Cookie Gifts in a Jar

A Gift in a Jar is the perfect way to show someone you care. People always seem to appreciate handmade gifts the most. It shows them you care enough to take the time to think about the gift, what you will give, make it and personalize it.

A Gift in a Jar is great not only because it shows someone you care but also because you can make it as far as six weeks in advance. Add a cute jar cover topper, a gift tag letting them know what to add to complete the recipe, a little gift (measuring spoons, a cute pot holder), tie it all with a ribbon and you have a beautiful unique gift.

Ingredients for jar:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cut mini candy coated chocolate pieces

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup raisins

Directions for jar:

Combine flour, baking soda and salt and stir well.

Place 1/2 cup of the flour mixture into a 1 quart wide mouth jar and pack down.

Ad 1/2 cup brown sugar. 1/2 cup flour, cocoa, rest of flour and finally the rest of the brown sugar to jar in layers.

Make sure to pack down after each layer.

Add candies, then nuts, then raisin and pack down lightly.

Seal jar.

Ingredients to finish:

2/3 cups butter

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Jar of Chocolate Cookie Mix

Directions to finish recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat butter until smooth.

Beat in eggs and vanilla until well blended.

Add dry content from jar and stir until well blended.

Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 11 to 12 minutes.

Cool for 2 minutes on cookie sheets, then transfer to wire racks to complete cooling.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Ingredients (dry):

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1 1/4 cups chopped crystallized ginger

Directions (dry):

Mix together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ground ginger, and salt.

Divide into three fairly equal portions.

Place first portion into wide mouth quart jar, packing lightly.

Place half of the crystallized ginger in next, packing lightly.

Place second portion of flour mixture packing lightly.

Next layer is the dark brown sugar, lightly packing.

Next is the third and last layer of flour mixture, again packing lightly.

Last layer is the rest of the crystallized ginger.

Cover with tight lid, decorate, and place instruction tag on jar.

Ingredients (wet):

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup unsulfured molasses

1 large egg

Instructions to complete cookies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Place all wet ingredients in a large bowl and blend completely.

Add dry ingredients slowly beating on low until well combined.

Using tablespoon scoop out dough, form a 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch ball and flatten with fingers.

Press both sides of uncooked cookie into granulated saur and place on cookie sheets

Bake for 13 minutes.

Cool on cookie sheets for one to two minutes.

Place on wire racks and cool completely.

Makes 16 to 18 cookies

Ingredients (dry):

2 1/4 cups flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/3 cups dark brown sugar, packed

2/3 cups granulated sugar

1 cup cranraisins

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions (dry):

Mix together flour, baking soda and salt and divide into two equal parts.

Place first half in wide mouth quart jar, packing lightly.

Next pack rolled oats lightly.

For next layer, place brown sugar, pack lightly.

Next layer second half of flour mixture.

Dried cranraisins are next.

White sugar goes next.

Chocolate chips, packing lightly after each layer addition.

And last is the walnuts.

Seal with tight lid, decorate, and include directions.

Ingredients (wet):

1 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

Directions for completion of cookies:

Preheat oven to 350 degree.

Grease cookie sheets.

Beat together wet ingredients until fluffy.

Add dry ingredients and mix until completely blended. Dough may be too thick to mix with spoon, you may need to use your hands.

Drop dough onto cookie sheets by the teaspoonful.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Cool on wire racks.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.