Homemade Holiday Gifts with Mason Jars

I confess, I have an obsession with mason jars. I use them for storage, glassware, and gift giving.  With a little help from Pinterest, I’ve entered a world of never ending mason jar ideas. Since I’m getting an early start on holiday gift ideas (well, early for me), I’m making it a point to get more creative with my gift jars this year. Instead of just drink recipes, I’m going to venture into actual food and possibly baked goods. Remember, I don’t cook so the third recipe below might be a stretch for me. 🙂

Here are just a few ideas I’m borrowing from Pinterest and 60 Gift Mixes Jar Recipes to fill the jars with:

1. Cinnamon Pancake Mix
   3 cups all-purpose flour
   3 Tbsp. sugar
   2 Tbsp. baking powder
   4-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
   1-1/4 tsp. salt
   In 1 quart jar, combine all ingredients; seal jar, adding dried fruits
   (apples are especially good!) if necessary to fill small gaps.
   DIRECTIONS:
   In medium bowl, combine 3/4-c. milk, 1 egg, and 2-T. salad oil. With fork, blend in 1-1/3 c.
   pancake mix until moistened but still lumpy. Cook on lightly greased griddle or skillet.
   Makes about 10 5″ pancakes.
2. Cowboy/girl Cookies
   1 1/3 cups quick cooking oats
   1/2 cup packed brown sugar
   1/2 cup white sugar
   1/2 cup chopped pecans
   1-cup semisweet chocolate chips
   1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
   1 tsp. baking powder
   1 tsp. baking soda
   1/4 tsp. saltLayer the ingredients in a 1-quart jar in the order given. Press each layer firmly in place
   before adding the next one. Include a card with the following instructions:
   DIRECTIONS:
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
   In a medium bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of butter or margarine,
   1 egg, and 1 tsp. of vanilla. Stir in the entire contents of the jar.
   You may need to use your hands to finish mixing.
   Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
   Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven.
   Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
3. Carrot Raisin Bread In a Jar (This recipe requires baking and canning)
   2- 2/3 cups White Sugar
   2/3 cup Vegetable Shortening
   4 Eggs
   2/3 cup Water
   2 cups shredded Carrots
   3 1/2 cups all-purpose Flour
   1/4 tsp. Cloves
   1 tsp. Cinnamon
   1 tsp. Baking Powder
   2 tsp. Baking Soda
   1 tsp. Salt
   1 cup Raisins
   You will need 6 wide-mouth pint-size canning jars, metal rings and lids. Don’t use any other
   size jars. Sterilize jars, lids and rings according to manufacturer’s directions. Grease
   inside, but not the rim of jars. Cream sugar and shortening, beat in eggs and water, add
   carrots. Sift together flour, cloves, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add
   to batter. Add raisins and mix. Pour one cup of batter into prepared jars. Do not use more
   than one cup or batter will overflow and jar will not seal. Place jars evenly spaced on a
   cookie sheet. Place in a pre-heated 325-degree oven for 45 minutes. While cakes are
   baking, bring a saucepan of water to a boil and carefully add jar lids.
   Remove pan from heat and keep hot until ready to use. Remove jars from oven one at a
   time keeping remaining jars in oven. Make sure jar rims are clean. (If they’re not, jars will
   not seal correctly) Place lids on jars and screw rings on tightly. Jars will seal as they
   cool. Cakes will slide right out when ready to serve.

Then, decorate the jars using free printable labels from LimeShot.com. Adding a swatch of cloth and a ribbon will add a decorative holiday touch. Keeping the price of each gift under $10, I’ve been scoping out mason jar sales and this week Orchard Supply and Hardware has a pretty good deal on a set of 12 1-pint wide-mouth Ball jars for under $12.00.

Low cost, pretty, and thoughtful.

What gift-giving ideas are you working on this holiday season?