Ok so I am trying to figure out how to successfully ship cupcakes without resorting to baking/placing them in GLASS mason jars.

One of the recipes I want to try is called the Irish Car Bomb, it uses meringue as the frosting. However I need a meringue that will be ok at room temperature long enough to ship to the guinnea pigs (the ones who are allowing me to ship them cupcakes).

If anyone has any ideas, suggestions, or directions I would be forever grateful.

If you are selling them, you must have an FDA licence. It is a federal offense without it. In their documentation, the proper handling of perishible items will be covered per their specs. This is why it costs $25 to $50 to ship this type of item. I know you mentioned guinea pigs, but without proper packaging for safety, this can become a problem.

By the way, ICB is an offensive name. Someone will bring it up. I offer that flavor. I call it Guiness Stout Chocolate Cupcakes with Jameson Ganache and Bailey's Italian Buttercream. Long name, but no one is upset.

It definately was not meant to be offensive I was calling it what the recipe called it. As for the tip on the FDA license thank you.

Just letting you know. I have seen the Irish get upset for good reason. They liken it to our 9/11. I used to bartend, but I think the bar crowd is more forgiving than the cake crowd. I call it my longest name for any cupcake.

For the FDA, your state Dept of Ag should have the application. It requires a separate kitchen with all of the requirements of a restaurant, such as floor drains. From there, it is a list of registrations and logs to be kept. All food must be lab analyzed and carry an FDA sanctioned label with the nutritional analysis. Each recipe cost about $150.00.

I know they will have requirements about the egg whites. You may be able to find proper packaging online. There are some tutorials on how Williams-Sonoma does it. I know that overnight and dry ice are always involved. I think most ship frozen too. On the shipping instructions, I know that these places replace the item if an act of God prevents the next day delivery. It's better to replace than to have anyone sick. Be sure with eggs that you cover your bases.

Another great place for this type of information would be the egg board.

Thanks I'll look into it

Besides all the legal and FDA requirements, I can't for the life of me figure out how to ship cupcakes without them getting messed up. I use SMBC and I know it wouldn't stand up to shipping. My mind can't even get around what they would look like on arrival, much less messing around with all the Dept of Ag requirements.
It really doesn't affect me anyway, because in Michigan we can't ship, but I just don't understand how they arrive in good shape. Anyone see how these people "handle packages". That in itself is a laugh!

frozen next day with dry ice

http://dailycookie.net/2011/04/delicious-decadent-georgetown-cupcakes/

http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2008/02/lessons-in-cupcake-shipping-from-sweet.html

http://iheartcuppycakes.com/2008/03/13/how-to-ship-a-cupcake-solution/

My goodness SarahB52, most of that money would have gone in shipping. I hope that you would have listened to your husband at the end!

They are delicious. I've tried them. I work for a magazine and the editors are always getting gifts. One morning I went to a meeting to their offices and in the kitchen there was pink box, but it had no labels or names. I grabbed a cupcake, I usually don't like any frosting besides IMBC, but this one was delicious and so was the cupcake. I don't watch much TV so I didn't know where they came from. A year later, I saw them on the internet, and it matched the photo I took with my iPhone.

I want to eat one again, but I would never pay for so much shipping!

Oh no he would have skinned me alive. But I am greatful to who ever took the pictures showing me how they ship them