Homemade for Hometown Heroes Challenge

HOMEMADE FOR HOMETOWN HEROES CHALLENGE

4/24/2020

During this period of uncertainty, one of my favorite ways to remain calm is to create and bake. Baking not only gives you a sense of direction and channels your energy into something positive, but it also gives you hope.

Sharing my homemade treats is very rewarding, and with the help of family in the kitchen, the joy is even greater! We have been baking LOTS of sweet treats and love sharing them. Whether it's safely dropping off a box of homemade bakes for one of my kiddos, or a elderly neighbor living alone, it always brings a smile. Which got me to thinking - every one of us can make this world a little bit sweeter!

Today Snowflakes & Coffeecakes is launching HOMEMADE FOR HOMETOWN HEROES as an initiative for YOU to create and share homemade treats to share with YOUR Hometown Heroes!

Spring Celebration: Carrot Brownies (Chewy Fudge Brownies) & Springtime Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting

WHAT IS THE HOMEMADE FOR HOMETOWN HEROES CHALLENGE?

I am challenging all of my readers, family and friends to make their favorite homemade treat to share SAFELY with their Hometown Heroes! This is a perfect family project and doesn't require any special trips to the store or fancy ingredients. It's all about what you love to make, bake and share!

Two of my daughters are nurses - one working front-line at University Hospitals of Cleveland, and the other in charge of a unit at a nursing home caring for elderly residents that have been isolated, are sick and lonely, and just do not understand what is going on - challenging environments for both of them that we never expected to see in our lifetime. My absolute favorite thing to do is to send homemade treats with them to share with their teams - our medical angels and my Hometown Heroes!

To get you started, and through the generosity of Rodelle, Snowflakes & Coffeecakes will be selecting SIX readers to receive a wonderful package of baking goodies, which you can use to create your own home-baked treats to share with YOUR Hometown Heroes! Whether it's a front-line medical provider or a first responder (fire, police or EMT) - perhaps for you its a teacher conducting online classes and virtual learning for a gaggle of kids.

We all have our own Hometown Heroes and this is just a small way of showing our appreciation and thanks to them for all that they do for us!

Rodelle Kitchens Homemade for Hometown Heroes Prize Package

RODELLE GIVEAWAY [NOW CLOSED]

We will be giving away six sets of Rodelle products, with a few special baking surprises thrown in for fun - including Rodelle Baking Cocoa, Rodelle Pure Vanilla Extract, Rodelle Vanilla Paste, and Rodelle Almond Extract, together with fun sprinkles, cookie cutters and a few other surprises! I love the quality of Rodelle products - which I use exclusively in my kitchen.

CONTEST IS CLOSED - OUR SIX WINNERS WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED AND HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.

Banana Bread Bites

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BAKERY TREATS TO SHARE?

Honestly, everyone pretty much goes crazy for anything that is fresh and homemade! Right now everyone seems to be enjoying old-fashioned goodies that bring back memories of happier times - the classics! Homemade muffins, cookies, brownies and cupcakes are always favorites that everyone loves!

To shake things up, I also like to create over-the-top creations to share - lots of frosting and sprinkles bring lots of smiles! One thing that I do is send things that can be wrapped individually and served easily, in disposable containers that have covers - just to keep everyone safe.

Here are some of my favorite recipes that I've been baking and sharing since all this craziness began. Good luck to everyone - and don't forget to challenge one of your friends to participate as well!

CAKE BATTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

CARROT BROWNIES (Chewy Triple Chocolate Brownies with Dark Chocolate Ganache & Buttercream Carrots)

COCONUT CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

CHEWY BROWNIE & M&M COOKIES

SPRINGTIME SUGAR COOKIES with BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

OLD FASHIONED BLUEBERRY OATMEAL MUFFINS

SIMPLY PERFECT VANILLA CUPCAKES with STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

SPRINGTIME SCOTCHEROOS

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114 Comments

Lauren

4/24/2020 05:17:11 pm

What a great idea! I'm going to make brownies to share because they are my favorite and everyone loves them. I would share with our city EMT and Fire because my brother is an EMT.

Mama V link

4/26/2020 03:44:05 pm

Thanks Lauren! I'm sure they will love your brownies!

Melissa

4/24/2020 05:53:09 pm

My favorite thing to bake is banana bread or your banana streusel muffins! I frequently make them to bring to my fellow heroes on the frontlines at work in the hospital downtown. #heroeswearscrubs

Mama V

4/26/2020 03:45:09 pm

Thanks Melissa! They will LOVE your banana streusel muffins! You are our heroes with capes!

Katie

4/24/2020 07:16:19 pm

This is a wonderful idea! I love to bake mini muffins or mini brownies and package them up in cute containers to share with loved ones. I like to make little care packages for the essential workers that go unnoticed - my postwoman, the garbage truck drivers, etc. that include baked goods and mini bottles of hand sanitizer.

4/26/2020 03:46:04 pm

Thanks Katie! Your idea is so sweet and special! I'm sure they will love your thoughtfulness!

Gabi

4/24/2020 09:37:42 pm

I love to bake anything from brownies to rice crispy treats. My sister works front line down at UH in Cleveland and I want to make some for her and fellow night shift nurses. Hopefully she doesn’t eat them all on the way there!

4/26/2020 03:47:49 pm

Thanks Gabi! I'm sure they will love your brownies AND your rice crispy treats! Bake on!

Jeanne B

4/25/2020 12:19:27 pm

Chewy chocolate Chunk Cookies are my favorite. I would bake them for the nurses at our community hospital. Hope I win!

4/26/2020 03:48:47 pm

Thanks Jeanne! I'm sure they will love your Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies! Bake on!

Chuck W

4/25/2020 12:21:43 pm

Fudge Brownies are my favorite think to bake and share with my co-workers at SFD. Homemade are always best but sometimes I cheat and make boxed, not sure if they can tell the difference but I do.

4/26/2020 03:49:28 pm

Thanks Chuck! I'm sure they will love your Fudge Brownies! Bake on!

Gloria

4/25/2020 12:30:32 pm

I love so many of your recipes that it is hard to choose, but I would pick Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies as my favorite. I'll be making several batches to share with my daughter who also works in a COVID unit.

4/26/2020 03:50:47 pm

Thanks Gloria! I'm sure they will love your Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies - they're my favorite too! Very nice of you to share!

Manuela

4/25/2020 12:33:14 pm

My friends love it when I bake Monster Cookies, your cookie recipe is the Best cookies EVER, dropping them off for our city first responders later today!

4/26/2020 03:51:47 pm

Thank you so much Manuella! I'm sure they will LOVE your homemade Monster Cookies! Thanks for sharing!

Sue Maxwell

4/25/2020 12:35:15 pm

LOVE your blueberry oatmeal muffin recipe. Have been trying loads of different ones during lockdown and this is by far my favorite. Just wondering if you know roughly how many cals per muffin? Thank you.

4/26/2020 03:52:50 pm

Thanks Sue! I have to agree - old-fashioned Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins are always wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

Michelle

4/25/2020 01:05:21 pm

Snickerdoodle cookies are our favorite. This is BBC such a great idea and will keep me ftt try I’m eating the whole batch myself. My sister is a teacher and i think I’ll share with her as she is crazy busy with teaching a new way. Pick me please do I can bake more!

4/26/2020 03:55:03 pm

Hi Michelle, your Snickerdoodle Cookies sound wonderful - I'm sure your sister will love to share these! Bake on!

Jo M

4/25/2020 01:30:03 pm

I love this idea! I’m kinda famous for my lemon bars so I would pick those to share with our medical staff.

4/26/2020 03:53:55 pm

Hi Jo, Lemon Bars sound wonderful! I'm sure they will love them!

Marie F

4/25/2020 02:45:38 pm

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are my favorite to bake for a crowd because they are fast and easy as nd everyone loves them. I’m gonna make these for a neighbor who works in the ER to share. I love Rodelle vanilla too but it is hard to find here!

4/26/2020 03:56:02 pm

Thanks Marie! You can't go wrong with Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars! I'm sure they will love these! Thanks for sharing!

Rachel P

4/25/2020 03:05:46 pm

The assisted living facility where my mom lives has 46 cases of staff and residents with COVID. I put together a box of homemade treats and dropped them off, they were very appreciative.

4/26/2020 03:57:03 pm

Thanks Rachel! I'm sure that any homemade treats that you make to share will be greatly appreciated! Thanks for participating! Bake on!

Nancy

4/25/2020 04:25:12 pm

My mission is to bake and feed everyone to fatten them up so I look skinnier - but I like your challenge better! Peanut butter blossoms for my favorite nurses coming right up!

4/26/2020 03:58:12 pm

Thanks Nancy, that's another reason I love to share my homemade goodies! I'm sure they will love your Peanut Butter Blossoms! Yum!

Colleen

4/25/2020 07:06:26 pm

Banana Muffins are my choice to bake and deliver to a friend who is an RN to bring to her night shift team - sending homemade bagels and cream cheese too. Feel like it is the least I can do to help!

4/26/2020 03:59:13 pm

Hi Colleen, I'm sure they will love your Banana Muffins! Thanks for sharing - and bake on!

Melanie M

4/25/2020 08:21:36 pm

I love your banana bread recipes! My roommate and I talked today and we are going to make some mini loaves and deliver to our local hospital to share. Love this idea!

4/26/2020 04:00:09 pm

Thanks Melanie! I'm sure they will love your homemade banana bread! Thanks for sharing!

Marilyn

4/26/2020 04:36:27 am

I would make chocolate cupcakes with those pretty sprinkles for our paramedics.

4/26/2020 04:01:04 pm

Thanks Marilyn! I have to agree - sprinkles always make things special and everyone loves them. Thanks for sharing!

Rosalie

4/26/2020 08:52:04 am

Chewy chocolate chunk cookies for my hometown heroes - UH ICU!

4/26/2020 04:11:50 pm

Thanks Rosalie! I'm sure they will love your homemade cookies - and Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies are the best! Thanks for sharing!

Stephanie

4/26/2020 01:57:12 pm

Anyone else find themselves baking more and more the longer this craziness goes on? This weekend we made tried and true soft and fluffy snickerdoodles for the Mister to bring to work (he’s a corrections officer so I thought they all could use a little more love!)

Now if I could just find some yeast I’d really be a force to be reckoned with 😂

4/26/2020 04:13:04 pm

Thanks Stephanie! I'm sure they will love your Snickerdoodles! Thanks for sharing and participating in our challenge!

Char

4/26/2020 02:46:21 pm

Hi love your recipes. Going to make the blueberry banana Bread in disposable loaf pans to deliver to local nursing home staff. Thank you for all the good recipes.

4/26/2020 04:14:02 pm

Thanks Char! I'm sure they will love your homemade Blueberry Banana Bread! So good! Thanks for sharing and participating in the challenge!

Samantha R

4/26/2020 03:21:22 pm

I’m making peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for first responders. They are so soft and absolutely delicious.

4/26/2020 04:15:06 pm

Thanks Samantha! Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies sound wonderful! Thanks for sharing and participating in our challenge!

Hannah

4/26/2020 05:23:35 pm

You’ve inspired me to make a variety of homemade muffins and drop them off for our medical staff in the ICU. Don’t know what we would do without them and want to say thanks!

4/27/2020 09:43:06 am

Thanks Hannah! I'm sure they will love your homemade muffins! Thanks for participating!

Julia

4/26/2020 05:48:33 pm

I love how your recipes always turn out! I love to bake, but I'm diabetic, and I can't have a bunch of sweets. I usually take most of it to work, but will bring Old fashioned blueberry oatmeal muffins to our local medics tomorrow.

4/27/2020 09:44:29 am

Thanks Julia! I'm sure they will love your Old-Fashioned Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins! Thanks for participating!

Debbie

4/26/2020 06:04:41 pm

I was gifted an Amish Friendship Bread starter and used small loaf pans, sprinkled the tops with cinnamon sugar, to deliver to nurses - it is National Nurses Week! 😋❤

4/27/2020 09:56:03 am

Hi Debbie - Amish Friendship Bread sounds perfect! What a great idea! Thanks for participating!

Charlotte

4/27/2020 07:42:02 am

Thanks for another great idea to do with my boys while we are in lockdown over the coronavirus. We are baking a couple times a week and the boys love making and of course eating all the recipes. We will make chocolate chip cookies to share with our local hospital staff. Thanks again!

4/27/2020 09:57:19 am

Hi Charlotte, Chocolate Chip Cookies are always a favorite! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Lisa

4/27/2020 07:52:54 am

I like your blog and recipes. I made sugar cookies as a surprise and dropped them off with the fire and medics and all of them were very happy. Thank you for sharing your recipes and ideas with us.

4/27/2020 10:01:08 am

Hi Lisa,
Sugar cookies sound perfect! Thanks for sharing and participating!

Julie L

4/27/2020 07:59:08 am

I am going to make Krispie Bars and give them to my friend who works in the emergency room to take with her. If I make them and keep them in the house it would be dangerous but I love sharing with our hometown heroes!

4/27/2020 10:11:03 am

Hi Julie - Krispie Bars sound perfect! My family loves those too! Thanks for participating & sharing!

Camille

4/27/2020 08:04:31 am

My friends love my German chocolate brownies, this will give me a good reason to make them again for my friend who works at a senior center and share.

4/27/2020 10:12:02 am

Hi Camilla, German Chocolate Brownies sound amazing! I'm sure they will love them! Thanks for participating & sharing!

Amanda

4/27/2020 08:29:35 am

Monster Cookies are the easiest for me to make right now because I can't always find ingredients and with these its easy to just add what you have - be it chocolate chips, m&m candies, butterscotch, peanut butter and I always have oatmeal. They are thick and perfect and I think my neighbor will take them to share with her nursing staff. Love this contest as I am having a hard time finding vanilla.

4/27/2020 10:12:59 am

Hi Amanda, your Monster Cookies sound amazing! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Olivia

4/27/2020 08:38:29 am

You can never go wrong with classic chocolate chip cookies! I will be making some for my local hospital for the staff to share.

4/27/2020 10:13:47 am

Hi Olivia, Chocolate Chip Cookies are always amazing! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Jessica

4/27/2020 08:44:46 am

I'm going to make a big batch of brownies and leave them in the mail box for my postal carrier. I would be doomed without him as it saves me from having to run out every day to bring things to the post office.

4/27/2020 10:14:46 am

Hi Jessica, what a fabulous idea! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Abby

4/27/2020 07:10:03 pm

Peanut Butter Cookies for my hometown heroes - rescue squad!

4/28/2020 10:10:19 am

Peanut Butter Cookies sound fabulous Abby! Thanks for participating & sharing!

Susie

4/27/2020 07:12:05 pm

I'm planning to make chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting to deliver to my friends at the nursing home!

4/28/2020 10:11:11 am

Susie, your cupcakes sound delicious and I'm sure they will love them! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Missy

4/27/2020 07:22:53 pm

I’ve decided to go the healthy route. I’ll be making trail mix and breakfast cookies for the folks manning the testing stations. Thanks for the idea and contest!

4/28/2020 10:11:53 am

Missy, that is such a fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing and participating!

Justine

4/27/2020 10:39:44 pm

This is an amazing idea! I’m going to try your old fashioned blueberry oatmeal muffins tomorrow and bring them to my neighbor in the medical field! They look absolutely delicious!! #HomemadeforHeroes

4/28/2020 10:12:42 am

Thanks Justine! They will LOVE your old-fashioned Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins! Thanks for sharing and participating!

Teri

4/28/2020 08:35:31 am

I'm going to make brownies and rice krispy treats for local EMT and fire crew. Our favorite treats!

4/28/2020 10:13:24 am

Teri, I'm sure they will love your brownies and krispy treats! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Stacy

4/28/2020 08:41:49 am

I have just enough bananas left to make some Walnut Banana Bread to give away and share. During these times, its extra important to be showing our love and generosity to one another.

4/28/2020 10:15:01 am

Stacy, your Banana Walnut Bread sounds amazing! Thanks for participating and sharing! #HomemadeforHeroes

Laura Jean

4/28/2020 08:49:10 am

I'm going to make your Grammy Chocolate Bundt Cake and drop it off to share with assisted living facility where I volunteer but they won't let us volunteer right now. I think they will enjoy it.

4/28/2020 10:15:57 am

Laura Jean, they will LOVE that cake - its one of our favorites too! Thanks for sharing and participating! #HomemadeforHeroes

Cindy

4/28/2020 10:54:07 am

I'm going to make my own version of Starbuck's cranberry bliss bars and drop them off with a big container of coffee at our local fire department.

4/29/2020 10:16:24 am

Cindy - that sounds wonderful! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Christy

4/28/2020 11:13:48 am

Snickerdoodles are my pick to bake for friends and family - I will bake these for my goddaughter who is a RN.

4/29/2020 10:17:07 am

Thanks Christy - Snickerdoodles sound wonderful! Thanks for sharing and participating!

Candi

4/28/2020 11:58:52 am

I love this idea! But am a TERRIBLE baker, it just never works out and I’m kind of known for that! But I LOVE eating cake, maybe with some almond and som berry flavoring! Your stuff always looks amazing!!

4/29/2020 10:18:23 am

Hi Candi, I think you're a better baker that you think! Gluten free can be a challenge but I've got some great recipes that I would love to share with you! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Kristin

4/28/2020 12:48:43 pm

My kids and I are going to make chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies to drop off with our city rescue squad. They love cookie dough so I will need to make a double batch so we have some to deliver. Hah!

4/29/2020 10:19:02 am

Thanks Kristin! That sounds wonderful! Thanks for participating and sharing!

4/28/2020 01:01:43 pm

I am going to make monster cookies and brownies for the bank tellers and for my co workers at McDonald's to show my appreciation for all they do. Thanks for thinking of this! It’s a wonderful idea!

4/29/2020 10:19:30 am

Thanks Stacy! They will LOVE your cookies and brownies! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Tania

4/28/2020 04:00:46 pm

This is a great idea Di, I am not a baker... my family are very kind with their compliments when I bake, but they are being nice and my poor daughter Candi takes after her mom.

4/29/2020 10:22:23 am

Thanks Tania! I think you are a fabulous cook - don't sell yourself short! My girls always say they can never bake as well as I do - but now that they are off baking on their own, I am amazed by all of the wonderful treats that they make, and they just get more confident all the time and more willing to try new things. Great recipes and a digital scale are the tricks to baking in my opinion. Thanks for sharing!

Lexi

4/29/2020 07:05:35 am

Chocolate chip cookie bars and brownies for our fire and emergency staff. An hour of my time for those smiles was priceless!

4/29/2020 10:23:04 am

Thanks Lexi! Chocolate chip cookies and brownies sound wonderful! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Keri Justice

4/29/2020 10:25:06 am

I would make some homemade brownies and cinnamon rolls and share them with my Mom and her co-workers. She works at our local county Health Department. Thank you for the chance.

4/29/2020 01:00:52 pm

Hi Keri, homemade brownies and cinnamon rolls sound DELICIOUS! I'm sure they will love them! Thanks for participating and sharing!

4/29/2020 12:35:25 pm

I love to make little individual spiced carrot cakes with a lemon glaze. It's my mother's recipe and she made them as christmas gifts every year. I would love to share these with my son and his team, who have been working overtime as active duty soldiers.

4/29/2020 01:01:58 pm

Hi Michelle, your spiced carrot cakes with lemon glaze sound fabulous! Would you mind sharing your mother's recipe? Thank you for participating and sharing!

Jeffrey

4/29/2020 12:52:25 pm

I'd go with the classic chocolate chip cookie for the local firehouse. Cookies just make sense for first responders, there's little to no mess, they're portable, there's no need for a utensil and they don't have to find a place to dispose of a wrapper!

4/29/2020 01:02:45 pm

Hi Jeffrey, classic chocolate chip cookies are always a favorite - I'm not surprised that so many people have picked those to share! Thank you for participating and sharing!

Vickie

4/29/2020 01:06:02 pm

Our and my hometown heroes get very little recognition from anyone.
Our Florida frontline team providing electricity to Florida.
Their work is hard, dangerous and hot everyday even before covid.
They also love food and treats. Pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and muffins. All and any and I love to provide and contribute to make their days a little better.

Snowflakes & Coffeecakes

4/29/2020 02:51:33 pm

Thanks Vicki! I'm sure that they love all of the treats you bake and share! Thank you for participating and sharing! #HomemadeforHometownHeroes

4/29/2020 01:33:01 pm

I'm going to make homemade granola bars for our first responders.

4/29/2020 02:52:23 pm

Thanks Teri! Homemade granola bars sound wonderful! Thank you for participating and sharing!

Char M

4/29/2020 01:36:13 pm

My kids and are baking vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with frosting and LOTS of sprinkles for our fire department. They are so excited to decorate and drop them off, and I'm turning it into a math lesson while baking. Two birds with one stone and so much fun!

4/29/2020 02:53:08 pm

Thanks Char! Sounds like you are having so much fun! Thank you for participating and sharing! #HomemadeforHometownHeroes

Kelly

4/29/2020 02:07:58 pm

I like to mail to my friends corona care packages! I did brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and banana bread last month.

4/29/2020 02:53:48 pm

Thanks Kelly, you have been busy! Thank you for participating and sharing! #HomemadeforHometownHeroes

Becca

4/30/2020 02:58:05 pm

I'm making Toffee Cookies for my healthcare crew!

4/30/2020 03:49:57 pm

Thanks Becca! Toffee Cookies sound wonderful! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Nicole

4/30/2020 03:05:19 pm

Brownies. Brownies. And more brownies! I'll be baking these for my co-workers at the hospital lab.

4/30/2020 03:50:39 pm

Nicole, I'm guessing you like brownies! Thanks for participating and sharing!

Alexa

4/30/2020 03:08:30 pm

My kiddos and I baked brownie crinkle cookies to drop off with the rescue squad. I had to make a double batch because my boyfriend found them cooling on the counter!

4/30/2020 03:51:30 pm

Hi Alexa, brownie crinkle cookies sound fabulous! Thanks for participating and sharing! #HomemadeforHometownHeroes

Cassy

4/30/2020 03:22:56 pm

I don't often share my bakes but I love this idea and want to participate. I'll make cookies and package up for our metro police. Hope I win!

5/1/2020 12:41:31 pm

Thanks Cassy! We appreciate you participating and sharing! #HomemadeforHeroes

Sand

4/30/2020 09:27:30 pm

I bake a lot and share with my neighbors. I typically bake things that a lot of people don't normally bake around here like pizzelles and madelines. But I also make the typical things like chocolate chip cookies and banana bread.

5/1/2020 12:42:22 pm

Hi Sand, your baking sounds so good! Thanks for participating and sharing! #HomemadeforHometownHeroes