Are you looking for a fun and unique gift to give to family and friends? You can’t go wrong with this DIY Cookie Mix In A Jar Gift.
The jar cookie mix can be themed for any occasion, including Christmas, birthdays, or the 4th of July. How about a fun unicorn theme for kids?
The best part is the variety of mix-in ideas that I share in this post. Your friends will be so impressed with your creative DIY gift!
After you give them the jar cookie mix gift, all they have to do is stir in a few items to make freshly baked warm and delicious cookies.
I have made this DIY gift easy for you by creating a few styles of free printable gift tag instructions that you can print and tie on the jars. Everyone will love making their own homemade warm and delicious cookies in a jar.
DIY Supplies Needed
- Jars: I suggest quart widemouth jars. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill and pour out when your friends are ready to make their cookies.
- Jar lids: I use plastic lids on top of a rubber seal. Moisture is the enemy of this gift. If it gets in, the ingredients will harden and become difficult to remove from the jar. You could also use canning rings instead of plastic lids to secure your rubber seal lids.
- Gift Tags: The gift tags make it easy to include the instructions with your cookie mix gift. Sign up below to get your free printable tags.
- Fabric: Place squares of fabric between the jar seal and ring or lid.I also like to use tissue paper.
- Ribbon or string: You will want some pretty string or ribbon to decorate and tie on the cookie mix instructions.
Basic Cookie Mix Recipe For Gift Jars
The basic recipe is easy to make with a few simple pantry ingredients. Making a bunch of gift jars is easy once you have all the ingredients set out. You can create one jar for a gift or make enough to give to all your friends and family.
Ingredients For Mix
For this recipe, you only need the dry ingredients. The printable recipe card for cookies will list the wet ingredients required for the recipe when it’s time to bake them. Be sure to print the gift tags with the ingredients and instructions at the end of this post.
- Flour: You will need to use all-purpose flour
- Baking soda and powder: Make sure they are fresh; this will help your cookies rise. If it’s old, your gift might go flat.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: Do not use instant or quick oats.
- Sugars: This recipe uses white and brown sugar. It looks nice layered.
- Chocolate chips: Or another mix-in of your choice.
📝 Note: You can find the full recipe with ingredients and measurements in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
Assemble The Gift Jars
- Gather all other ingredients and set out with measuring cups so you are ready to assemble the gift jars.
Gina’s Pro Tip
Be sure to press each layer down firmly with a spoon or your hand to pack ingredients tightly into layers. This will make the gift look pretty until it is opened.
What The Reciever Of The Cookie Mix Will Need To Do
The receiver of the cookie mix gift will need to add a few simple ingredients to the dry cookie mix when they are ready to bake. Don’t forget to print, cut out, and tie the ingredients and instructions tag to the jar so they will be all set when it’s time to bake.
Additional Ingredients Needed To Make Cookies
- 1/2 cup of butter ( room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1 large egg or 2 small eggs (room temperature)
Mixing the Cookies In A Jar
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the contents of the jar to the bowl. Stir to mix batter into a smooth dough. The mixture will be thick.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop even-sized cookies onto a baking sheet.
Baking The Cookies
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cookies begin to brown around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Variation Ideas For Cookie Mix
Christmas Cookies
Creating a cookie mix in a jar is an excellent Christmas gift idea for that hard to shop for person on your gift list. Making jar mix cookie gifts is also a fun project for kids to help with during the holiday season.
M & M Cookies In A Jar
You can get creative here! Basic M&Ms are classics, but you could also try one of these fun flavors for a unique cookie.
- M&M’s Fudge Brownie
- M&M’s Chocolate Popcorn
- Almond M&M’s
- Peanut M&M’s
- Banana M&M’s
- Birthday Cake M&M’s
- Candy Apple M&M’s
- Cherry M&M’s
- Crispy S’mores M&M’s
- Hot Chocolate M&M’
- Holiday Mint M&M’s
Mason Jar Gift Cookie Dough Mix-In Ideas
No basic chocolate chip cookies here. Think out of the box with these yummy jar recipe add-ins.
- White chocolate chips
- Toffee bar pieces (Heath)
- Dried cranberries
- Dried apricots (chopped)
- Pistachios (chopped)
- Dried blueberries
- Orange zest
- Honey-roasted peanuts (chopped)
- Potato chips (crushed)
- Candy canes (crushed)
- Oreos, broken into pieces
- Colorful sprinkles
- Raisins
- Coconut flakes and macadamia nuts
Unicorn Cookies
Unicorn cookies are a fun gift to give to kids. They will love making these unique and fun cookies! Just pick up a bag of these magic Unicorn Sprinkles to use in place of chocolate chips.
Sugar Cookies In A Jar
To make a basic sugar cookie mix from this recipe, the only thing you will need to do is run your oatmeal through a food processor. This will make a smooth flour consistency. When you layer sugar cookies, be sure to add fun and colorful mix-ins to make your present look festive.
How long does cookie mix last in a jar?
When you make your cookie mix, purchase fresh ingredients. Also, be sure to use new canning jar lids. They have a little rubber seal that will help keep the cookie mix air-tight in your jar. You don’t want any moisture from the air to get in. It will be hard to get your cookie mix out of the jar. If you do all these things, the cookie mix should remain fresh in the jar for up to 2 months.
Tips for making large batches of cookie mix for gifts
If you want to make a lot of cookie mix gifts, then think of an assembly line. Mix up your flour mixture in large bowls and have all your other ingredients set out.
Put the proper size measuring scoop with each ingredient. That way, you can go down the assembly line and quickly put the proper amount in the jar, packing it with a spoon as you go between layers.
⚖️ Need a big batch to feed a crowd? You can easily change the number of servings in the recipe card below by tapping 2x or 3x. The ingredient measurements will automatically double or triple. You can then tap print and there you have it, a recipe for a crowd.
How To Wrap A Cookie Mix In A Jar Gift
Start with a clean canning jar. I like using wide-mouth canning jars because it’s easier to pack the ingredients; however, a regular mouth jar will also work.
After you print your gift tags on cardstock, cut the tags out and hole punch the top. Then, using Baking Twine or ribbon, tie the tags around the neck of your jar. The string is pretty and comes in a 25 different colors!
Free Printable Gift Tags and Instruction
Do you have a question about the recipe? Feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!
DIY Cookie Mix In A Jar Gift
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
You can add any recipe from Intentional Hospitality to your shopping list to plan a full menu!
Ingredients
Jar Cookie Mix
- 1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats, not quick oats
- ¾ cup chocolate chips, or other favorite mix-in
To Bake The Cookies
- 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg, large
Instructions
Assemble Cookies In A Jar Mix
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Use a large whisk or spoon to mix the dry ingredients thoroughly.1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Note* If you are making several jars at one time, gather all other ingredients and set out with measuring cups so you are ready to assemble the gift jars.
- Start layering, putting the flour mixture in first, pressing it down slightly into the jar with the back of a large spoon. Then pour in your add-in next. This could be M&Ms, chocolate chips, chopped candy canes, etc. (See mix-in options in the notes)
- Layer brown sugar, then white sugar, any additional sprinkles, and then the rolled oats on top. Be sure to press each layer down firmly with a spoon or your hand to pack each layer tightly in the jar. This will make the gift look pretty until it is opened.½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 cup old-fashioned oats, ¾ cup chocolate chips
- Place a new canning jar lid on the jar and screw a top on tightly.
- Print your gift tags, cut them out, and hole-punch the top to easily tie the instructions to the jar.
- Wrap the baker’s twine around the neck of your jar a few times, tie the instructions on, and make a bow with the twine.
To Bake Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, beat together butter until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until blended.1/2 cup butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 egg
- Add the contents of the jar of cookie mix to the bowl. Stir to mix batter to a smooth dough; don’t over-stir and break your mix-ins. The mixture will be thick.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop even size cookie dough balls onto a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies begin to brown around the edges.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and rest them on the cookie sheet for about 3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.
Notes
Mason Jar Gift Cookie Dough Mix-In Ideas
No basic chocolate chip cookies here. Think out of the box with these yummy jar recipe add-ins. Mix-In Variation Ideas- White chocolate chips
- Toffee bar pieces (Heath)
- Dried cranberries
- Dried apricots (chopped)
- Pistachios (chopped)
- Dried blueberries
- Orange zest
- Honey-roasted peanuts (chopped)
- Potato chips or pretzels (crushed)
- Candy canes (crushed)
- Oreos, broken into pieces
- Colorful sprinkles
- Raisins
- Coconut flakes and macadamia nuts
- 13 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 5 teaspoons baking soda
- 10 teaspoons baking powder
- 5 teaspoons salt
- 5 cups granulated sugar
- 5 cups brown sugar
- 10 cups old-fashioned oats (not quick oats)
- 7.5 cups chocolate chips or other favorite mix-ins
Equipment
Hi! I am wondering what size jar you used for this recipe? I am wanting to make these in bulk as gifts for friends. There are so many different jar sizes to choose from.
I like to use wide-mouth quart jars. It’s much easier to make them look pretty when layering if the jar has a wider rim.
How many jars does this recipe make? I will need to make a total of 20 jars
Natalie, each recipe makes 1-quart jar. Then when the other mix-ins are added it will bake 24 cookies.
Hi the recipe calls for 2 eggs but the printout says 1 egg? Which one is it?? Thanks
Hey Sheri, It should be one large egg. My daughter-in-law raises chickens and gives us her eggs so sometimes they are small. I would use 2 that equals a large store-bought egg. Thanks for pointing this out. I need my reader’s help and I appreciate it.
Recipe indicates 1/2 cup butter however gift tag says 3/4 cup. Which is correct?
It should be 1/2 cup of butter. I will correct the printables right away. When writing this post I tried both 1/2 cup and 3/4 cup making the recipe. I found a 1/2 cup was sufficient if it was melted slightly when adding it to the recipe.
I don’t know how to print Tags for the Unicorn Cookies as shown?? Can you walk me thru it??
Barbra, To make it easier, I just emailed you the two types of tags. If you still have problems, email be back and I will try to help. :)
Barbra, I just made you a unicorn gift tag and emailed it to you.
Hi! I am planning on making the unicorn cookie mix. I signed up for access to the printable labels, but I cannot find where to print the label? Thank you for any help!
Erin, I will email you the link to the tags pdf.
Hi! I made several of these & they turned out very cute. However – I didn’t realize you had to subscribe to print the free recipe cards. I did it 3 times & nothing was sent to my email. I can’t wait for days for something to show up when I need the tags right away. It doesn’t makes sense why there isn’t an immediate download button. I would have left a better rating if you had that set up differently. I will now have to hand write everything. But thanks for the recipe!
Hannah you should have gotten them immediatly after confirming your email that you want to sign up. I will email you the link and look to see what is hanging up with the delivery later on.
Hi Gina,
I didn’t get the email until after you manually sent it around 4. I did have to hand write them, but thank you. Not sure what happened but it is fine. Thanks for looking into it!
Hi, I’ve subscribed a few times and am not getting an email with a link to the printables. Can you help?
Thank you and happy holidays!
Emily, I am emailing them directly to you. I went in yesterday and fixed a step in my auto email to have them send out. Automation is great, but sometimes causes a challenge.
Hello! I can’t find where to download the unicorn tags.
Aubree, at the bottom of the post there is a sign up form to have all the gift tags in one pdf sent to you, including the unicorn tags. I’ll send them to you though.
Cookies in a jar mix tags please
Hey Amanda, Put your email in this form and then go to your email and hit the confirm button I’ll send you. The gift tags will open in a PDF that you can print whenever you need them.