how long do homemade biscuits keep?

[puppydavies]

i want to make as many xmas pressies as poss this year - would biscuits in pretty tins be a goer? not totally air tight i guess, how long do you think they'd keep? a fortnight or more? or would i end up having to special delivery them on xmas eve?

would certain types last better than others?

whenever i make biscuits they barely make it through the night uneaten

you really do need an airtight tin or they will go soggy and stale wihtin a few days, if they are metal and the lids fit then they should be ok, top with greaseproof paper and expect a 1 week shelf life.

Do ones with a high sugar content like shortbreads in pretty shapes or gingerbread

definitely make them as close to the day as possible as mine tend to go off in about 2 days (when they last that long!).

as long as the tin is airtight though and you seal them up as soon as their cool i'd say a week is very possible

about 5 minutes in this house

gordon ramsay reckons shortbread keeps for a fortnight. but should i trust someone who thinks rosemary shortbread is a good idea?

I freeze cookies on a regular basis so you could try making a batch, cooking then freezing them then checking them a day or so later for texture. Mine are always fine and last for a couple of days after thawing so you could make batches and thaw them out the day you give them.