Give Gifts in Jars: Monster Cookie Mix
This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I have a special treat for you all today! My dear friend, Shaina Olmanson from the popular blog, Food For My Family and author of Desserts in Jars has graciously offered to guest post with some tips on how to give gifts in jars! I think Shaina is playing Santa……. she is also sharing a recipe from her book, along with a free printable AND she has a few copies of her cookbook to giveaway to three lucky TidyMom readers! Sweet!!
Let’s talk gifts. I have a difficult time with gift-giving. It has nothing to do with the actual giving of the gifts; it is in the buying of the gifts. I don’t want to grab the generic gift card or a bottle of wine and hand it off to my aunt or sister-in-law and call it good. I would rather give something that’s thoughtful or that comes created by my hands. For me it’s the difference between a gift just to cross it off your list or to be thoughtful and purposeful in your giving, to show that you care for and appreciate that person.
For years we’ve been sending hot chocolate mixes as teachers’ gifts and pancake mix for the aunts and uncles. Here are a few ways to give gifts in jars:
- As part of a gift basket: If you’re sending a care package of sorts, a gift mix or a cupcake in a jar can be the perfect treat to add to your gift.
- As a handmade touch to a gift card: There are those people who are too hard to buy for or they would really appreciate the gift card. Adding a little sweetness to the gift cards still gives them something to open and hold onto, without foregoing the plastic.
- A gift for the baker: A gift basket with Desserts in Jars, a set of jars, and a few other treats can be the perfect way to inspire your baking beloved in the kitchen.
- As the gift itself: A jar full of cookie mix or hot chocolate makes a great homemade gift on its own, too. Give something sweet to those who have been sweet in your life.
When we moved to a new neighborhood, monster cookies were the first things gifted to us by a neighbor welcoming us to our new home. They’re one of our favorite cookies, and they make the perfect holiday gift.
Table of Contents
Monster Cookie Mix
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 cups rolled oats
- 3/4 cup candy-coated chocolate candies or chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Mix together the granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Pour into a 1-quart mason jar. Top with a layer of half of the oats. Add the candies in a layer, and top with a layer of brown sugar. Top with a layer of the remaining oats and then a layer of pecans. Seal with the lid, decorate the jar, and attach a label with these instructions for the recipient:
Monster Cookies:
- 3/4 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter (not natural)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and eggs in a bowl. Add the contents of jar. Form the dough into 2-inch balls and set on a lined cookie sheet 2" apart. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until the tops of the cookies begin to brown. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
To make this cute gift, I have included a FREE MONSTER COOKIE PRINTABLE for your jars! Because this gift in a jar is a mix, you want to be sure the recipient knows how to bake up a yummy batch! Click the image below to print a page of 5 labels.
click to print your FREE Monster Cookie Labels
GIVEAWAY!
To make your gift even sweeter…….I’m giving away 3 copies of my book, Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine available at Target, World Market, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and your local bookseller.
GIVEAWAY has ended. Congrats to #41 Emily, #192 Micky and #207 Dallas
Find more details on DessertsinJars.com
To enter, simply leave a comment on this post, telling me your favorite cookie.
Official Rules: No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only . Must be over 18. Giveaway begins on December 5, 2012 will end on December 12, 2012 at 5:00 pm CST. Prize value $16.95. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Three winners with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. Winners will be notified by email by December 15, 2012 and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. TidyMom, and Harvard Common Press are not responsible for lost or undelivered emails. Winners will be posted on this blog post by December 30, 2012. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. By entering this giveaway, you have agreed to these rules. Giveaway sponsored by Harvard Common Press .
Good luck to everyone!
Shaina Olmanson is the cook, freelance writer, and photographer behind Food for My Family, which was named one of the top ten Top 100 Mom Food Blogs by Babble.com in 2010, 2011, and 2012. She is the author of Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine, has served as the food editor for LifetimeMoms and daily contributor to Babble’s Family Kitchen, and contributes regularly to FoodYourWay.net and SimpleBites.net. She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her husband and their four kids.
Tidymom is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Please respect my work, recipes and photographs. If you do use a recipe in your own writing, please give proper credit and link back to the original post.
There are so many to choose from…but I love Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake cookies the best!
I’d love your book, having all the ingredients in a jar is so fun and convenient! My favorite cookie is oatmeal raisin.
Double chocolate chip! 😉
I so love cookbooks & this one I’d love to read. My favorite cookie is browned butter shortbread – a recipe I found yrs ago in Southern Living mag.
My favorite cookie is oatmeal raisin – warm out of the oven :}
My favorite cookie is called the Butter Cookie. It calls for real butter and confectioners sugar. The dough has to be chilled before cutting out with cookie cutters, but because of the confectioners sugar, the cookies are very light and delicious. This was a recipe that my mother found in a woman’s magazine probably over 50 years ago. We always made them for Christmas and though she is gone, I still make them with my daughter. It would not be Christmas without them.
looks great and awesome giveaway!!
I love no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies
Thanks for the opportunity. My favorite cookies are chocolate hazelnut.
I love spritz cookies.
Never met a cookie I didn’t love, but pfeffernusses are really irresistible!
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies!
Our favorite is The Traditional Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Thank you for the chance to this great giveaway.
I favorite cookie is Pecan Sandies
My favorite cookies are these chocolate peanut butter cookies with a creamy peanut butter middle that taste like peanut butter cups!
We love Oatmeal Raisin Cookies .. thank you for the chance to win this!
Mexican wedding cookies (Russian tea cakes, they have several names)
I’m kind of boring, I guess, but my favorite cookie is just a good old Chocolate Chip. Chewy ones. 🙂
Thin oatmeal with almond slivers and mini chocolate chips is my absolute favorite cookie!
I’m a happy girl with warm chocolate chip cookies and a cold glass of milk! 🙂
I’d have to go with the classic chocolate chip!
Hi my favorite is chocolate chip, they are always a nice treat.
Would L-O-V-E to win this book. Handmade gifts in jars are our favorite gifts!! Our favorite cookie is Oatmeal with chocolate chunks!!! Merry Christmas!
Umm… EVERY cookie is my favorite cookie. Guilty as charged! 🙂
I have a lot of favorite cookies but one of them are the 7 layer bars or also called magic cookie bars.
My favorite is Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
Tell you my favorite cookie? That’s like naming a favorite child! Haha. Well, if I have to, I’ll go with the simple yet classic Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Chewy chocolate supreme
Sugar cookies! Love those cut out cookies to decorate. Thanks for offering the giveaway.
My favorite cookie is chunky chocolate chip.
I love Chocolate Crinkles and Monster Cookies. I just can’t pick between the two.
Our family’s favorite cookies to make is Oatmeal Chocolate Chip…although sometimes eating the cookie dough is the best part!
chocolate no bake cookies while they are still a little warm
peppermint milano are my fave cookie right now
Warm peanut butter cookies are my absolute fave!
Chocolate Chip (Homemade, of course!)
Chocolate chocolate chip!
My favorite cookie are red velvet cut out cookies drizzled with white chocolate
My favorite cookies are classic chocolate chip!!
Oatmeal chocolate chip! YUM!
Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies…..YUM!
My favorite cookie are chewy chocolate chocolate chip.
My favorite cookie is Snickerdoodle!
My favorite is chocolate chip (soft) but I really love any with chocolate straight out of the oven!
Peanut butter!!!!! Mmmmmmmm!!!
My favorite cookie is white chocolate macadamia nut!
TollHouse Chocolate Turtle Cookies….I just baked some yesterday and they are all gone, yum!
my all time favorite cookies are old fashioned butter cookies.
Shortbread
My favorite cookie is Cinnamon Molassas