I’m a canner, so I have many glass canning jars in my home just sitting empty, waiting to be used come summer. This winter I put them to use by filling them with wholesome treats for easy to make holiday gifts in a jar.
Each jar can be made for under $5 and it takes less than an hour to prepare and clean-up. I’ve created three recipes using mostly organic ingredients: Organic Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sweet and Creamy Organic Cinnamon Chai and Cranberry Holidelicious Trail Mix. The recipes you need to attach to the jar are below the steps to make the mix. You canalso download the recipe and directions here. Each one is simple, economical and makes a beautiful, thoughtful gift. Let’s get to it!
Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 1 quart mason jar cookie mix for 24 cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill organic all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp. Rumford aluminum-free baking powder
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 ¼ cups Bob’s Red Mill organic rolled oats
- ½ cup Full Circle organic brown sugar
- ½ cup Full Circle organic cane sugar
- ½ cup course chopped pecans
- 1 cup Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
Directions
Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a bowl. Pour flour mixture into bottom of a mason jar. Carefully layer oats on top of flour mixture, then add the brown sugar and pack down. Add the cane sugar next. Layer chopped pecans then chocolate chips. Print the recipe below and adhere to the jar with a ribbon.
Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Cream ½ cup organic salted butter in mixer with paddle attachment
- Add 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 organic egg and cream well.
- On low speed, add all ingredients from jar, mix just until well combined
- Spoon 2 tbsp. of dough onto parchment lined sheet pans and press dough down slightly
- Bake for 12-14 minutes
- Remove from oven. Cool. Enjoy!
Sweet and Creamy Organic Cinnamon Chai
Makes 1 pint mason jar of dry mix for 4 cups liquid chai
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup Organic Valley nonfat dry milk powder
- ¾ cup Full Circle organic cane sugar
- 1/3 cup Rishi Organic Black Tea
- 12 Lunds and Byerlys cardamom pods
- 1 tsp. Lunds and Byerlys ground cinnamon
- 6, 2-inch pieces of Lunds and Byerlys cinnamon stick
- 2 tsp. Lunds and Byerlys dried orange peel
Directions
Combine all ingredients in bowl. Pour into 1 pint mason jar. Print the following recipe below and adhere label to each the jar with a ribbon.
Creamy Organic Cinnamon Chai
- In saucepan, combine contents of jar with 4 cups water and stir well
- On medium high heat bring to a simmer
- Reduce heat to low and heat for 10 minutes
- Remove from heat and strain hot tea through strainer
- Serve warm
- Sit by fireplace, listen to calm music and savor warm tea
Cranberry Holidelicious Trail Mix
Makes 1 quart mason jar full of delicious trail mix. All ingredients can be found in any of our bulk food departments.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups sesame sticks
- ¾ cup chocolate covered raisins
- 1 cup roasted and salted cashews
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
Directions
Combine ingredients separately by layering them creatively in the jar. Print the following recipe below and adhere label to each the jar with a ribbon.
Cranberry Holideliciouos Trail Mix
- Pour contents of jar into snack bowl and combine ingredients
- Place bowl in front of friends and family
- Watch trail mix disappear
To get the tag you see in the photo be sure to download our recipe and directions here.
Bea James, senior manager of organic, natural and sustainable programs