Can you ship cookies internationally

Cookies have gone global. In the last few years, brands like Crumbl Cookies in the United States, Insomnia Cookies on college campuses across North America, and Brooki Bakehouse in Australia have developed loyal followings that extend well beyond their home markets.

Increasingly, customers are showing a readiness to purchase baked goods from international sources, and small, independent retailers are stepping up to meet that growing demand. It’s an exciting moment for cookie makers, but it also raises some real questions about how to get a delicate product across oceans in good condition.

Cookies are fragile, perishable, and surprisingly easy to ruin if they’re exposed to heat, jostled around in a box, or poorly wrapped. With proper care and the right method, baked goods can retain their flavour, and taste every bit as fresh as the day they came out of the oven.

Today’s guide will walk you through how to ship cookies internationally, including food safety regulations, packaging methods, carrier options, customs paperwork, and technology that can make the process smoother for both you and your customers.

Table of contents

• ​Can you ship cookies internationally?
• ​The best way to ship cookies
  • Choose cookies that ship well​
  • Use durable shipping boxes for cookies
  • Consider temperature control and stability
  • ​Include proper customs documentation for international shipping
  • Track it: Delivery updates to keep customers in the loop
• ​Which carriers ship cookies internationally?
  • Can you ship cookies through UPS?
  • DHL cookie shipping: Perishable food guide
  • FedEx cookie shipping: Perishable food guide
• ​Cookie retailer spotlight – Brooki Bakehouse
• Next steps: Selling sweet treats across the planet

On the other hand, soft, high-moisture treats like pumpkin bread or frosted cookies may only last a few days at room temperature before they begin to spoil. Delicate cookies, such as thin buttery tuiles or lace cookies, also tend to break apart when handled in transit.

Another part of the challenge involves international regulations. Each country has its own rules for importing food, and they are often stricter than people expect. Some destinations allow only commercially packaged cookies with a clear list of ingredients in English.

Australia, for example, restricts shipments to commercial products with no meat content, and the packaging must display an ingredient label. Homemade goods may be refused entry altogether.

Due to these rules, accurate paperwork is essential since customs agents want to know a package's contents, origin, and classification. The combination of well-prepared forms with clear descriptions and supporting ingredient data goes a long way towards preventing potential delays or confiscation.

For any retailer or baker considering international shipments, checking the rules of the destination country before sending cookies is the best way to avoid problems and keep customers happy.

The best way to ship cookies

Now that you know that you can, you may be wondering, “How do you ship cookies internationally?” Sending cookies overseas can feel intimidating, especially when you think about the distance, handling, and time involved.

Even a small amount of preparation can make the difference, allowing your treats to reach their destination in perfect condition and ready to enjoy out of the box.

Cookies that ship well share some common traits: low moisture, a firm texture, and no dairy-based fillings. Recipes that rely on creamy centres, soft frostings, or custard-style fillings tend to spoil quickly and may not make it past customs.

Thin or fragile cookies, such as butter crisps or tuiles, usually crumble under the pressure of long-distance handling. Keeping your selection to sturdier recipes or carefully selecting packaging options helps you meet both food safety expectations and customer satisfaction.

A common question is: “Can you vacuum seal cookies for shipping?” The answer is yes. Vacuum sealing is one of the best ways to preserve freshness and keep cookies from moving around in transit. If a vacuum sealer isn’t available, a simple alternative is to use a zip-top bag and press the air out of it before sealing it.

For wrapping, pair cookies back-to-back or wrap individually in cello or heat-sealed bags. Once wrapped, place them in a sturdy inner container, such as a metal tin or a hard plastic food-safe container. Add a layer of cushioning, such as parchment paper or bubble wrap, at the bottom, and don’t stack more than two layers without padding in between to prevent crushing and flavour transfer.

The inner container should then be placed inside a sturdy corrugated cardboard box. Surround the container with crumpled kraft paper, packing peanuts, or bubble wrap until nothing shifts when you give the box a gentle shake.

Labelling matters here too: mark the package with “Fragile,” “Perishable,” or “This Way Up” so handlers know to treat it carefully. Covering the full range of needs, this process spans from choosing shipping boxes for cookies to considering cookie packaging ideas for shipping.

When done correctly, it represents the best way to package cookies for shipping and prevents the frustration of trying to figure out how to ship cookies without breaking.

The most effective and practical approach is to minimise the time your cookies spend in areas with uncontrolled conditions. Try to opt for express services from UPS, FedEx, or DHL, especially in the summer or when shipping to warmer climates.

If you’re sending cookies with chocolate coatings or sensitive decorations, an insulated liner or thermal bubble wrap can add an extra layer of protection without the complications of refrigeration.

Quick shipping paired with thoughtful packaging gives your cookies the best chance of arriving in excellent condition.

A simple description such as “Baked cookies—no meat, homemade, for personal consumption” is more effective than vague wording. Some destinations, such as Canada or Australia, require a full ingredient list, and commercial imports may need bilingual labels.

Businesses may also need official certifications. For example, U.S. exporters often need FDA registration under the Food Safety Modernisation Act, while Canada requires a Safe Food for Canadians license. If paperwork is incomplete or misleading, customs officials have the right to delay, seize, or even destroy shipments.

Starshipit tip: Retailers can simplify this process by using automation tools. Starshipit allows you to generate customs forms, commercial invoices, and ingredient details automatically for each order. Automating these steps reduces errors and keeps shipments moving smoothly across borders.

Starshipit tip: Set up automated branded notifications and create a custom tracking page to provide customers with updates in your unique style, rather than relying solely on a generic courier page. Adopting this method reinforces your brand, clarifies customer expectations, and keeps their attention engaged until the cookies arrive.

Which carriers ship cookies internationally?

Once your kitchen or warehouse has packaged and prepared cookies for shipping, the next step is to select a carrier capable of managing international food shipments. Global couriers such as UPS, DHL, and FedEx all offer services specifically designed for baked goods, but each approaches the process slightly differently.

Understanding how they handle packaging requirements, customs paperwork, and transit speeds will help you pick the right option for your business. The right decision often comes down to balancing speed, cost, and reliability, since each factor directly affects how fresh and intact your cookies arrive.

Heavier cookies should be packed at the bottom, with lighter or more fragile ones placed on top. UPS also suggests filling any empty space inside the shipping box to reduce shifting during transit, since movement increases the risk of breakage.

For international shipments, UPS encourages shippers to use services like Worldwide Expedited or Saver for faster delivery, which helps maintain freshness during transit. Every package must also include a commercial invoice and accurate customs details to avoid delays at the border. 

For companies that place importance on consistent service quality and access to a broad global infrastructure, partnering with UPS can be a strong fit.

DHL also emphasises the importance of sturdy outer packaging and tamper-proof seals, which provide extra protection for fragile food shipments. Their service is especially popular with bakeries that want to reach customers quickly across multiple regions, since DHL has strong coverage in Europe, Asia, and North America.

For businesses seeking to expand their international reach without lengthy transit times, DHL is often the most practical option, thanks to its combination of fast delivery, efficient customs handling, and extensive market access.

FedEx’s tracking features, including Delivery Manager, provide customers with more control and visibility throughout their journey. Shippers must provide clear customs descriptions, and some destinations may also require import permits.

FedEx packaging recommendations include using insulated liners or protective wraps for temperature-sensitive goods, though most cookies travel well without refrigeration when shipped quickly.

Companies that prioritise reliable customer-facing technology along with fast, dependable delivery frequently turn to FedEx, which makes it a versatile choice for bakeries sending products internationally.

Each cookie is allowed to cool fully before being sealed in an airtight cello bag, locking in freshness and preventing moisture buildup. Those bags are placed inside sturdy tins or boxes, cushioned with protective padding to reduce movement during transit.

Brooki even includes simple reheating instructions so customers can bring their cookies back to a fresh-from-the-oven state after delivery.

For international shipments, Brooki relies on DHL Express, which gets their cookies to destinations like the United States, New Zealand, and many parts of Asia in just three to five days. Within Australia and New Zealand, the bakery works with Team Global Express and MyPost Business to keep local deliveries fast and reliable.

What really streamlines the process is their use of Starshipit. Automation rules assign the correct carrier for each order and create labels without the need for manual input. The result is fewer errors, faster turnaround, and less time spent on administration.

With low breakage rates and consistently positive feedback from customers, Brooki Bakehouse demonstrates that even a small team can build an international customer base when packaging, shipping choices, and automation all work together.

Next steps: Selling sweet treats across the planet

Small bakeries and eCommerce stores sometimes assume international delivery is out of reach, yet with a clear plan and the right technology, it can become a natural part of growth. Customers are already eager for global access to baked goods, so having a streamlined process in place allows you to meet that demand without extra stress.

Starshipit can help simplify the entire workflow. Carrier integrations enable you to compare and assign services easily, while customs forms can be automated to reduce delays, and branded tracking pages provide customers with the reassurance they need.

If you’re ready to take the next step, you can start a free trial or book a quick demo to see how it works. For more practical advice on food shipping, download the Food & Beverage shipping guide and learn how to keep every order fresh, compliant, and on-brand.