Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Got any left over Hugs and Kisses? I have a suggestion for how to use the candy ones as well as the real ones. Sunday, February 17th, is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Hugs and Kisses Brownies are so fudgy and delicious you will want to make left over chocolate a tradition.The Cup of Joe program is a very easy and inexpensive way to do a random act of kindness that has a huge impact.
This blog is focused on recipes for care packages. My “expertise” is college care packages. However, all Monday Box recipes certainly apply to anyone looking for a treat to enjoy at home. But what about military care packages? Those take 2 weeks to a month or more to reach their destination. I knew nothing about the rules or recommendations for care packages being sent to the desert! I began researching. That’s when I became acquainted with Gina and her eye opening blog, Gina Has Left the Mall. Please read it. Gina hopes that through her blog she will, “inspire other to care, maybe put that care into action, and help close the divide between military and civilians.” If you are familiar with deployed troops you will find yourself nodding your head in agreement. If, like me, you aren’t familiar, you will find a window to a different world.
This post has nothing to do with politics or personal feelings toward wars or international relations. This is about men and women who are serving their country in often dangerous and difficult jobs, located in often uncomfortable conditions. Each one of these service people is somebody’s son or daughter. As a mom, my heart goes out to each one and their families.
OK, Gina. You have opened my eyes. Our troops need to know they are not forgotten and that their sacrifices are appreciated. Now what? How about a Cup of Joe? Gina introduced me to this easy and inexpensive Random Act of Kindness that I was telling you about. Cup of Joe is a program provided by Green Beans Coffee which has cafes on military bases throughout the world. Anyone can click on their site and, for only $2, donate a cup of coffee to a service person. There is also the option to write a short message of support to go with the coffee. That random act, from one stranger to another, is so effortless and yet reaches across continents to communicate kindness. This Sunday, why not celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day by baking some Hugs and Kisses Brownies and virtually sharing a cup of coffee with a service person, providing a combination morale and caffeine boost?
These brownies are simply delicious and they are care package perfect. You don’t have to send them anywhere. You can hide them and keep them all for yourself. You will be temped to. Hugs and Kisses Brownies are rich, chocolaty, and chewy and best of all they stay that way for a ridiculously long time. After two weeks, ours tasted fresh. But then we finished them, so I can’t personally vouch for the claim that they are good for a month, however, I wouldn’t be surprised. The original recipe comes from Nestle’s test kitchens and was developed especially for military care packages, following the guidelines for desert safe food (withstanding high temperatures) and mailing regulations to Middle Eastern nations. Any adaptations I made, remain within those guidelines.
Basically, this means using vegetable shortening (Crisco) instead of butter, margarine, or nut butters. Apparently, those are more likely to go rancid in high temperatures. I never use Crisco. Usually, I can taste it in cookies and bars. I was very skeptical about this recipe at first. But the proof is in the tasting. They really are amazing. Chocolate chips, oddly enough, are desert safe once baked. If you aren’t mailing Hugs and Kisses Brownies far away, and have an aversion to vegetable shortening, go ahead and substitute butter or margarine or even coconut oil.
I hope you will share some Hugs and Kisses Brownies with someone you love and offer a random act of kindness to a stranger.
You can read more about desert safe ingredients and find an index of all of the desert safe recipes on The Monday Box by clicking here.
Hugs and Kisses Brownies with a Cup of Joe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ all-purpose flour
- 1 cup baking cocoa I used Dutch processed, Droste’s, for a darker color and richer taste
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- 2/3 cup butter-flavored vegetable shortening
- 2 cups granulated white sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup white chocolate chips or quartered Hershey’s Hugs
- 1 cup Hershey’s mini baking kisses or milk chocolate chips
- 18 Hershey’s white chocolate Hugs cut in half (bottom to point)
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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Prepare one 9” x 13” pan depending on use. If you plan to mail the entire pan of brownies in a disposable pan, lightly grease the disposable pan with vegetable shortening. If you plan to remove the brownies from the baking pan ( to wrap whole, to wrap after cutting, or to cut and eat at home), foil line the width of the pan allowing for a little overhang (for easy lifting later) and spray with non-stick spray.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and espresso powder. Set aside.
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In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the shortening, sugar, and eggs. Beat until light in color and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
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Gradually add in the flour mixture, until combined.
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Stir in the white chips and mini kisses.
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Scoop the batter into the prepared pan (it will be thick), using a spatula or spoon to even out the batter into the entire pan and smooth the surface.
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Place halved Hugs in any design you wish on surface of brownie batter. (No need to press. The batter will rise around the Hug as it bakes.)
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Bake for 25-30 minutes. The toothpick test doesn’t work very well because of all of the melting chocolate chips. If the top is firm after 25 minutes, take it out. (Mine baked for 28 minutes). Cool completely in the pan.
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To remove the brownies from the pan for cutting, slide a knife around the pan edges that are not covered in foil then lift the over hanging foil.
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Store brownies at room temperature in an airtight container or zip lock bag for at least 2 weeks.
Packing Tips
If using a disposable pan, make sure to cool completely before wrapping the pan in foil then in plastic wrap. Cut brownies can be double wrapped in plastic or wrapped in foil then plastic before storing in an airtight container or zip lock bag.
I think it’s great that you are extending your care package expertise to overseas to help our troops. I’m sure it makes their day and the coffee idea is so easy! 🙂 Plus, these brownies look lovely, for overseas or straight into my mouth.
Jess, these brownies are amazingly good. Make some. I think they may be required eating during midterms and finals 🙂
As a mom to a soldier I totally appreciate you bringing up the subject of care packages. When my son was deployed, it meant the world to him to get a package from home. I often sent huge packages because so many other soldiers don’t receive anything. It really does boost their moral and their spirits. The coffee idea is one I post on Facebook often, I love it! These brownies look awesome and I know people would love to receive them! If you (or your readers) ever have questions about care packages to troops feel free to ask me, I consider myself a pretty good source! Lol!! (My email is sueshaw09 (at) yahoo (dot) com). Here is a site that you may find helpful too. http://www.give2thetroops.org/items.htm
Suzie, your positive comment means so much to me. Thank you! I appreciate knowing that I am on the right track and if I ever post something about military care packages that you think is off the track, please tell me that too. Thank you also for your willingness to be a resource for me and for others seeking info. on military care packages. I know that I will be taking advantage of your kind offer and expertise! Hopefully,at least a few extra cups of coffee are shared by letting people know that Cup of Joe exists.
Thank you for thinking of the troops, I think any one of them would be THRILLED to get these brownies! And thank you so much for spreading the word about Cup of Joe. As you know, what you really give someone is so much more than a cup of coffee. And what you get back is worth far more than $2. Thank you also for sharing my blog and your kind words. It makes me feel like I’m one step closer to my not-secret goals 🙂 ps- looking at these pictures is making me want brownies for breakfast…lol.
Gina, thank YOU. Thank you for stopping by Monday Box with your kind words. Thank you for answering my questions by email. Thank you for making a difference in so many lives both by reaching out to the troops and by sharing your experiences with the rest of us so that we might choose to “step out of the mall”. 🙂 ps- When lent is over and you are again eating chocolate, I can send you a brownies care package 🙂
What Yummy Brownies! Thanks for letting us know about Random acts of Kindness Day!
Thanks, Chandra. Every act of kindness makes the world a better place. 🙂 I am so happy I found your blog. It was definitely a random act of deliciousness 🙂
ooh thanks that is so sweet!
I love brownies filled with goodies!!
I agree, Aimee! These are so soft and sweet and chewy!
These are just heavenly! I’m amazed that they last that long – thanks for the tips! I didn’t know that about shortening. Good to know because I want to send Easter treats out.
Thanks, Reeni 🙂 The shortening info comes from Nestle’s test kitchens. This recipe amazed me in general. They slice beautifully if you wanted to cut and wrap them individually or even cut them out in easter egg shapes and wrap individually. If you use the cookie cutter method, you will have to eat the scraps though.:)
Wow! Those brownies look gorgeous! I want one.
Thanks, Emily! That is very high praise coming from some one whose blog is filled with amazing photography and delicious recipes!
What a great idea!!! LOVE putting candy in brownies.
The play on words, the time of year, seemed care package appropriate. It really is amazing how long these brownies stay soft and chewy. Thanks, Dorothy!
These look so good! And sending care packages to service men and women is such a great idea. Whose day isn’t made better with a brownie?
Those brownies look so tasty ! Love it
Thanks, Sarah. They taste rich and delicious and stay soft for ages 🙂
Oh, no fair. It’s 10:15pm and all I can think of right now is plateful of these hugs and kisses brownies. I guess I’ll be making a batch (or two) tomorrow. Thanks for sharing at the #ThisIsHowWeRoll Link Party.
Thanks, Susan! These brownies stay soft and chewy a really long time! Thanks for hosting This is How We Roll!
Brownies are so my weakness. Adding the hugs and kisses chocolates to them takes them to another level. Can’t wait to try them!
Your Hugs and Kisses Brorwnies will be great with a cup of coffee, yum! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Random acts of kindness are what the world needs right now. Thanks for sharing! And oh, those brownies got me drooling! Yum!
Thanks for sharing it over at Food Friday. Hope to see you again! 🙂