How many cookies in a Christmas cookie box: free cookie box planner
A tin of homemade cookies on a neighbor's step is one of the kindest things December offers. Tell us how many boxes you are giving and which cookies you love, and get how many of each to bake, how many batches, when to bake each one so it is fresh on the day, a packing list and gift labels to print. Free, no sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
Your cookie box plan
When to bake them
Sources: Food Network's Christmas cookie box guide by Heather Baird (two dozen assorted cookies a box, recipes that make at least 24, a mix of decorated and simple cookies, long-keeping biscotti and shortbread, each kind packed in its own liner or bag, simple icing that travels) and Reader's Digest from Taste of Home on how long cookies keep (about 3 days for drop, sliced and bar cookies in an airtight tin; about 2 days for iced cutouts; up to 2 weeks for biscotti and pressed cookies; up to 6 months frozen; each kind stored separately). Shortbread at about a week, the even split, the cookies for home and the packing amounts are our own estimates.
Twelve Little Joys: try it free
Twelve small Christmas rituals for the whole family, one a day, with a little village that lights up as you go. Most take 10 to 20 minutes and need no supplies.
Free tool: 12 days of Christmas activity picker, one family activity a day for your kids' ages and time.
Keep the whole list in one place
The boxes are the easy part once you know who gets one. The Neighbor, Coworker and Teacher Gift List keeps everyone you are thanking this season, and the Cookie Exchange Planner runs the swap if your friends bake too.
Everyone you are thanking this season, the gift for each and what it cost.
See it on Etsy Details
Guests, cookies, batches and the tasting table for a cookie swap.
See it on Etsy Details
More: the free holiday baking schedule, the cookie exchange calculator and the holiday tipping calculator.
Christmas cookie box questions
How many cookies go in a Christmas cookie box?
Two dozen assorted cookies makes a generous box. Food Network's cookie box guide works it the other way round: six recipes that each make 24 cookies fill six boxes with four of each kind. A small tin holds about a dozen.
How many kinds of cookies should I put in a cookie box?
Four to six kinds gives real variety without a week of baking. Mix a few eye-catching decorated cookies with simple favorites, and include at least one that keeps well, such as biscotti or shortbread.
How far ahead can I bake Christmas cookies?
Most baked cookies keep about 3 days in an airtight tin at room temperature; iced cutouts about 2 days; biscotti and spritz up to 2 weeks. Baked cookies can be frozen for up to 6 months, so you can bake weeks ahead and thaw them the day before.
How do I pack cookies so they don't break or go soft?
Pack each kind in its own liner or small bag, so soft cookies don't soften crisp ones. Put the sturdy cookies at the bottom and the delicate or iced ones on top, and keep the icing simple so it doesn't rub off.
Which cookies are best for shipping?
Crisp, dry cookies travel and keep best: biscotti and pressed spritz cookies hold up for about two weeks.
Do you store what I type in?
No. Everything is worked out in your browser. Nothing is sent or saved; print the plan or copy it before you close the page.