Reminds me of what I am always saying about these cats as well.

If you do something ONCE, and they like it, then it is a RULE, and they expect it over and over and over.

I think you just need to stop cold turkey. Pick A TIME like the 10 AM snack break, give one, and that is it until the next day. Believe me, I know it will take at least two days to get the message through to the cat. The rest of he time you need to be retrainig that hugs and snuggles are GOOD things. (Good luck!)