Gifts in a jar

[hmsteader71]

I have made these and given them as gifts and sold them at craft shows.  You can also make the soups in a jar.  Wal-Mart sells them already made up.  I imagine they would be easy to make.

[brokendove]

Hi,

I thought I would share the free in a jar recipes on my website.
http://www.craftbits.com/viewCategory.do?categoryID=REC

there are heaps of different recipes to choose from.

have fun

[Jillie]

Those recipes are so cool!  So many different ideas!  I'll have to try some of them.

[FASHION_freak]

I was thinking about making a load of these and handing them out to my boyfriend's family for Christmas. Great website too. Thanks a bunch! <3

[jbartistic]

I'm actually planning to do soup in a jar...between the husband and I we have 5 sets of grandparents and half of them are diabetic so we figured soup would work instead of sweets. 

I found this recipe and I made it at home to try it before gifting it.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Love-Soup-Mix-in-a-Jar/Detail.aspx

I thought it was pretty good, the only thing it is missing is sage. 

~J

[KarenLouiseM]

I've done quite a few "gifts in a jar" and think they are lots of fun.  My favorite is S'mores in a jar with Peeps (you can also use mini marshmallows - especially the holiday colored ones - but I like Peeps).  I used Christmas Snowman Peeps last year.

Here's a website that shows how to do this with Easter and July 4th options (very cute):
http://www.treasuresfromdj.net/smores.html

That recipe is slightly different than the one I used:

S'Mores in a Jar

Ingredients:
One "sleeve" of graham crackers or chocolate graham crackers
8 Peeps
1-1/4 C holiday M & Ms
1/3 cup brown sugar

1. Use food processor or rolling pin to reduce 1 sleeve of graham crackers to crumbs.
2. Layer 2/3 of the crumbs in a 1 qt jar.
3. Squeeze 8 Peeps standing up, facing out around the inside of the jar.
4.  Spoon remaining crumbs into center of the jar to support the Peeps, press down hard on crumbs.
5. On top of this pour M & M's.
6. Spoon brown sugar into center of M&M's, gently pressing with a spoon.

Recipe can be adapted using holiday Peeps and colored M & Ms for any occasion.

Attach recipe / instructions to jar: 

Christmas S'MORES

Preheat oven to 350 F

Ingredients:

Contents of Jar
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Empty jar contents into medium sized bowl.

Snip peeps into bite sized pieces with kitchen shears* and add to mixture. Mix well.

3. Melt 1/2 cup butter; add 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Pour over the dry ingredients and mix well.

4. Pat into a greased 9" square pan.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes.

6. Cool and cut into bars.

*Option - leave peeps whole; combine remaining ingredients and place the peeps on top; then bake as directed.

PEANUT BUTTER SMORES

Layer in jar:
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 sleeve of chocolate grahams or regular grahams; reduced to
crumbs(you choose)

Instructions should read:
Empty Contents of jar into a bowl. Melt 1/2 cup butter, add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients, mixing well. Pat into a greased 9" square pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Makes 9 to 12 bars.

[jbartistic]

I love your post with the peeps...I think i'm going to have to do that for my friends! 

[jbartistic]

Does anyone know how long these "gifts in a jar" last?  I'd like to get them made before the holiday rush but I'm not sure if they are only good for like a month??? Any thoughts?

Thanks,
JB

[KarenLouiseM]

Probably just figure the ingredient with the shortest shelf life and go from there?  (Nothing in the jar is particularly perishable - heaven knows Peeps last forever!)

One thing I try to do (if I can find it) is use "brownulated" sugar.  It's a brown sugar that's granulated - so it doesn't get all hard and clumpy.  But even if that happens it's easy enough to soften it in the oven.

[bookstorebabe]

I am so making the smores in a jar-I have a sis who is peep crazy! Last year I gave her a bunch of easter peeps(for her,the more stale the better) with a staleness certificate instead of  a freshness guarentee.She loves them for smores,and totally flipped.Thanks for the in a jar recipie!