This Cookie Mix in a Jar is the perfect way to give someone a shortcut to homemade cookies. A delicious and festive gift!
Simply fill a jar with pre-measured dry ingredients and give the jar as a gift along with instructions for baking. Choose from M&M cookies or chocolate chip cookies.
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Why make cookie mix in a jar
This is a thoughtful and affordable gift that is perfect any time of year. Who doesn’t love freshly baked cookies? These jars are made with pantry staples, making them cost a fraction of what you’d pay for store bought cookie jars.
I especially love this gift for kids! Kids can assemble them and give them as gifts, or you can gift them to kids and they can make homemade cookies with minimal effort.
Ingredients needed
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- M&M’s and/or chocolate chips
How to Make Cookies in a Jar
To assemble the jars, all you do is measure the dry ingredients and layer them in a jar. It couldn’t be simpler!
You can layer them in any order you choose. I like the flour, leavening, and salt on the bottom. I put some chocolate chips/M&M’s in the middle and some on top.
Assembly tips
- It is important that your ingredients are layered into the jars carefully so that the layers don’t mix too much; this makes for a prettier presentation.
- Roll up a paper plate to use as a funnel to cleanly add the bottom layer into the jar.
- Use a spoon to carefully add the M&M’s and chocolate chips. Don’t dump them in too quickly or they’ll sink.
- Use fresh ingredients to ensure the best quality cookies.
- Attach the printable recipe card with the jar for easy baking.
- Decorate the jar with fabric and/or ribbon. I use a 6.5 inch circle of fabric.
Prefer to bake cookies?
Skip the jars and make our M&M Cookies or Chocolate Chip Cookies.
More holiday treats
Recipe
Cookie Mix In A Jar
Ingredients
- 1⅔ cups all purpose flour, spooned into the measuring cup and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1⅓ cups M&M's and/or chocolate chips, see note
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1-quart Mason jar
Instructions
Assembling jars:
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Pour into the bottom of a 1-quart mason jar (I roll up a paper plate to use as a funnel). After this you can layer the remaining ingredients however you'd like. I usually top the flour mixture with granulated sugar, followed by 1 cup of M&M's/chocolate chips, brown sugar, and remaining ⅓ cup M&M's/chocolate chips. Be sure to spoon the ingredients in gently so they stay layered. Seal with the lid and decorate with ribbon and/or fabric (see note).
Recipe to include with the jar (printable version in notes):
- In a large bowl, whisk ½ cup of melted and cooled unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Add the contents of the jar and gently stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until combined. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Scoop 2-tablespoon portions of dough. Place the dough balls onto parchment lined baking sheets and bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers of the cookies are slightly underdone. Place baking sheets on racks and cool completely. Tip: For prettier cookies, use the back of a spoon to shape the edges of the cookies when they come out of the oven.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Sue says
Is it possible to create a cookie jar gift from any cookie recipe?
Allison says
Not necessarily. The recipe has to be written for everything in the jar to be added at once and most cookie recipes require the ingredients to be added through different steps (butter creamed with sugar, then eggs, then flour, then “mix-ins”, etc).
Jasmine says
What size jar do I use?
Allison says
1 quart
Bella says
I find that this recipe us too small to adequately fill a quart-size jar. There’s still a good 3 inches of space at the top of the jar which doesn’t look good for presentation. I’ll have to go with a different recipe next time.
sandra novello says
Any recipe that is a melt and mix cookie recipe is suitable. One that makes around 24 cookies. If the recipe doesn’t fill to the top, you can place 1/3 to 1/2 cup nuts to the jar, leave this ingredient for the top so that you can adjust the quantity need. Rolled oats is also a common ingredient that is added to cookies. Look for a recipe with similar quantities to this one. I have an old cookie recipe almost identical to this one that works. You can also just scrunch up coloured tissue paper to fill the gap. Choose a colour to suit the occasion
Rachel says
What happens if you skip the step of refrigerating before baking?
Allison says
The cookies will spread too much while baking.
Jess P says
I made these as little Christmas gifts for my family and everyone loved them! And the cookies are delicious, I’ve been using this recipe for a few years now and everyone always raves about them!!
Allison says
I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Kelli says
How long does this stay good before baking? When would it expire after assembling all the ingredients in the jar? Thanks!
Allison says
Hi! It depends how fresh the ingredients in the jar are. I would recommend using within two months.
immy says
Amazing
DM says
How long will ingredients stay fresh in the jar?
Allison says
Hi! It depends how fresh the ingredients in the jar are. I recommend using within two months.
Darren MacDonald says
I’ve made this recipe every year for the last 5 years… it’s become my Christmas tradition.. for my nephew who loves the cookies I know make up the jar for him… thanks for sharing this with me, and my family..
Allison says
You’re welcome! 🙂
Shana says
How long does the mix last in the jar?
Allison says
Hi! It depends how fresh the ingredients in the jar are. I would recommend using within two months.
Marina says
Why do you have to put it in the fridge?
It’s confusing and what’s the difference between an egg and egg yolk?
Allison says
Hi, Marina. Are you referring to the instructions for baking the cookies? The dough need to be refrigerated to keep the cookies from spreading too much. The extra egg yolk helps to bind the dough. Enjoy!
Jamie says
I tested these out before I made a dozen jars to send to family.. The wet ingredients weren’t updated from the old recipe, so the batter looks more like crumbs when combined.
Allison says
Sorry you had trouble. I have tested this recipe multiple times. Are you sure you used 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), one whole egg, plus one egg yolk?