It’s already past the holiday season but I’ve recently sent a few tins out to some very good people I know. What separates these tins from other gifts is that they have a certain authenticity to them that’s extremely special and shows that you care for the people you’re sending them to.

The hardest part for me was actually finding some tins to begin with, and I ended up buying these butter cookie tins from Walmart. The worst part about them was that they were not what I expected them to be. I always knew that these tins were set up in such a way that it was a variety pack and they all came in separate papere cups that looked like cupcake liners. The ones I got from Walmart were a singular bag inside the tin and it looked so fucking pathetic. Perhaps in the future I’ll just go to a specialty arts & crafts store.

When it comes to packing the cookies, you have to take extra care in wrapping them. I pack them by stacking two at a time — their backs against each other so they’re supporting each other. This allows them to withstand possible shifting while shipping. Once they’re supported by each other, wrap them up in plastic wrap, then put inside the tin. If you’re feeling fancy, fill up the tin with some gift paper or anything similar for additional security.

The last hope is that it doesn’t spoil on the way if you’re gonna go the shipping route. UPS really dropped the ball with the first one I sent, but at least if you wrap them up properly they’ll last those critical days.