Homemade Gifts for the Holidays

We are just a few days away from Christmas and the to-do list is so long. The shopping list seems to be growing too as I remember people who need to be added. Each year the kids and I work on some homemade gifts for teachers, neighbors, and friends. This year my littlest one and I made M&M’s Gift Jar Cookie Mix from the M&M site. The process was fun and best of all I had almost all of the ingredients on hand; we just needed to buy M&M’s.

This is a great project to get the kids involved. Depending on their age they can measure and/or pour ingredients and, of course, sneak a couple candies during the process. (Great for working on fine-motor skills.)

Ingredients

Quart size Mason or canning jar with tight-fitting lid
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup M&M’S® MINIS® or regular size Milk Chocolate Candies
1/2 cup raisins
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 1/4 cups uncooked quick oats

Directions

In a small bowl gently blend flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In your clean-and-dry jar, layer flour mixture, walnuts, M&M’S®, raisins, brown sugar (don’t pack), and oats. Make sure each layer reaches the outer edge so it can be seen. Seal jar. DONE

We added a festive gift tag that included the mixing and baking directions and simply decorated the jar with rustic twine. This is a perfect gift for any family. Who doesn’t like cookies? Have you made gifts in a jar?