Holiday Cookies Take Flight: TSA Officers Share Favorite Recipes and Packing Tips for Sweets
From White Chocolate Chip Ube to Banana Spice, TSA officers share their Christmas cookie creations—and we’ve baked up their recipes! 🌐 #News #StPaulMN #Minnesota #Travel
ST. PAUL, MN – As holiday travel ramps up, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reminding travelers that they can bring their homemade holiday treats through airport security—Christmas cookies included. With a few packing tips and TSA officers’ favorite cookie recipes, your holiday goodies can make it to your destination safely.
TSA Guidelines for Packing Holiday Foods
The TSA ensures that most solid foods can be carried through security checkpoints at airports. This includes baked goods like cookies, cakes, and pies. However, there are a few exceptions that travelers should be aware of.
“If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in a checked bag,” the agency says. This means items like preserves, jams, jellies, eggnog, and maple syrup should be packed in a checked bag instead of a carry-on.
Packing Cookies for Safe Travels
When it comes to packing cookies, TSA officers have some helpful advice. Amy Hatfield, Assistant Federal Security Director at Pittsburgh International Airport, has packed cookies many times—whether sending them to her sons in the U.S. Navy or traveling with them herself. Her top tip is to use an empty Pringles chip can for extra protection.
“Stack your cookies and wrap the stack with plastic wrap,” Hatfield said. “Then slide the stack of cookies into an empty Pringles can.” This method keeps the cookies intact and prevents them from being crushed during travel.
TSA Officers’ Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes
In the spirit of the season, the TSA has also shared some of their officers’ favorite cookies. These treats are sure to be a hit during the holidays:
- White Chocolate Chip Ube Cookies (Ciaran Persch, Harrisburg International Airport)
- Orange Creamsicle Cookies (Susan Smoot, Raleigh County Memorial Airport)
- Banana Spice Cookies (Roslyn Sears, Baltimore Washington International/Thurgood Marshall Airport)
- Pete’s Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies (Kelli Herreid, Greenbrier Valley Airport)
- Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies (Tanya Smeltz, Lynchburg Regional Airport) – Perfect for when you only need a dozen.
Traveling with treats doesn’t have to be stressful. By following the TSA’s guidelines and using a few clever packing tips, you can ensure your holiday goodies arrive in one piece. Don’t forget to try out these cookie recipes for a sweet, homemade touch to your travels!
TSA’s Cookie Recipes – We Took a Crack at Recreating Them for You!
While the TSA didn’t share the exact recipes for their officers’ favorite holiday cookies, we thought we’d take a crack at recreating them so you can try these festive treats yourself. From white chocolate chip ube cookies to banana spice cookies, these sweet ideas will have you baking up some delicious, holiday-inspired goodies for your travels. Here are our takes on the TSA officers’ favorite cookie recipes!
1. White Chocolate Chip Ube Cookies
Inspired by Ciaran Persch’s recipe from Harrisburg International Airport.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup ube halaya (purple yam jam)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the ube halaya, egg, and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Stir in the white chocolate chips.
- Drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- Let cool on a wire rack before serving.
2. Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Inspired by Susan Smoot’s recipe from Raleigh County Memorial Airport.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1 teaspoon orange extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the egg, orange zest, and orange extract.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, followed by the white chocolate chips.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, until golden around the edges.
- Cool on a wire rack before serving.
3. Banana Spice Cookies
Inspired by Roslyn Sears’ recipe from Baltimore Washington International/Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 2 bananas)
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.
- Beat in the egg and mashed bananas.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.
- Allow to cool on a wire rack.
4. Pete’s Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
Inspired by Kelli Herreid’s recipe from Greenbrier Valley Airport.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda.
- In another bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, beating until fluffy.
- Gradually mix in the flour mixture until combined.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
5. Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Inspired by Tanya Smeltz’s recipe from Lynchburg Regional Airport.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and egg yolk, and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop out small spoonfuls of dough (about 1 tablespoon each) and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- Let cool on a wire rack.
These recipes are inspired by the names and flavors mentioned by the TSA. While they’re not the exact recipes shared by the TSA officers, they should give you a good starting point to recreate these holiday treats. Enjoy baking – and Merry Christmas!
RELATED TOPICS: TSA Tips | Airports and Airlines | Travel Tips | Food | Christmas
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