KATIE SYNOLD FOR TASTE OF HOME
KATIE SYNOLD FOR TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
Cute, festive box
22 cookies total, including 9 different types
Quality, fresh treats with pronounced flavors
Lowest price-per-cookie cost
Cons:
No classic flavors, so picky eaters might not enjoy as much
No pamphlet/informational guide about the cookies
When you open this adorable, snowflake-sprinkled Harry & David box, it’s hard to know where to begin. There are nine varieties of cookies inside, amounting to 22 cookies total, arranged in separate pleated paper wrappers.
Because there’s no informational printout included, Product Tester Dylan Fischer turned to the website to discover the contents of the box: fruitcake cookies, walnut shortbread, raspberry-filled shortbread, chocolate-covered peppermint cookies, coconut macaroons, gingerbread sandwiches and chocolate-covered cranberry-orange shortbread. (You can also find amazing gift baskets on the Harry & David site.)
KATIE SYNOLD FOR TASTE OF HOME
According to Dylan, the raspberry-filled shortbread and the chocolate-covered peppermint cookies shine brightest. Of the former, he says, “The flavor, appearance and texture are all spot-on. Both adults and kids would enjoy the flavor, as it’s sweet but not overly so.” And, to him, the peppermint cookie is just as pretty as it is tasty. “The cookie has a dynamic zig-zag pattern that wraps around like garland on the Christmas tree,” he says. The whole family would have so much fun passing around this box of Harry & David cookies and picking out their favorites.
KATIE SYNOLD FOR TASTE OF HOME
KATIE SYNOLD FOR TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
Beautifully decorated in various festive designs
Soft and buttery cookies
Good to share
Individually wrapped
Cons:
Quite expensive
Generic packaging with a fair amount of waste
Seeing is believing, or believing is seeing? It doesn’t matter because you won’t believe how cute these cookies are once you see them. Described as homespun and artisan, the 1-800-Baskets iced cookies are gorgeous. Designed to look like snowmen, sweaters, poinsettias, trees, ornaments, gingerbread houses and more, the showstoppers are worth every penny.
Beth Tomkiw, our tester and former Chief Creative Officer, makes it known that these cookies are so much more than good looks, though. She was concerned they’d be hard and bland, but she was blown away.
“With holiday-themed shapes and colorful decorative icing, these charming cookies definitely delight,” she says. “Flip the iced cookie over and the back side is an ideal golden color. The cookies look hard, but wow, was I surprised? These are some super buttery cookies. I couldn’t believe how soft and satisfying they are.” Although she admits she’d splurge on a gift box or tin in which to arrange them before presenting, the treats themselves are nothing short of gift-worthy.
KATIE SYNOLD FOR TASTE OF HOME
How We Found the Best Christmas Cookie Delivery Services
We rolled up our sleeves and got to sampling. Although we and our sweet teeth would’ve liked to test every Christmas cookie delivery service out there, we needed to narrow down our search beforehand. We did so by noting our audience’s past favorites; scouring the internet for highly rated, sought-out cookie brands; and taking into account price, variety and accessibility.
Once we had the tins, boxes and tubs in our hands, we divvied them up among team members from various departments to nibble at their leisure. They then provided feedback on topics such as packaging, variety, flavor, freshness, appearance, gift-worthiness and monetary value, which was compiled and analyzed to inform this list.
Other Cookies We Tested
Why You Should Trust Us
There’s no shortage of homemade Christmas cookies in the Taste of Home office. Each year, our culinary professionals, a few of whom helped with this piece, develop and test new, creative Christmas cookies to feature on our website and in our print products. So apart from our own personal experiences with baking and eating Christmas cookies, the Taste of Home staff at large has also enjoyed many a Christmas cookie developed and baked by expert bakers. Let’s just say: We know a good Christmas cookie when we see (and taste!) one.