A tisket a tasket a Valentine’s Day basket: 5 ways to send a message of love

(BPT) – Valentine’s Day is a time for building memories and connections with your child to show the special people in your life you care. With so many options for gifts and little ways to show how you feel, it’s hard to decide where to start… and why limit the fun? This year, start a new tradition by creating a basket full of treats and fun activities your whole family will love.

Hershey is making Valentine’s Day unforgettable this year with family-fun filled treats to create lasting memories and help you send a ‘message of love’ to your other Valentine – your kids – with baskets full of new and classic treats.

From candy to baked goods to activities you can do together, here are five basket themes you can consider to help send a message of love this Valentine’s Day!

Scavenger Hunt Basket

Show your playful side and include written clues in a basket full of goodies to start a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt. Hide sweet treats around the house along with little messages of love, so when your loved ones find them, they will know you are always thinking of them. Or, simply hide new HERSHEY’S KISSES Conversation Candies featuring sayings such as ‘XOXO’ and ‘BE MINE’ on each foil (sold exclusively at Target) around the house. Telling someone how you feel couldn’t be easier when the chocolate treats say it for you.

Personalized Baskets

Create a basket that helps celebrate your kids and everything that makes them unique. Add touches that show your child’s personality and create a personalized themed basket all about them. Include fun items that make their favorite activity more special – from festive colored pencils for the artist to a new baseball glove for the athlete, personalized baskets help make the celebration much more fun. Sweeten the deal with your child’s favorite treats such as new HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate; KIT KAT AND REESE’S Assortment Heart Box; JOLLY RANCHER Bites; or REESE’S Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures 7-oz. Heart Box.

Playing Pretend Basket

Reading is a great way to spend time with your kids. Make the simple gifts exciting again and fill a basket with your favorite books and corresponding props for your little cuties this Valentine’s Day. Read the books together and use the props to create sweet memories, reenacting your favorite parts of the story together. Spend Valentine’s Day playing pretend with your little ones – from discovering new worlds, befriending dragons to building fairy fortresses out of pillows, playing pretend will create special moments that will last a lifetime.

Fun and Games Basket

Spending time with your loved ones is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Create a game night basket the whole family is sure to love. Make things a little more fun by creating your own game or playing an old classic using HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Hearts filled with Caramel as playing pieces. You can even play tic-tac-toe or checkers using HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Hearts and HERSHEY’S KISSES Milk Chocolates as the tokens. This Valentine’s Day basket is a sure what to make game night a whole lot sweeter.

Sprinkle Your Valentine with Love Basket

What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with an activity you can do together? Pull together a fun basket of goodies with different ingredients for a delicious baked good you can make together. Need inspiration? HERSHEY partnered with Betty Crocker to create fun recipes such as these ‘Sweetheart Cookies,’ perfect for Valentine’s Day:

What You’ll Need:

1 pouch BETTY CROCKER sugar cookie mix (Butter and egg called for on cookie mix pouch)

2 tablespoons GOLD MEDAL all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons white sparkling sugar or granulated sugar

3 tablespoons coarse pink sparkling sugar or pink decorator sugar

1 tablespoon instant coffee powder or granules

About 36 HERSHEY’S KISSES Milk Chocolate Candies, unwrapped

About 36 HERSHEY’S HUGS Candies, unwrapped

1. Make cookie dough as directed on package, stirring in flour. Roll dough into 36 (1-inch) balls. Combine sugars and coffee powder in small bowl. Roll balls in sugar-coffee mixture. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

2. Bake at 375°F 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Immediately press one HERSHEY’S HUGS Candy into center of each cookie. Allow to stand about 5 minutes until soft; press lightly. Top melted candy with chocolate candy.

3. If desired, reverse the candies on the cookies. Cool; place on cooling racks. Cool completely.