Late here, but I have lots of fun putting care packages together and sending them to my daughter. I don’t send “stuff” that doesn’t get used up, so that it doesn’t clutter her room. I have sent little toiletries (like nice shower gel, hand cream, etc.) but mostly send food, some homemade or home-grown and some store bought. She likes to share some of it with her friends, especially during finals.
As for cookies, I agree that the glaze-type icing holds up very well, but the buttercream doesn’t.
@sseamom -Would you mind sharing your buttercream recipe? I’ve been looking for a good one that isn’t too sweet.
I’ve asked my son to give me ideas for care packages I can send to Beirut for him. It’s probably best if he sees what’s in short supply over there, and then he can let me know.
I sent a care package to Spain when my daughter studied there a couple of years ago. On the declaration form, I just wrote, “Candy.” Apparently that’s a big red flag, so they held the package downtown and D’s host father had to retrieve it, after I wrote in great detail what kind of candy I’d included. I had to guess, because I couldn’t remember all of it!
We have some relatives that live abroad. We don’t even bother sending stuff. Between the cost and the high odds of it getting “lost” (read as stolen), it just isn’t worth it.
@MaineLonghorn and @porcupine98 Here’s my go to pumpkin bread recipe but I change it and use 1/2 white sugar and 1/2 brown sugar. I also adjust the spices to my liking upping the cinnamon and cutting back on the cloves and nutmeg a little. It makes 3 loaves.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/6820/downeast-maine-pumpkin-bread/
@MaineLonghorn The name of the recipe will work for you. 
@doschicos, thanks! Yes, the name is good!
If any of your kids are fans of the elusive Starbucks pumpkin scones, Allrecipes.com has a copycat recipe that D swears is as good as the real thing. They are easy to make, and because they’re not fragile, would ship well. I plan to send her some in October.
@my-3-sons “my” recipe is really the Wilton recipe, but I make sure to use real vanilla and UNsalted butter. I’m not sure if you’d find it to your taste, though, it’s pretty sweet. The lady who got me interested in cake decorating-a professional-told me that it’s the recipe she used for almost all of her cakes.
Homemade Chex Mix is a favorite snack in our household, especially curry and teriyaki flavors. It’s easy to make, virtually indestructible, and perfect for sharing. It must be a midwest thing because none of D’s east-coast friends had ever heard of it. Now it’s a favorite of theirs, too. 
Oooh @EllieMom -what a great idea! H smokes his Chex Mix on the smoker and it doesn’t matter how much he makes for any occasion, it disappears faster than anything else. I should have him make some for D and her friends.
For pumpkin-y, I do muffins. Definitely a “cheater” recipe but so easy, and they have been a favorite.
1 box Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix
1 can of pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling - just pumpkin. Think it’s around 15 ounces)
1 bag Hershey’s cinnamon chips (next to the chocolate chips in the baking aisle)
Couple of tablespoons water or milk for mixing
Just blend all together and bake in Pam-sprayed muffin tins about 20-25 minutes (until a toothpick comes out clean)
at 350 degrees.
Yield is about 12-16 depending on muffin cup size.
Original recipe did not call for water or milk, but I find it helpful to add just a bit to get all the ingredients well-blended.
So easy 'cause no eggs, butter, etc.
I wrap each muffin in cling wrap and then put them in gallon-sized Ziploc bags. I like individually wrapping them for freshness and for sharing.
Your posts reminded me that I give them a “carry care package” when they fly or drive back to school which is almost always a couple loaves of banana nut bread (no allergies in his group). But gonna try this pumpkin bread (yum), shamed to say I have never had pumpkin bread!
I think it depends on the college mailroom efficiency, but we were able to send homemade banana bread for finals last year – it took exactly two days from CA to the East Coast and it held up great. Those US Mail Priority 2-Day flat-rate boxes worked well for us (and the banana bread was heavy!)
@Hoggirl I just made these without the cinnamon chips for D’s going away party at her request. People couldn’t stop eating them-even people who are not really “pumpkin spice” types.
@EllieMom I am an east coaster and I do send big batches of homemade chex mix. I make a pretty bold version. It’s a good way to add something savory to the care package. I also put a lot of nuts in mine. A billion times better than the store bought stuff and its great to be able to customize the ingredients.
I also make granola and spiced nut mixes, my favorite having rosemary and orange zest in it.
My daughter’s boyfriend’s mother sends them meatballs and sauce. She packs it in dry ice, I think, and sends it overnight. I think this is overkill, but I’m sure it will only be worse this year as his brother is also going to school there and he’ll need meatballs and sauce too. My daughter thought I should be doing that with tamales. No, I’m not sending tamales. Then she came home this summer and stopped eating the tamales because she thinks one made her sick. Whatever.
I do send holiday things. For halloween I sent one daughter several glow stick things from the dollar store and she (and roommate) loved them, and then threw them away. St. Patrick’s day socks or a headband, Valentine stickers or conversation hearts. Both kids have boyfriends who LOVE Pez dispensers and candy, so toss those in too.
Uh oh, @twoinanddone. if your daughter marries the guy, she’s never going to be able to make meatballs that live up to “Mom’s” 
Where does one get dry ice anyway? That seems like a hassle. I also assume you have to pay a lot for super expedited shipping to get it to arrive before the dry ice melts.
@doschicos - You can send me a care package any day.
@porcupine98 Do you like homemade gourmet marshmallows and cheese crackers from scratch? I make those as well. And lots of cookies.
Hold the marshmallows. Double down on the cheese crackers. You have lucky kids!
Homemade gourmet marshmallows? @doschicos, are you serious? Care to PM me your address?