Homemade Gifts in a Jar

Yummy Gifts in a Jar!

These are always a welcome gift. Get a dozen or so quart canning jars, gather the ingredients for your favorites and start stuffing. 

Butterscotch Brownies

1/2 cup packed flaked coconut

1/2 cup white sugar

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Mix together all-purpose flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside. Layer ingredients in order given, adding all-purpose flour mixture last. Press each layer firmly in place.

Attach this message to jar:

Empty brownie mix into large mixing bowl and blend together thoroughly. Add: 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened. (Do not use diet margarine.) Mix in 2 eggs, slightly beaten and 2 tsp vanilla. Mix until completely blended. Spread batter into a greased 9- x 13-inch pan. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes. Cool 15 minutes in baking pan. Cut brownies into 1 1/2 inch squares. Cool completely in pan. Yield: 2 dozen brownies.

M&M's Cookies
1 1/4 cups white sugar

1 1/4 cups M&M’s

2 cups all-purpose flour, mixed with 

1/2 tsp baking soda and 

1/2 tsp baking powder

Layer ingredients in jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Attach this message to jar: 

Empty cookie mix in large mixing bowl; mix thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg slightly beaten and 1 tsp vanilla; mix until completely blended. Roll dough into walnut-sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375°F for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Dreamsicle Cookies

1/2 cup Tang Instant Breakfast drink powder

3/4 cup white sugar

1 1/2 cups vanilla chips

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, mixed with

1/2 tsp baking soda and

1/2 tsp baking powder

Layer ingredients in jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Attach this message to jar:

Empty cookie mix into a large mixing bowl; mix thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg

slightly beaten and 1 tsp vanilla; mix until completely blended. Roll heaping spoonfuls into balls. Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased

baking sheet. Bake at 375°F for 12 to 14 minutes, or until tops are very lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Easiest Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup white sugar

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, white sugar, and the chocolate chips. Place 1/2 of the mixture in the jar, and pack firmly. Place the brown sugar on top, again packing firmly. Finish with the remaining all purpose flour mixture on top.

Attach this message to jar:

Empty cookie mix into a large bowl. In separate bowl combine 3/4 cup of butter, 2 eggs, and 1 tsp vanilla. Beat until creamy. Add to dry mixture. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Holiday Cookies in a Jar

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup chocolate-covered candy (such as holiday M&M's or Hershey's Holiday Candy Coated Bits)

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup cocoa crisped-rice cereal (or regular flavor)

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

How to make it

In a 1-quart widemouthed jar, add the ingredients in the order listed. Pack them down firmly after each addition (use the blunt end of a table knife or a wooden spoon to level and tamp down each layer). Screw on the cover (see Wrapping It Up for a note on securing a ribbon beneath the threads) and prepare a gift tag with the following instructions:

 "To make your holiday cookies, cream together 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 egg in a large bowl. Add the contents of the jar and stir until well blended. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 4 dozen."

Holiday Hash

3 cups Rice Chex

3 cups Corn Chex

3 cups Cheerios

2 cups small pretzels

2 cups salted peanuts

1 bag (12 oz.) plain M&Ms

1 bag (12 oz.) peanut M&Ms

2 bags (12 oz.) white chocolate chips or melting wafers

Combine all ingredients except white chocolate in a very big bowl. Melt white chocolate or wafers according to the package instructions.* Be careful to not overcook as these chips burn quickly. Pour the melted white chocolate over the mixture and with a strong, long-handled wooden spoon toss well to coat. Spread the hash out on waxed paper and let set until the chocolate hardens. Store in an airtight container or pour into gift bags. If you get the red and green M&Ms you’ll have a very festive-looking batch for the Christmas holidays. This makes a lot. You should be able to make 10 to 15 gifts depending on the size of your containers.

Chocolate Chunk Hot Cocoa Mix

2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

¾ cup sugar

8 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate

In a bowl, combine the cocoa, sugar, and chocolate. Store in an airtight container. Keep at room temperature for up to 4 months. Makes 4 cups

Transfer the cocoa mix to a resealable airtight container (such as a canning jar).

Handwrite the following instructions on a gift tag or label to include with your gift: 

“In a small saucepan, whisk ¼ cup cocoa mix with ¾ cup milk. Bring to a bare simmer. 

Serves 1.”

Tie a ribbon around the container, looping it through a measuring scoop if desired, and the gift tag with the instructions.

S’mores in a Jar

Layer in a large wide mouthed 1 quart mason jar:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (one sleeve of crackers, crushed)

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows.

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (or mini Hershey Kisses or M&M’s)

1/3 cup brown sugar

Gift Tags:

Combine jar contents with 1/2 cup melted butter and 1 tsp vanilla. Press mixture into a 9 inch square baking pan. Place marshmallows on top. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes. Let cool completely. Cut into bars. Makes 12 yummy bars.

WRAPPING IT UP: Theses gifts, with their various layers of colorful ingredients, are most beautiful unwrapped. You can make the instructional tags from a folded rectangle of white card stock, decorate it, and write the all-important baking directions on the inside. Punch a hole in the corner for a length of narrow ribbon, which can then be tied around the jar's neck or secured beneath the threads of the lid.