Growing up, the week before Christmas meant 3 things – baking, baking and more baking! In our house each year my mom went crazy before the Koskis all arrived (my dad’s family comes up to Albany for a visit each Christmas and spends 3-4 days/nights sleeping and eating in my parents’ house…yup, that’s about all that we do), baking sugar cookies, butter cookies with jam, rugelah, oatmeal butterscotch cookies, peanut butter blossoms, almond snowball cookies, banana and zucchini bread, shortbread cookies, ricotta cookies and cheesecake, lemon cake, and so on. As the years have passed, some cookies have lasted longer than others (sadly, the ricotta cheesecake lost its spot in our home a few years ago) but one cookie that has stayed since its inauguration in the Koski household is the Tuxedo Hug Cookie. Why? Three reasons. 1- It’s  a tradition for my brother and me to make together (though lately his involvement has dwindled to the placement of the Hugs), 2 – My grandmother, a chocoholic, loves them and 3 – They are SO easy.

They are honestly so easy that I feel guilty sharing these with you. But they look cute, and Grandma loves them – so hopefully you’ll be able to share them with your family someday as well!

Tuxedo Hug Cookies

(stolen many years ago from the bag of the Hugs bag)

Here’s what you’ll need:

• One box of brownie mix that includes fudge packet (the box should say it includes a fudge pack… i use Hershey’s Original Supreme Brownie Mix with Hershey’s Syrup pouch)
• 1/4 c. vegetable oil (I always use Canola oil)
• 1/4 c. water
• 1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
• 1 egg
• One package of Hugs! (the white chocolate / amazing version of Hershey’s Kisses)

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Grease cookie sheet. I usually spray Pam and then lightlyscatter flour along the cookie sheet to prevent sticking.
• Combine brownie mix & syrup pouch, cocoa, water, oil and egg in medium bowl until well blended. That’s it! Really! That’s your cookie dough!
• Drop by teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet. They’ll look small, but beware- they spread!
• Bake in 350 degree oven for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 1 minute. Call your younger brother and have him press candy into center of each cookie. We ran out of Hugs this year, so we also used some of those those chocolate/regular chocolate swirled baking chips and they looked marvelous!