Gifts in a jar

[bethntim]

Hello, newbie here, I've been a lurker for a while everyone here is so inspiring and seems super nice.  It's a pleasure to finally post here.  I digress...

I make several of these cookies in a jar and keep them for unexpected guests that pop into the house (aren't there always some that don't call before they come?!?)  I set them up like an assembly line and can get several done at once. 

In a 32 ounce wide mouth clean mason jar layer:

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cups flour (plain)
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins

Screw on lid and ring to jar, cut 10 inch circle of fabric with pinking shears or a rotary blade on the rotary cutter.  Secure with rubber band around neck of jar then tie off with coordinating ribbon.

Write directions for cookie baking and attach to ribbon:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream 3/4 cup softened butter with 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Add entire contents of jar and mix by hand to combine.  Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 12 minutes.  ENJOY!

In order to pack this fully I wrap a CLEAN white dishtowel around my fingers and pack in tightly after each layer.  Now you might want to put the raisins towards the bottom but believe me you will have a mottled mess they work out much better on top. 

if I make one of these I'll update with a picture! 

I wish I had one of these left but they all have been given away.

[Randommarble]

That's a great idea. Do you think the recipe would work with choc chips instead of raisins, or would it be too sweet?

[bethntim]

oooh choco chips would be great.  My little girl is allergic to chocolate so I don't make or keep anything in the house like that.  I try to find things that she can have too, I feel so guilty if I am eating chocolate and she can't.  Also instead of oats and raisins you can do chocolate chips and butterscotch chips or peanut butter chips.  Or white chips and macadamia nuts.  This recipe is great because it can be tweeked so many different ways. 

[Randommarble]

Allergic to chocolcate!?! I would starve if I couldn't eat chocolate. I gave it up for a week (my friend had done a fast for a day for charity so I decided I would go off chocolate for a week to support her as my mum wouldn't let me fast). I was having cravings for it by the second day and finding substitutes (caramel bars and high sugar foods) by the third.

White choc chips sounds tasty.

[ihatemyusername]

Where do you find such large jars?

[WIPs]

oooh choco chips would be great.  My little girl is allergic to chocolate so I don't make or keep anything in the house like that.  I try to find things that she can have too, I feel so guilty if I am eating chocolate and she can't.  Also instead of oats and raisins you can do chocolate chips and butterscotch chips or peanut butter chips.  Or white chips and macadamia nuts.  This recipe is great because it can be tweeked so many different ways. 

Eek! Allergic to chocolate?! The horror!

Where do you find such large jars?

My parents get them at Ikea. But Ikea's aren't everywhere, so I don't know.

I love these "in a jar" recipes. Recently on craft, they posted these delicious hot cocoa recipes. Check it out!

[ihatemyusername]

Yea we dont have one here. That sucks. BUt thanks for the help.

[bcrafty]

Walmart and craft stores also sell the 32 oz jars.  The markings on the side stop at 24 oz but if you fill the jar to the top it is 32 oz  I just double checked.

[pinokeeo]

A typical quart canning jar works great for this.  You can get them at any grocery store, yard sale, second-hand store, etc.  You can buy the rings and lids to go with them and they are not all that expensive.  If you buy them at a craft store, they cost more.

[Jillie]

I've made these before!  They were a huge hit, everyone loved them.

I used smaller jars but my recipe was smaller.


You can also make "cake in a jar" or "muffins in a jar"!