Do you remember the first care package you received in college? Those homemade chocolate chip cookies? Sharing with your roommate? Now you know why this cheap and cheerful gift is always a hit!
Packaging Tips
- Use photo boxes (usually on sale at Michael's for $2) – they won't smash, and you can just wrap it in brown paper to send!
- Line the bottom of the box with colored shred.
- Wrap each type of cookie in a quart size freezer zip top bag…these bags are thicker than reqular zip top bags and will keep the cookies fresher.
- Make sure to let the recipient know when to expect the package…I've discovered that college students don't check their mailboxes daily!
- After the cookies are gone, the student has a good looking photo box for storing college memories – photos, football tickets, awards.
Care Package Recipes – The Budget Diet Girls Favorites
(Click on the links for a printable version)
Note: All of the recipes freeze beautifully, so don't worry about having a marathon baking day!
White Chocolate Crunch Snack Mix
This is my go-to recipe for a quick and delicious snack mix. Add a festive touch by changing the colors of the m&m’s to match the season. White Chocolate Crunch Snack Mix can be prepared in less than 15 minutes! What are you waiting for?
- Ingredients:
- 1 cups M & M's
- 1 cup dry roasted peanuts, salted
- 2 cups Chex cereal (any kind)
- 2 cups thin pretzel sticks
- 1, 12 oz. bag white chocolate chips
1. Mix first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave according to package directions.
3. Pour melted white chocolate chips over other ingredients, toss until coated.
4. Spread on cookie sheets lined with wax paper.
5. Break into pieces when white chocolate has hardened. If you need to speed up the hardening process, just pop the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes.
6. Yield: 6 cups
Chocolate Chip Cookies – THE BEST!
I’m a sucker for any recipe that claims to be “the best,” and I have a weakness for warm chocolate chip cookies…who doesn’t? After years of trying every chocolate chip cookie recipe that claimed to be the best…there it was, staring at me on Pinterest – The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe from The New York Times. Like I said, I’m a sucker, so I had to try it, and I now declare the search for the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie is over! The recipe really is the best, but be warned…the measurements are odd, you’ll have to buy special flours and the dough is required to be refrigerated for 24 – 36 hours before baking. I’m certain that something magical happens with these precise measurements, special flours and that waiting period because I’ll never try another Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe again nor will I try to adjust any of these measurements. I did, however, simplify the wording of the instructions, and I added caramel bits for an over-the-top WOW! The only downside to the recipe? You can’t satisfy your Chocolate Chip Cookie craving immediately because of the all-important waiting period.
- Ingredients:
- 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons cake flour
- 1⅔ cups bread flour
- 1¼ teaspoons baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 2½ sticks butter, softened
- 1¼ cups light brown sugar
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3⅓ cups semisweet chocolate chips (the original recipe calls for 1¼ lbs., so I did the conversion for you!)
- 1 cup caramel bits (optional, but amazing!)
1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
4. Stir in the vanilla.
5. Reduce speed to low , add dry ingredients and mix until combined.
6. Stir in chocolate chips and caramel bits, if desired.
7. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and press the plastic wrap against the dough.
8. Refrigerate for 24 – 36 hours. Note: Dough may be used in batches and can be refrigerated up to 72 hours.
9. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350.
10.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
11.Scoop golf ball size mounds of dough onto baking sheet…these are BIG cookies!
12.Bake until light golden brown but still soft…18 – 20 minutes.
13.Let cool on pan placed on a wire rack for 10 minutes, and then transfer cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.
14.Yield: 2 dozen gigantic cookies!
Butterscotch Peanut Butter Cookies
My son declares these THE BEST PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES! Peanut butter and butterscotch are an amazing combination! It’s right up there with peanut butter and chocolate!
- Ingredients:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup sugar (plus extra for rolling)
- 1, 12 oz. package butterscotch chips, divided
- 1¼ cups peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1¼ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and sugar until creamy.
3. In a separate bowl, melt half of the butterscotch chips in the microwave according to the package directions.
4. Add melted butterscotch chips, peanut butter, egg and vanilla to the sugar mixture.
5. Beat until smooth.
6. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.
7. Stir in the remaining butterscotch chips.
8. Pour about ½ cup of sugar on a small plate.
9. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the sugar to cover completely.
10.Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.
11. Bake for 9 – 10 minutes or until very light brown on the edges.
12.Yield: 4 dozen
Oreo Balls
You’ll love this Oreo Ball recipe because it’s a no bake cookie recipe. You’ll love this recipe because you’ll need just 4 ingredients. You’ll love this recipe because they freeze beautifully! Make Oreo Balls ahead of time, and they'll be ready to go for your care packages.
- 1, 18 oz. package Oreos
- 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 24 oz. white chocolate bark (this melts well and is ideal for dipping)
- 6 oz. chocolate chips (optional, for drizzling on top)
1. Using a food processor, grind Oreos (frosting & all) into a fine powder.
2. Mix together Oreos, cream cheese & powdered sugar.
3. Roll into 1″ balls & chill for 30 minutes.
4. Melt white candy according to package directions.
5. Dip balls, place on wax paper & chill.
6. If you want to be fancy, drizzle with melted chocolate chips!
7. Yield: 4 dozen
Homemade Chex Mix
The recipe can be found on every box of Chex, and nothing beats homemade.
Please leave a comment to share your favorite care package ideas or recipes!
