Gifts in a jar are easy to make. They are well-received during the busy holiday season. A jar looks pretty on the counter, costs a few dollars to make, and the person who gets it has a treat ready whenever they want it. Best of all, you can make a dozen in an afternoon.
Here is how I make them, what jars to use, how to keep the layers neat, and ten of my favorite mixes to give.
What you need
- Clean, completely dry glass jars with lids. A quart jar holds about 4 cups, which is right for most cookie and soup mixes. Pint jars and mugs suit cocoa and single treats.
- A canning funnel, so the layers go in without dusting the sides.
- A spoon or a tart tamper to pack each layer down.
- Fabric squares, twine or ribbon, and a tag for the directions.
How to layer a jar so it looks pretty
- Put the heaviest, finest ingredients in first, like flour or sugar, and pack each one down firmly.
- Add ingredients with contrasting colors next to each other: white sugar, then brown sugar, then oats, then chocolate chips.
- Fill the jar right to the top so the layers cannot shift and mix on the way.
- Wipe the rim, screw the lid on tightly and tie the fabric over it.
Good to know
Put the directions on the tag. The person who gets the jar needs to know what to add, like an egg and a stick of butter, and how long to bake it.
How long do jar mixes keep?
Dry mixes keep best in a cool, dark cupboard. Use them within a few months, and sooner if they have nuts, whole grain flour or milk powder, since those go stale or rancid first. Write the date you made it on the tag.
10 favorite gifts in a jar
1. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies in a Jar
The classic. Brown sugar, oats and raisins stack into a quart jar in pretty stripes, and the tag says to add butter, an egg and vanilla. It makes about 18 cookies.
Get the recipe and a printable gift tag →
2. Candy Cookies in a Jar
A simple sugar cookie base that the lucky person finishes with chunks of their favorite candy bar. Fun for kids to give to teachers.
3. Snowman Soup
Hot cocoa with a playful name, layered in a jar or a clear cone bag. Kids love giving it, and one batch fills several gifts.
4. Chai Tea Latte in a Mug
One packet of spiced chai mix tucked into a pretty mug with a little whisk. A sweet thank-you for a coworker or neighbor.
5. Cake in a Coffee Mug Gift Kit
Eight little bags of mug cake mix and a glaze packet, ready to tuck into a mug. The cake cooks in the microwave in a couple of minutes.
6. Popcorn Gift Set in a Jar
A big jar of popcorn kernels with three small jars of homemade popcorn seasonings. Perfect for a family movie night.
7. Sun-Dried Tomato and Penne Soup Mix
Not everyone wants sweets. This colorful soup mix makes a cozy supper and looks lovely layered in a jar.
8. Cranberry Hootycreek Cookie Mix
Dried cranberries, oats, two sugars and pecans in neat stripes. It is one of the prettiest jars you can make, and it suits the holidays.
9. Bath Tea
A gift that is not food: little muslin bags of dried lavender, rose petals, oats and bath salts to drop in a warm bath.
10. Hot Cocoa Coziness Jar
A jar filled with cocoa, a hot chocolate bomb and a pair of soft socks. It is more of a little care package than a recipe, and it is always a hit.
Want more? My own Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix is a favorite, too.
Every mix in the library has a Print gift tag button, with the directions on the back, ready to cut out and tie on.
See all the gift jars in the Homemade Mixes library →
Frequently asked questions
What size jar should I use for a gift in a jar? A quart jar suits most cookie, brownie and soup mixes. Pint jars and coffee mugs are better for cocoa, tea and single treats.
How far ahead can I make jar gifts? Dry mixes can be made a few weeks ahead and kept in a cool, dark place. Put the date on the tag so the person knows when to use it.
Do I have to include the directions? Yes. Write what to add and how to bake or cook it on the tag, and list any nuts, wheat or milk in the mix.
Can I mail a jar gift? Yes. Wrap the jar in bubble wrap and pack it snugly in a sturdy box so it cannot move.