There are a lot of holidays in March! For this month’s military care package, I had to choose between shamrocks and rainbows or bunnies and jelly beans. The almost overwhelming selection of Easter candy was too much to resist. I created an Easter themed care package for Sailor J. and made chocolate dipped Milano Cookie Easter Eggs to sweeten her holiday.
It is hard for me to believe that this is the third Easter military care package I have sent. When I first started my “Smiles and Thanks from Home” project, I had no idea how meaningful it would be both to me and to the troops I have had the honor of adopting.
I get to bake and gather fun treats. The troops get cookies and candy. I get to thank the troops for the sacrifices they and their families make as they serve our country. The troops feel the appreciation and support included in each package.
There are so many ways to help support our military and their families with one-time or long term commitments. If you are interested, I recommend checking out Operation Gratitude, Cup of Joe, and Soldiers Angels. One word of warning. Making people smile is addicting.
Part 1 Care Package Contents: A small, but strong, yellow Easter rabbit is traveling for the next few weeks to deliver this Easter basket/box. A plastic table cloth from the Dollar Store provided the polka dotted lining for the box flaps and cushioning for the bottom of the box.
The goodies inside include: pastel colored boxes of drink mix, numerous containers of candy (heavy on the jelly beans), decorative garland, fruit flavored marshmallows, Peeps, and lots of plastic eggs filled with more candy.
Part 2 Decorated Cookies: I always include some kind of easily decorated cookie in my military care packages. Sometimes I send vanilla and chocolate sugar cookies iced, colored, or sprinkled. Other times I use a packaged cookie that I embellish to match the theme.
For this box I used mint Milano cookies coated in dark and white chocolate then decorated with colored white chocolate designs. Milano Cookie Easter Eggs are a pretty addition to a care package or holiday platter. Making the squiggles and dots is easy and would be a fun project to do with children.
There are 15 Milano cookies in each package. To coat 15 cookies I used 1 ½ – 2 cups total of melted chocolate. To make the cookies half white chocolate and half dark, I used about 1 cup of each.
In addition, for decorating about 1 ½ cups of melted white chocolate is needed.
The cookies are dipped in the melted chocolate to coat completely then placed on a wax paper lined baking sheet. To set the chocolate, chill the baking sheet of cookies in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
When ready to decorate, divide the white chocolate for decorating into a separate small bowl for each color. Microwave on 50% power for about 1 minute or until melted. Add oil based candy coloring to each bowl and mix to create an even color.
Transfer the chocolate to piping bags or plastic sandwich bags. Cut off a tiny bit of the bottom tip of the bags to pipe the colored chocolate onto the coated Milanos. If the colored chocolate begins to cool and harden in the bag while you are decorating, re-melt it in the microwave for 10 seconds. Refrigerate the cookies again, to set the decorating chocolate.
Be sure to keep weather in mind when shipping chocolate coated cookies. Milano Cookie Easter Eggs should only be mailed to and from cool weather locations. Usually, it is considered safe to send chocolate in military care packages to Afghanistan until the end of March.
I took a risk with these. First, I don’t actually know where Sailor J. is stationed, so I can’t know the temperature where she is. Second, the weather has been unseasonably warm in so many places.
I wrapped the Milano Cookie Easter Eggs individually in a strip of wax paper, then in plastic wrap. The wrapped cookies were then placed snuggly in plastic storage boxes. Hopefully, the cookies will arrive intact. If not, at least the chocolate will be contained.
Part 3 New Recipe: Easter Krispie Bars are the new recipe included in this care package. The chewy Krispie Bars are an easy, no-bake treat speckled in spring colors. Rice cereal and oatmeal provide crunch. Peanuts, m&m’s, and honey provide yum! Great for home or care package, these bars stay fresh for several weeks.
Part 4 Other Recipe Ideas: To make it easier for readers to find other Monday Box recipes that would work well with each care package theme, I am adding a “Part 4” to the military care package posts. I hope this will be helpful. For additional Easter care package goodies, take a look at these travel worthy treats.
Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cadbury Creme Egg Stuffed Brownies
Polka Dot Decorated Sugar Cookies
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant says
Oh Milanos are one of my favorites. Dipped in chocolate and decorated like this they’re completely irresistible. I may have to bring a plate of these to Easter dinner at my mom’s.
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Christine! Milanos are tasty on their own, but coated in chocolate they are extra good!
saltandserenity says
Your creativity and generosity always make me smile. What a fun Easter box to receive. Lucky Sailor J.
Mint Milanos will never be the same for me anymore.
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Cindy! Sorry to ruin plain Milanos for you. 😉 I am dangerous with a bowl of chocolate or frosting! I have a lot of fun putting together the military care packages.
Ashley says
There are a lot of holidays this March – especially with Easter so darn early this year!! Milanos have long been one of my favorites – these are just too fun the way you decorated them!! Hope you had a great weekend Wendy!!
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Ashley! Milanos are a favorite at our house too. They come in so many flavors now, and ALL of the variations taste great dipped in chocolate. 🙂
Liz @ Project Pastry Love says
You’re so inspiring, Wendy. And these treats look so yummy! I also LOVE the photos. Particularly the first one of the decorated Milano cookies and the piping bags. That is magazine worthy. Great job, my friend. 🙂
The Monday Box says
I don’t know about being inspiring, Liz, but thank you. It certainly would be wonderful if someone was inspired to offer some military support after reading a Monday Box post! You know that photos are something I struggle with, so I especially appreciate your encouragement. Though editing programs are a life saver, I really want to get better at lighting. Sometimes while baking you look down at your work surface, and the photo is sitting right there looking at you, if only the lighting and your camera would cooperate! 🙂
Winnie says
I’m not sure I’m familiar with these Milano cookies but I’d sure love to!! They looks sooooooo beautiful and tasty 🙂 I adore the decoration 🙂
The Monday Box says
I’m sorry, Winnie! I should have taken a photo of the cookies right out of the package, before I chocolate dipped them! Milano’s are a yummy sandwich cookie made by Pepperidge Farm. The fillings come in many flavors including the chocolate-mint that I used for the Easter Egg cookies.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
These are so pretty Wendy – just like all your amazing creations. You have a wonderful eye and a generous heart. Thanks for sharing these beautiful cookies – they made me smile.
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Tricia! The cookies are so easy to decorate and the results are so festive! The warm fuzzy feeling I get from sending care packages truly is addicting! 🙂
Michelle says
I’m new at all of this. My son is a,new Marine currently at Camp Pendleton in California. We live in New Jersey. I would love to send him a care package with goodies for Easter. Can you give me some advice on how to package cookies, candy, etc.? Any help would be appreciated!! Please email me. Thanks!!
The Monday Box says
Hi, Michelle! I sent you an email that I hope will be helpful. I am happy to try to answer your care package questions! My heartfelt thanks to you and your son for his service!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
These are fabulous — sharing and pinning!
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Sue! I appreciate the sharing!
Chris Scheuer says
These are so pretty Wendy. I’m trying to imagine the joy of opening your package. You are such a blessing to these brave soldiers!
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Chris. I always do hope that the military care packages cause an outbreak of smiles. I don’t know about being a blessing, but the boxes are a small way I can show my thanks and appreciation! 🙂
Julia says
What a clever idea to dip the cookies and decorate them! They are such a lovely treat to share!
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Julia! I love dipping cookies in chocolate both for the looks and the taste! In this case, the oval shape of Milanos won the egg look-alike contest!
Frugal Hausfrau says
What a fabulous idea! I love Milanos and I know I’d like them even more covered with chocolate! Thanks for bringing it to our Throwback Thursday Link Party!! 🙂
Mollie
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Mollie! So many things are improved with a little dip in chocolate! 😉
Miz Helen says
We have active duty Military members in our family and I know first hand how much these special treat boxes mean to these members. Thank you so much for adding to their day in such a special way! Your Care Package looks amazing and Sailor J. is a very lucky person to get this special treat box!! Hope you have a very special week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Miz Helen! My military care packages are a small way I can say thanks and show my appreciation for the sacrifices our military and their families make! I pack the box with as many smiles as possible. 🙂
Kim says
I love your care packages for the military! I try to challenge my readers once a month to bake for a good cause, and I am going to put military care packages on the list! Thank you for sharing! And i love Milano cookies and dipping them in chocolate makes them even better!
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Kim! I love your reader challenge! In our crazy world, it is sometimes surprisingly hard to bake for a good cause. A lot of places won’t accept home baked goodies due to health or security risks.There are some groups that accept one time donations though, and I think its wonderful that your readers regularly bake and share!
Lokness @ The Missing Lokness says
What a great idea to decorate Milano cookies with these beautiful colors! Bryan and I love Milano cookies. It is dangerous to have a box at home. These cookies will sure put a smile on Sailor J’s face. Enjoy the Easter weekend!
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Lokness! Milanos are delicious and just about eggs shaped, so I couldn’t resist turning them into Easter Eggs. I had a smile on my face making them, and I hope the smiles will transfer to the troops eating them! Have a joyous Easter!
Julie Christiansen says
Truthfully, I had never thought of making over existing cookies! What a fabulous, fun way to jazz them up! These are perfect for Spring/ Easter, but could easily be altered for any occasion or color scheme. Love it. Pinning!
PS Thanks for linking up at My Busy Beehives #beeparty this week! Please come again!
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Julie! These are just like chocolate coated Oreos, but made with Milanos for the oval, egg-like shape. Thanks for hosting the bee party!
Miz Helen says
These are very special Easter Cookies, just beautiful! Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Miz Helen! I’m glad you like these cookie “eggs”. They are a lot of fun to make! Thanks for hosting Full Plate Thursday!
Kimm at Reinvented says
Love Milanos. Can’t imagine how much better these are. Your decorating skills are on point.
Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.
Smiling Notes says
I really appreciate your thoughtfulness as well as your efforts. The cookies look really beautiful – better than any store bought cookies 🙂 Thanks for joining us at the Family Joy Blog link up party! Pinned. xoxo
Crystal says
Milanos are my fav! You’ve made them look so festive and unrecognizable ? Thanks for shared with us at Family Joy Blog linky party ?
Carlee says
They are all dressed up like Easter eggs! You always do such a beautiful job of decorating your cookies <3
Jas @ All that's Jas says
What a blessing for our troops! These are super cute and they made me smile too! How do you come up with so many cookie ideas? You’re brilliant! 🙂
The Monday Box says
Thank you so much, Jas! I am definitely not brilliant, just determined. 🙂 There seems to be an almost limitless number of cookies and cookie variations in the universe. Thank goodness! 😉
Miz Helen says
Lucky members to get this special box! Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing your great post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
April J Harris says
I think it’s wonderful how you do these wonderful boxes for those serving away from their families, Wendy! Your Milano Cookie Easter Eggs look absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing them, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Wishing you a lovely week!