium foods this year.

For the Fenway Fudge Brownie recipe, click here.

Sweet, rich white chocolate macadamia nut cookies get a festive twist in this recipe with the addition of dried cranberries. These are perfect for anyone who prefers their cookies chewy rather than crunchy.

For the Macadamia and Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies recipe, click here.

If you can't break bread with your family this holiday season, do them one better by mailing them this sesame-topped crusty loaf.

For the Sesame-Topped Sicilian Bread recipe, click here.

A classic holiday flavor — peppermint — meets a classic cookie — biscotti. These chocolate-dipped delicacies are perfect for pairing with espresso or wintery cocoa mixes for a special gift.

For the Peppermint Biscotti recipe, click here.

Banana bread has been all the comfort baking rage in 2020, but take it to the next level for gifting by folding in orange zest, dried cherries and pistachios.

For the Tart Cherry Orange Pistachio Loaf recipe, click here.

Gingerbread people are a holiday classic. If decorating these treats are a family tradition, you can do it from afar. Just mail them the cookies, have them whip up the icing and decorate together via a video call.

For the Gingerbread People recipe, click here.

Want to mail something to grandma that your kids helped make? Whip up a batch of these pinwheel cookies. Your little ones will love rolling the dough.

For the Pinwheel Cookies recipe, click here.

Want to bake up some summery treats and mail them to your family during the shortest, coldest days of the year? These sunny blueberry lemon scones will make anyone smile.

For the Blueberry Lemon Scones recipe, click here.

If you are short on time, whip up a batch of these bars with cherry, pepitas, almonds and dark chocolate. They are ready in an hour and ship exceptionally well. 

For the No-Bake Cherry Granola Bars recipe, click here.

Can't decide between baking chocolate or almond cookies for your family? Why not do both in one?

For the Checkerboard Cookies recipe, click here.

Why choose between mailing your loved ones brownies or cookies when you can simply do both?

For the Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies recipe, click here.

The molasses in these cookies will remind your loved ones of a good old-fashioned Christmas and are the perfect thing to send in a cookie exchange. Need more ideas? Check out our 50 best cookie recipes.

For the Molasses Spice Cookies recipe, click here.

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