How to package & ship baked goods, jams & honey
Welcome to the Cosy Cookie seller community. Whether you're famous for crumbly shortbread or crafting the perfect jar of local honey, your creations deserve to arrive looking and tasting just as perfect as when they left your kitchen. Here's how to send fragile treats through the UK post with confidence.
Packing fragile baked goods
Biscuits & cookies
- Cool completely. Never pack warm cookies & the condensation will make them soggy.
- Stack and wrap. Stack cookies of the same size together and wrap them snugly in glassine paper, food-safe cellophane, or parchment.
- Cushion the crunch. Place wrapped stacks into a sturdy bakery box or tin, filling empty spaces with food-safe tissue or shredded paper so nothing can move.
Cakes & brownies
- Use a cake board. Place cakes on a sturdy board that fits exactly into your inner bakery box, so the base can't slide.
- Wrap tightly. For traybakes, flapjacks and brownies, wrap the whole slab tightly in cling film or parchment before slicing — or pack slices closely, separated by parchment squares.
- The inner box should hug the cake. If there's a gap, fill it with food-safe padding.
Packing jams, honey & preserves
- Seal and tape. Make sure lids are tightly screwed on. For extra security, add a tamper-evident seal or wrap electrical tape around the lid edge to stop it vibrating loose.
- Wrap individually. Wrap every jar in a thick layer of bubble wrap or eco-friendly corrugated wrap, secured tightly with tape.
- Separate the jars. Multiple jars must never touch. Use cardboard dividers, or at least 2 inches of padded void-fill between each.
- Bag it. Place wrapped jars in a sealed plastic or biodegradable bag before boxing. If a breakage happens, this contains the sticky mess and protects the rest of the parcel.
Packing granola & dry goods
- Pouch packaging. Use food-safe, resealable stand-up pouches — lightweight and great for keeping granola fresh.
- Leave some air. Don't vacuum pack fragile clusters; a little air acts as a cushion.
- Box over envelope. Always post pouches in a sturdy box rather than a padded envelope, which can be crushed under heavier mail.
Preparing the outer postal box
- Choose a sturdy box. Use a new, double-walled corrugated box — especially for heavy items like honey and jam.
- The 2-inch rule. Leave a 2-inch gap between your inner items and the outer walls, filled entirely with void-fill (biodegradable peanuts, crinkle paper or bubble wrap).
- Seal securely. Use strong 48mm parcel tape along all seams with the "H-tape" method — the centre seam plus the two edge seams. Add a "Fragile" sticker for good measure.
The shake test
Close the box flaps and give it a gentle shake. If you can hear or feel anything moving inside, you need more padding. A silent box is a safe box.
Royal Mail size & cost guidance
UK shipping costs are dictated by size as well as weight. Understanding Royal Mail's parcel tiers helps you price products accurately. Here are the three categories most Cosy Cookie sellers use.
Large Letter
Thin letterbox brownies, flat cookies, or small pouches of granola.
Pro tip: Packaging must be under 2.5 cm thick to qualify. Letterbox-friendly bakery boxes are designed for this tier.
Small Parcel
Standard boxes of biscuits, cupcakes, traybakes, and 1–2 jars of jam or honey.
Pro tip: The most common size for baked goods. Watch heavy glass jars don't tip you over 2 kg — the price jumps in the next tier.
Medium Parcel
Large celebration cakes, bulk orders, and multi-packs of heavy preserves.
Pro tip: For high-value, heavy hampers, use Royal Mail Tracked 24 or 48 for peace of mind for you and the customer.
Happy baking & packing!
Need more advice on setting up your shop, creating beautiful listings, or managing your orders? Reach out to the Cosy Cookie seller support team we are always happy to help.
