Homemade Cookie Jar Gifts

Oatmeal cookies are easy to bake from a homemade cookie mix.

Homemade cookie mix in a jar is a great holiday gift for friends who might not have the time to make their own cookies from scratch. It's also a great way for you to show your creativity, turning something plain and inexpensive into something beautiful, heartfelt and homemade.

Things You'll Need

• Mason jars with lids and rings, 1 quart size
• Mixing bowl
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups candy-coated chocolates
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• Paper
• Printer
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Fabric
• 7-inch wide bowl
• Fabric pencil
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Wash as many wide-mouthed, 1-quart mason jars and rings as you need for your cookie jar gifts. Let them air dry completely, so no extra moisture gets into the mix.

2. Stir together in a mixing bowl the dry ingredients for one jar of cookie mix. If you want to make white chocolate macadamia cookies, combine 2 cups flour with 1/2 tsp. each baking soda and baking powder. For candy-coated chocolate cookies, combine 2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp. baking soda and 1/4 tsp. baking powder. For oatmeal cranberry cookies, combine 1 cup flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg.

3. Layer the flour mixture with the other cookie ingredients in the mason jar, taking care to keep the layers parallel and separate. For white chocolate macadamia cookies, layer the flour mixture with 1 1/4 cups sugar, 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts and 1/2 cup white chocolate chips. For candy-coated chocolate cookies, layer the flour mixture with 1/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup packed brown sugar and 1 1/4 cups candy-coated chocolates. For oatmeal cranberry cookies, layer the flour mixture with 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 2 cups rolled oats and 1 cup dried cranberries.

4. Cover the mason jar with a flat lid and screw on the ring.

5. Type and print out or write out instructions on how to bake the cookie mix. For white chocolate macadamia cookies or candy-coated chocolate cookies, write these instructions: blend the mix with 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg and 1 tsp. vanilla; roll the cookies into 1-inch balls; place them 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet; and bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 14 minutes. For oatmeal cranberry cookies, write these instructions: blend the mix with 3/4 cup softened butter, 1 egg and 1 tsp. vanilla; drop small balls 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet; and bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.

6. Cut out the instructions into a small tag and punch a hole in the corner. String the instruction tag on a piece of ribbon.

7. Lay a bowl with a 7-inch diameter onto a piece of fabric and trace around it. Cut out the circle and place it on top of the mason jar lid. Tie the ribbon around the fabric cover to secure it.

Tips & Warnings

• Add the flour to the jar last. It will be mostly covered by the fabric circle, while the more colorful and textural ingredients will be easily seen underneath.

• You can use your own cookie recipes to make cookie mix in a jar. The best jar cookie gifts have ingredients with a variety of colors and textures, since they look more artistic when layered in a jar.

• Add a picture to your instructions tag to match the color of the fabric cover and the ribbon.

References

• Organized Christmas: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie In A Jar
• Organized Christmas: M&M Cookies in a Jar
• Homemade Gifts Made Easy: Cookie Recipes in a Jar