A homemade DIY gift is so meaningful, especially one that says, “Take a break and enjoy something sweet.” This cookie mix in a jar has become one of my favorite ways to show appreciation for someone during the holidays, birthdays, or even just because. It’s a thoughtful, budget-friendly gift that bakes into the warmest kind of comfort.
I’ve made dozens of these for friends, neighbors, and church events, and they’re always a hit. The best part? You can prep several jars in under an hour, customize them with fun mix-ins, and even let your kids help layer the ingredients. It’s simple, sweet, and such a fun way to share a little homemade joy.
Cookie Mix In A Jar
This DIY recipe has a classic buttery-sweet flavor with a hint of oat-y texture that everyone loves. It’s beginner-friendly and comes together quickly; you can prep five jars in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for last-minute gifts or group projects. It’s also budget-friendly with basic pantry staples, and the free printable tags make gifting stress-free. Swap in festive M&M’s, candy canes, or sprinkles to fit any occasion. You could also switch things up with Salted Cashew Cookie Recipe In A Jar, another fun gift idea.
What You’ll Need to Make This Cookie Mix in a Jar
Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- All-purpose flour: Use fresh flour for best results. If making gluten-free, swap for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend.
- Baking soda: Check that it’s fresh so the cookies rise properly.
- Baking powder: Adds extra lift to the cookies. Replace with ¼ teaspoon baking soda if needed.
- Brown sugar: Adds chewy texture and rich flavor. Light or dark brown sugar both work here.
- Granulated sugar: Layers beautifully in the jar. You can swap coconut sugar for a deeper flavor.
- Old-fashioned oats: Choose rolled oats, not quick oats. For sugar cookies, pulse them in a food processor to a fine flour.
- Chocolate chips or mix-ins: Use semi-sweet chocolate chips, festive M&M’s, or white chocolate chips for variety.
- Sprinkles or candy pieces (optional): Add crushed candy canes or colorful sprinkles for themed gifts.
DIY Supplies Needed
- Jars: I suggest quart wide-mouth 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 fabric squares 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.
How To Make Cookie Mix In A Jar
Mix Flour and Start Layers
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until fully combined.
Using a wide-mouth quart mason jar, spoon the flour mixture in first. Gently press it down with the back of a spoon.
Add Mix Ins
Layer chocolate chips or M&M’s next. Then add brown sugar, followed by white sugar. Sprinkle in festive add-ins like crushed candy canes or rainbow sprinkles if you like.
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.
Top With Oats and Seal
Add the oats last. Press gently to keep layers tight and pretty.
Place a new lid and ring or a plastic lid on tightly. Print your gift tag instructions, hole punch the corner, and tie it on with baker’s twine or ribbon.
How To Bake Cookie Mix In A Jar
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 And Baking Cookies In A Jar
Add the contents of the jar to the bowl. Stir to mix the batter into a smooth dough. The mixture will be thick.
Use a cookie scoop to drop even-sized cookies onto a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until cookies begin to brown around the edges.
Cool Cookies and Enjoy!
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 Cookies In A Jar
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.
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.
Yummy Mix-In Ideas
Get creative and add in some of these layers to make your gift jars a present to remember!
Classic Options
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Milk chocolate chips
- White chocolate chips
- M&M’s (holiday colors, classic, mini)
Holiday & Festive
- Crushed candy canes
- Red and green sprinkles
- Holiday mint M&M’s
- Hot chocolate M&M’s
Kid-Friendly Fun
- Character sprinkles
- Colored sugars
- Mini marshmallows
Gourmet & Bakery-Style
- Toffee bar pieces (Heath)
- Dried cranberries
- Dried blueberries
- Dried apricots (chopped)
- Chopped pistachios
- Macadamia nuts
- Coconut flakes
- Orange zest
Sweet & Salty Twists
- Honey-roasted peanuts (chopped)
- Pretzels (crushed)
- Oreos (broken pieces)
Tips For Big Batch Gift Jars
If you want to make a lot of cookies in a jar gifts, think of an assembly line. Mix your flour mixture in large bowls and set out all your other ingredients.
Put the proper-sized 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.
Want to make a lot of cookies in a jar? 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.
Hospitality Challenge
This recipe makes a delightful holiday dessert gift that brings joy and warmth in a jar. Invite your kids to join the assembly line, personalize each jar with festive colors, and deliver them with a handwritten note or Scripture card that speaks encouragement and hope. Use it as a sweet way to show others they’re remembered and cherished this Christmas season.
More Yummy Cookie Recipes
- Cool Whip Lemon Cookies with Just 4 Ingredients
- Easy Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
- Soft Lemon Blueberry Cake Cookies
- Quick and Easy Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies
- Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
- Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan)
- 10-Minute No Bake Cookie Dough Bites Recipe
If you need a quick gift idea thane these Cookie Mix In A Jar is a great option. If you have any questions about making this recipe, feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!
Cookie Mix In A Jar With Free Printable Tags
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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.
Gina’s Notes and Tips
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. Classic Options- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Milk chocolate chips
- White chocolate chips
- M&M’s (holiday colors, classic, mini)
- Crushed candy canes
- Red and green sprinkles
- Holiday mint M&M’s
- Hot chocolate M&M’s
- Character sprinkles
- Colored sugars
- Mini marshmallows
- Toffee bar pieces (Heath)
- Dried cranberries
- Dried blueberries
- Dried apricots (chopped)
- Chopped pistachios
- Macadamia nuts
- Coconut flakes
- Orange zest
- Honey-roasted peanuts (chopped)
- Pretzels (crushed)
- Oreos (broken pieces)
- 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.
Hello, I absolutely love these cookies in a jar! however i am just not a huge fan of oats in my cookies, is this ingredient a must for this recipe or can it be taken out and or substituted for anything else?
Hey Vanessa, I’m so glad you like the cookie mix in a jar idea. The oats aren’t a must; they add a little chewiness and make the layers look pretty in the jar, but you can absolutely skip them. If you leave out the oats, just increase the flour to 1 ¾ cups total so the cookie dough has the right texture.
You could also swap the oats layer for something fun like shredded coconut, chopped nuts, crushed pretzels, or even extra chocolate chips. Each variation will give the cookies their own unique flavor and look in the jar.
I would like the m and m recipe please but not American one please
Lucy, here are the measurements for the M&M Cookies in a Jar. I will email this to you also.
Jar Mix Ingredients
(Makes one 1-litre jar, yields about 24 cookies)
170 g plain flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp fine sea salt
100 g soft light brown sugar
100 g caster sugar
90 g rolled oats (not instant)
130 g M&M’s or chocolate chips
To Assemble
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, and salt.
Spoon the flour mixture into the bottom of a clean 1-litre jar. Tap down lightly to level.
Layer the M&M’s on top, followed by brown sugar, then caster sugar, and finally the oats.
Press each layer down firmly to pack it nicely — it looks neat and stays fresh.
Seal the jar tightly and tie on a gift tag with baking instructions.
To Bake the Cookies
When your recipient is ready to bake:
You’ll need:
115 g unsalted butter (softened)
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Beat the butter until creamy, then mix in the egg and vanilla.
Tip in the entire jar of cookie mix and stir until a thick dough forms.
Scoop tablespoon-sized balls onto the tray, leaving a little space between each.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges.
Cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Gift Tag Idea
Attach a small card with this message:
“Just add 115 g butter, 1 egg, and 5ml vanilla. Mix well, bake at 177°C for 10–12 minutes, and enjoy warm cookies straight from the oven!”