Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Holiday Gifts in a Jar

Homemade gifts in a jar are a fun, frugal, and easy holiday gift to share with loved ones.
Over the years I’ve made several homemade Christmas gifts in a jar for friends, family, and neighbors.
There are endless possibilities with what can be placed in a jar. Jars containing layered mixes for cookies, muffins, and brownies are yummy for those with a sweet tooth. Soup mixes are super for those who like savory ingredients. I’ve also given quality chocolates, bulk candy, and nuts in decorated jars.

Gifts in a jar are easy to make. Just take a glass jar (canning jars, mason jars, or even recycled mustard jars), layer with ingredients, and then top with a gift tag. To help you get your jar-on this holiday season, I’ve created several free printable gift tags for download. You supply the homemade goodness.

Here are 3 frugal holiday gift ideas (and recipes) in a jar:


1. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar

This recipe makes about 36 cookies.

Ingredients:

Layer in a large wide mouthed 1 quart mason jar:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/4 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Mix flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Pour mixture into a 1 quart (1 liter) mason jar and pack down. Mix oatmeal in a blender. Pack on top of flour in mason jar. Add white sugar and pack down. Add brown sugar and pack down. Layer chopped nuts on top of brown sugar. Finish layering jar with mini or regular chocolate chips.

Printable Gift Tags:

printable_gift_tags_oatmeal_chocolate_chip_cookies_icon.gif
Download Printable Gift Tags: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (PDF)
 

2. Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Mix in a Jar

This recipe makes one pan of chocolate brownies.

Ingredients:

Layer in a large wide mouthed 1 quart mason jar:
  • 1 cup all purpose unbleached flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups vanilla sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Any combination of: mini chocolate chips, mini M&M’s, junior mints, chocolate candy bar
  • 1/2 cup almonds
Layer ingredients in 1 quart mason jar. Tap gently on the counter after each layer before adding the next. Add additional mix-ins to fill any small gaps if necessary.

Printable Gift Tags:

printable_gift_tags_chocolate_brownie_mix_icon.gif
Download Printable Gift Tags: Chocolate Brownies (PDF)
 

3. Chicken Noodle Soup in a Jar

This recipe makes a pot of soup.

Ingredients:

Layer in a 1/2 quart (2 cup) glass jar:
  • 1/4 cup of red lentils
  • 2 tbsp dried onion flakes
  • 1 1/2 tbsp chicken bouillon granules
  • 1/2 tsp dried dill weed or dill seed
  • 1/8 tsp each celery seed and garlic powder
  • 1 cup medium egg noodles
  • 1 bay leaf
In a 2 cup glass jar, layer from bottom in the order listed above.

Printable Gift Tags:

printable_gift_tags_chicken_noodle_soup_icon.gif
Download Printable Gift Tags: Chicken Noodle Soup in a Jar (PDF)
 

10 comments:

  1. yum, these sound scrumptious! can't wait to try the recipes out!

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  2. super yummy I will need to do this next year. Bus driver on our route and lots new staffers needing gifts

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  3. Oh my...how creative and easy....the perfect gift for the holidays! I know what I'm doing this weekend! Thanks for the idea....:-)

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  4. I've done this before and they're great fun. I've received them, too.
    Thanks for sharing recipes and instructions.

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  5. well, I have a sweet tooth...so you can send me one of these, any time!

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  6. Thank you for the recipes! I did this last year and was pondering whether or not to do it again. Last year I did soups...I like the baked goods.

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  7. uniquecozytreasures- What a great idea! I have done that myself. Those recipies are making me hungry(lol)

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  8. I think I will try that Chicken Noodle Soup one! That sounds like an awesome winter warm-up gift!

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