Recipe Ideas for Gifts in a Jar

Sometimes gift ideas are hard to come by. Maybe you are looking for unique, creative, useful and homemade gift ideas to give to your family and friends. That's where gifts in a jar comes in handy. Gifts in a jar are great last minute gifts or just when you want to give a practical and useful gift. I love making gifts in a jar with my children. Here are some ideas for gifts in a jar. I've made a few of these and look forward to making some of the others.

First off it's good to know that most gifts in a jar recipes are designed to fit into a 1-quart canning jar. But if the total ingredients end up measuring more then 4 cups then you will need a bigger canning jar. So make sure that you read the instructions closely to determine if the recipe will fit into a 1-quart jar.

Each of the following recipes include directions for the part that you will mix and put in the jar and includes the preparation instructions that you should print out and attach to the gift in a jar. So let's start with the recipes now.

Hot Chocolate Mix
3 cups powdered milk
1/2 cup cocoa
3/4 cup sugar
Dash of salt

Sift the ingredients into a large bowl. Pack the mix into an airtight container.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

Hot Chocolate
Serves 1
4 tablespoons Hot Chocolate Mix
8 ounces boiling water
Miniature Marshmallows

Place the Hot Chocolate Mix into a mug. Pour in the boiling water. Stir until the Chocolate mix is dissolved. Garnish with miniature marshmallows.

White Hot Chocolate Mix
1 tsp. vanilla powder
1 tsp. dried orange peel
1/2 cup grated white chocolate or white chocolate chips

Combine and blend the ingredients in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

White Hot Chocolate
Serves 2
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup White Hot Chocolate Mix

In a small saucepan, heat the milk until bubbles form around the outside.
Add the White Hot Chocolate Mix and whisk until the chocolate is melted.
Continue to whisk until the mixture is hot.

Pizza Dough Mix
2 3/4 cups bread flour
1 package (1 Tbsp.) active dry yeast
2 tsp. salt

In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients. Place the mix in an airtight container.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

Pizza Dough Mix
Makes 2 12-inch pizzas
1 package Pizza Dough Mix
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 cup warm water
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 tsp. crushed oregano

Place the Pizza Dough Mix in a large bowl & add the oil and water. Beat with a wooden spoon or dough hook until mixture forms a ball. Turn out onto a floured board and knead for 5 minutes. Transfer to a greased bowl and let the dough rise for 90 minutes. Divide the dough in half and pat into two 12-inch circles. For thin crust, fill and bake the pizzas now. For thicker crust, let pizzas rise 30 to 45 minutes. Top the pizza dough with tomato sauce, cheeses of your choice, crushed oregano, and olive oil drizzled over the pizzas. Preheat the oven and bake at 425 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.

Spiced Apple Cake Mix
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. powdered vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup golden raisins

Combine and blend ingredients in a medium bowl. Store in an airtight container.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

Spiced Apple Cake
Serves 8 to 10
1 package Spiced Apple Cake Mix
1 1/2 cups canola oil
3 large eggs
3 cups chopped apples

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F & grease a tube or Bundt pan. Place the Spiced Apple Cake Mix into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the Mix; add the oil, eggs, and apples. Stir until mixture is smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour & 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool; remove from the cake pan.

Double-Fudge Brownie Mix
2 cups sugar
1 cup cocoa (not Dutch process)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix all the ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

Double-Fudge Brownies
Makes 24
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 eggs
1 package Double-Fudge Brownie Mix

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 12 by 9 inch pan. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the Double-Fudge Brownie Mix & continue to beat the mixture until it is smooth. Spread the mixture into the greased pan, & bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

Beef Barley Soup Mix
This fits into a 1 pint canning jar
3/4 C medium pearl barley, divided
1/2 C dried lentils
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1/4 C dried minced onions
1/4 C instant beef bouillon powder
2 tsp. dried celery flakes
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. dried minced garlic

Layer soup kit ingredients in the pint container in order listed, using half of the barley first and then the remaining barley at the top. Close container securely.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

BEEF BARLEY SOUP
1 jar Beef Barley Soup Mix
2 lb. boneless beef chuck, cut into ½ to 3/4-inch pieces OR 2 lb. lean ground beef
1 T vegetable oil
10 cups water

Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat and brown the meat. Pour off drippings. Add the contents of the soup mix and water to the Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours or until beef is fork tender. Discard bay leaves.
Makes 8 servings.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Mix the salt and baking soda in with the flour, then layer the ingredients into the jar.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

Chocolate chip Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter or margarine
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375°F. Sift dry ingredients through a colander to separate the chocolate chips from other ingredients. Beat butter in a medium bowl until creamy. Beat sifted ingredients into butter until blended. In a small bowl, beat egg with vanilla. Mix beaten egg mixture into butter mixture until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop teaspoonfuls of batter, spaced well apart, onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 8 minutes or until lightly browned.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
8 peanut butter cups, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Mix together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
Layer ingredients in the order given into a 1-quart wide mouth canning jar. Press each layer firmly in place. It will be a tight fit. Add chopped peanut butter cups last.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Remove peanut butter cups from jar and set aside. Empty remaining cookie mix into a large bowl and use your hands to thoroughly blend the mix together. Add 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened at room temperature. DO NOT USE DIET MARGARINE. Add in 1 egg, slightly beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix until completely blended. mix in peanut butter cups and then shape into walnut-sized balls. place 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. bake at 375°F for 12 to 14 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Remove cookies to racks to finish cooling.
Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Hot Chocolate in Babyfood Jars
Hot Cocoa Mix
Miniature Marshmellows
Hershey Kisses
Small Candy Canes

Put a one cup serving of the hot cocoa mix into the jar. Fill to the top with the miniature marshmallows. Put the cover on the jar tightly. Glue the hearshey kiss to the top, center of the lid. Glue the small candy cane onto the side of the jar. (Preferably after you put fabric and a ribbon on the jar.) Each babyfood jar makes one serving.

~Attach these directions to the jar.~

Hot Cocoa Mix

Pour contents of this jat of cocoa and marshmellows into a cup of water. Unwrap the kiss and drop it into your cup. Give it all a stir with your candy cane and enjoy!

Once you create your gift in a jar you should print out the preparation instructions for the recipient of your gift in a jar. You can print it out on an adhesive label and apply it directly to the quart jar or you can print it out on some card stock paper, punch a hole in it and tie it to the jar with some lovely festive ribbon. I like to buy some festive fabric and cut some large circles out of it to use over the top of the jars. Then I tie the ribbon, with directions on it, around the fabric to hold it in place on the gift in a jar. Afterwards I would glue the Hershey Kiss and the candy canes onto the jars in the above recipe.

In the end, a gift in a jar is an interesting and frugal gift idea that people will enjoy!