Now, I realize that my timing may be off on this. Christmas has come and gone, and if you’re like me, you are in detox mode from indulging over the holidays. But, if I may…I’d like to offer up some residual Christmas cheer.

I made these festive cookie jars this holiday season after seeing them on Brown Eyed Baker’s list of homemade food gift ideas. Number 2 on her list is Bakerella’s Homemade Cookie Mix (Be forewarned, if you have a sweet tooth, enter this site at your own risk. You will be dazzled by the goodies she whips up!).

At the Brown Eyed Baker’s wise counsel, I turned Bakerella’s Cowgirl Cookie Jars into the most adorable Christmas Cookie Jars. I lucked out and found 2 cases of canning jars on Craigslist, hit up Walgreens for some glitzy tinsel, and got my arts-and-crafts on.

I wasn’t going to blog about this, since it seemed as if I had missed the sleigh on timeliness, but the feedback I got after giving these has been amazing! Everyone is clamoring for the recipe. Not only are these pretty, thoughtful, and homemade gifts…they are really delicious. Don’t take it from me though.

 

Homemade Cookie Mix

Homemade Cookie Mix

Real live testimonials:

“These are SO good. I can’t stop eating them, and I’ve been eating cookies all day.” – Carly

“Thank you for making these completely idiot proof.” – Christina

“Holy gods of cookie heavens have shined down upon me! Best f-in baked dessert product of this Xmas season!” – My Brother

People loved these cookies. They made them with their kids. They horded them from visitors. They ate them all in one day. Warm, gooey cookies on a cold winter’s day? Now that is Peace and Joy.

Now that the holidays are over, the last thing you may want to see is another cookie. Don’t fret. Give it a day or two. It will pass.

Joy to the World

Joy to the World

Christmas Cookie Jars

Print
Christmas Cookie Jars

Yield: about 27 cookies

These festive DIY cookie jars are the perfect sweet gift for the holidays...or really any time of year!

Ingredients

    DRY INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup cooking oats
  • 3/4 cup M&Ms
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
    • WET INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • TO ASSEMBLE:
  • 1 quart mason jar
  • decorative ribbon/fabric/paper/tinsel
  • baking instruction card

Instructions

    TO ASSEMBLE THE COOKIE JARS:
  1. Start with a 1 quart smooth, glass, canning jar. Layer the ingredients in this order: Flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt (stir these all up before pouring in the jar so they are well distributed); Oats; M&Ms; Chocolate chips; Brown sugar; White sugar; Chopped pecans.
  2. Pack each level down really tightly or else it won’t all fit. You can get the most packing power after the oats layer and the brown sugar layer. I used that top piece from the lid of my food processor (the thing you use to push veggies in through the hole in the lid) to really jam it all down.
  3. Add the chopped pecans last, because depending on how well you pack the layers, you can add more or less pecans to adjust. Better to sacrifice nuts than chocolate. But also, for practical reasons, it helps keep the white sugar from spilling out all over the place when the recipient opens the jar.
  4. The ingredients will be flush to the top of the lid when you seal it up. To decorate the top of the jars, wrap 16 inches of decorative wire tinsel around the top. You can also decorate the jars using ribbon and some fabric. Cut the fabric into 6 inch squares and the ribbon into 25 inch pieces. Place the fabric on top and tie ribbons around the lid to hold it in place.
  5. Print the baking instructions on little cards made from wrapping paper, and punch a hole in the corner so you can attach it to the tinsel. Voila! Instant Christmas Cheer.
    6. FOR THE INSTRUCTION CARDS:
  6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  7. Stir all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  8. Add 1 slightly beaten egg, 1/2 cup melted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  9. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients thoroughly.
  10. Roll the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.
  11. Enjoy while warm and gooey!

Notes

http://lickmyspoon.com/recipes/residual-christmas-cheer/

This recipe is brought to you by LICK MY SPOON
http://lickmyspoon.com/recipes/residual-christmas-cheer/