From Cookies to Community: Military Spouses Bake Up Comfort at USO Baumholder

Every Wednesday morning, the USO Center in Baumholder, Germany, fills with the scent of chocolate, cinnamon and fresh-baked bread. But beyond the sweet treats lies something more meaningful: military spouses coming together to find connection, purpose and support through the shared challenges of military life.

At the center of the tradition is Brittney, a 25-year-old military spouse and mother of two. She has been part of the Baumholder community since her husband joined the U.S. Army in 2019. 

“We don’t have a lot of outside support,” Brittney said. “So, he decided to join the military to gain support from both the service members and their families.” 

Now two years into her time in Germany, Brittney said her husband’s deployment from their duty station of Baumholder to Africa was a turning point.

“It was good and it was rough,” she said. “I was able to push myself to be out there and talk to people, but it was also rough because my husband is the only one who helps with the kids.” 

For many spouses, deployments can bring an emotional and logistical strain. During this challenging time, Brittney found refuge – and purpose – at the USO.

“I came to the USO a couple of times, but I wasn’t talkative,” she said. “Then we had the Christmas cookie-making week. I enjoyed being out and thought it would be nice to do this more often — especially for the soldiers and family members.” 

What began as a small gesture has grown into a weekly tradition, drawing soldiers, families and fellow spouses to the USO Center’s kitchen. 

Brittney usually has two regular spouses who cook with her each week, but on this particular day, a larger crowd showed up — something she found both unexpected and delightful. She thrives in the lively atmosphere, embracing the cheerful chaos that comes with more people, more food and a shared sense of joy.

One of the regular spouses who arrives each week is Carolin, a military spouse of seven years. 

When asked what being a military spouse means to her, she reflected on the emotional journey that comes with the role.

“It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings,” she said. With each new duty station, Carolin finds herself part of a fresh yet familiar circle — a close-knit community of fellow spouses who share in the highs and lows of military life. “There’s a new community of spouses that go through the same things, and you know there’s an open ear if you’re struggling.’“

Carolin explained that she started baking after encouragement from Brittney. 

“Brittney got me into it — like, ‘Come on, let’s volunteer!’” she said. “It’s fun because it’s military spouses coming together, talking, baking and doing something good for the community. Everyone looks forward to it.” 

Brittney agreed that baking has become a form of healing.

“It was a way to cope and also to force myself to be out and maintain a schedule,” she said. “It encouraged me to talk to people more often, even though I like to keep to myself.”

Their baked goods range from traditional cookies and breads to special requests, like tiramisu. 

Brittney enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, especially baking bread and preparing Filipino dishes that connect her to her heritage. As someone who is half Filipino and wasn’t taught to bake growing up, she has taken it upon herself to learn those skills independently, blending tradition with personal discovery. 

Over time, Brittney has become affectionately known among soldiers across the base for her desserts and baked goods.

“People say thank you and tell me it’s delicious — that brings me joy,” she said. “I get comments like, ‘Oh, you’re that USO girl that bakes!’ I didn’t think it would become so popular.” 

She appreciates the warm, welcoming environment that USO Baumholder offers, where everyone engages kindly with the military kids — a gesture that isn’t always guaranteed elsewhere. It’s a place where her children feel excited to visit and assured that they’ll have a good time every time.

Through it all – the overseas duty stations, the deployments, the baking and building a community – Brittney has discovered strength in herself. 

“I’ve learned that I can push myself in a positive way to connect with others,” she said. “Even when I get red in the face talking to people, I still do it. It’s helped me get involved with other organizations too.” 

For Brittney and others, being a military spouse is about more than sacrifice — it’s about adaptability, courage and community. 

“Being a military spouse means supporting your partner through whatever the military throws at them. It’s about maintaining your household and making sure you have support.” she said.

Brittney explained that for those who have struggled to find stability and community, the military can offer that. For some, being part of the military community can be a lifeline, where families can find connection, purpose and a dependable network of people who understand what they’re going through.

“Honestly, a lot of people are in the military because they’re struggling, but there is support — especially among spouses.” 

Asked whether she would encourage others to get involved with volunteering with the USO, Brittney didn’t hesitate. 

“I would, because it’s nice here. I don’t feel pressured to do anything,” she said. “I can hang out, bake and not worry about my kids. It’s one of the few volunteer activities I can do with them. I especially encourage moms with young kids to come and hang out.” 

On May 9, for Military Spouse Appreciation Day, you’ll likely find the volunteers at USO Baumholder right where they always are — covered in flour, swapping stories and baking up comfort. And if you’re lucky, you might just snag one of Brittany’s famous hot chocolate cookies. 

Brittney’s Hot Chocolate Cookies 

A Favorite at USO Baumholder

Ingredients

¾ cup cocoa powder 

2 cups all-purpose flour 

1 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp espresso powder 

1–2 tsp cinnamon 

1–2 tsp nutmeg 

½ tsp salt 

1 cup butter, softened 

1 cup granulated sugar 

½ cup brown sugar 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

2 large eggs, room temperature 

1 cup chocolate chips (dusted with flour) 

Marshmallows 

Instructions

Sift cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, espresso powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a bowl. Whisk to combine. 

In another bowl, cream butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and eggs. 

Combine wet and dry ingredients. Do not overmix. Stir in chocolate chips. 

Chill dough in the freezer for at least 10 minutes. 

Scoop dough into tablespoons, press the center slightly and place a marshmallow on top. 

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes. 

Cool and dust with cocoa powder and cinnamon before serving.