Create a thoughtful and inexpensive gift with these DIY Christmas Cookies in a Jar. Equipped with recipes and printable stickers and tags, you can give the homemade gift of the season!
Let’s make Christmas Cookies in a Jar!
I have two cookies in a jar recipes for you today: Chocolate Peppermint Cookies and Christmas M&M Cookies. You can make one or both for everyone on your gift list. Depends how much he/she likes chocolate! I’ve always loved cookies in a jar as Christmas presents, especially if you gift a baked batch along with the jar. Then the gift recipient will know what the cookies will taste like. Cookies in a jar are a thoughtful and inexpensive DIY gift for anyone who enjoys cookies… which I can only assume is everyone on your gift list!!!
How to Make Cookies in a Jar
Using my recipes below, layer the dry ingredients into jars. The gift recipient is responsible for adding the wet ingredients. I like layering the dry ingredients into the jars in a thoughtful way so each layer stands out. Dark (cocoa powder), light (sugar), dark (brown sugar), light (flour + baking soda + salt), and so on. Use a spoon to layer or, if you’re particular like I am, use a funnel so the layers are extra neat.
The carefully formulated cookie recipes fit into 32-ounce mason jars. Top with the lid and decorate with festive ribbons, a candy cane, or even a small ornament. Go simple or go big. It doesn’t take much crafty talent to tie a ribbon around the jar, I promise. 🙂
The jars would make zero sense to the gift recipient without instructions for actually baking the cookies. For allergen reasons, I think it’s important to share the ingredients inside the jar as well as directions for baking the cookies. I have you covered!
Free Printable Tag Options
- Click this link for the PDF of Christmas tags: Christmas Cookie Jar Printables
- Click this link for the PDF of Holiday tags: Holiday Cookie Jar Printables
- Click this link for the PDF of regular (non-holiday) tags: Cookie Jar Printables
Aren’t the tags so much fun? My dear friend Jess, who has the cutest Etsy shop designed the pictured tags. And team member Trina designed the tags that include gram/metric ingredients. I recommend printing the rectangle recipe cards on thick white paper, like card stock, and the circles on sticker adhesive paper. The circle stickers look adorable on the front of the jars or even placed on the lid. It prints out a full sheet of stickers, so you can use extras for cards, envelopes, gift tags, etc.
So… what do the final baked cookies look like? Eat your heart out!
I like using the Ghirardelli peppermint bark squares for the Chocolate Peppermint Cookies. Red and green M&Ms are perfectly festive for the Christmas M&M Cookies.
I loved both versions, but the chocolate peppermint cookies were absolutely insane. Some friends came over for dinner the day that I tested the recipe and all 2 dozen cookies were gone within 1 hour. Pretty sure that’s a record in my house.
Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes
Check out my 75+ favorite Christmas cookies, including:
- Pinwheel Cookies
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Christmas Sugar Cookies with Easy Cookie Icing
- Chocolate Crinkles
- Gingerbread Cookies & Gingerbread House
- Shortbread Cookies
Would love to know if you gift any cookies in a jar this holiday season! And if you’re looking for other gift ideas for the bakers in your life, be sure to check out my complete guide on Holiday Gifts for Bakers.
Christmas Cookies in a Jar & Free Printable
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: each yields 1 jar
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Create a thoughtful and inexpensive gift with these DIY Christmas Cookies in a Jar. Equipped with recipes and printable stickers and tags, you can give the homemade gift of the season!
Ingredients
Christmas M&M Cookies in a Jar
- 1 and 3/4 cups (219g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (90g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup (100g) plain mini or regular size M&Ms
- *gift recipient will add: 10 Tablespoons (145g) softened unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies in a Jar
- 1 and 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (21g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (90g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup (90g) chopped peppermint bark*
- *gift recipient will add: 10 Tablespoons (145g) softened unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
To make the jars: Whichever cookie jar recipe you’re making, combine the first 3 ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt). Now it’s time to layer the ingredients in 32-ounce mason jars. I suggest layering the dry ingredients into the jars in a thoughtful way so each layer stands out. Dark (cocoa powder), light (granulated sugar), dark (brown sugar), light (flour + baking soda + salt), dark (chocolate chips), then the peppermint bark or M&Ms. Use a spoon to layer or, if you’re particular like I am, use a funnel so the layers are extra neat. Seal the lids, decorate with ribbon, and gift with the free printable tags.
To bake the cookies: In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, egg, and vanilla extract together on high speed until combined. Don’t worry if the egg isn’t fully combining with the butter; it’ll all come together with the dry ingredients. Add all of the jar ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. Cookie dough does NOT require chilling. Drop by rounded Tablespoonfuls onto parchment paper or silicone baking mat lined baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake in a 350°F (177°C) oven for about 10 minutes until the edges are set. Each recipe yields about 2 dozen cookies. Cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Cookie dough balls freeze well for up to 3 months. Here’s how to freeze cookie dough.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: Jars can be prepped a few months or weeks ahead of time, though after a month the ingredients begin to settle down into one another, so the layers don’t stand out quite as much.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 32-ounce Mason Jars | Funnel | Adhesive Sticker Paper (for round stickers) | Card Stock (for tags) | Optional items for decorating jars like Candy Canes and Ribbon
- Peppermint Bark: I like using the Ghirardelli peppermint bark squares for the Chocolate Peppermint Cookies.
Reader Comments and Reviews
Love the tags but I was wondering if you have any jar cookie recipes other than these 2?
Hi Lucie, These are the only two we have at this time. Although you could certainly package the dry ingredients of many different cookie recipes and make your own tags if you wish!
Made these jars to give to a few friends of mine as gifts at the end of the year…..they LOVED the idea (and the cookies 😉 ). Aaaaannnd then I made a batch for me too, just because – absolutely delicious! And they look so cute, both in the jar and when baked. Thank you, Sally!
Have not tried yet, but I have some friends who need glutten free. Do you have a recipe and tag for that?
Thanks!
Hi Heather, I have much experience using gluten free flour so I don’t have a cookie in a jar recipe for it. Please let me know if you try one!
This is a wonderful idea and the tags and directions printed out perfectly!
Could you do this kind of thing with any of your other cookie recipes? Any in particular you think would work? I’m trying to think of some gifts for a friend’s bridal shower and I thought something ‘homemade’ would be fun 🙂 Thanks Sally, I appreciate it!
Hi Erin! Yes, this could work with pretty much any drop-style cookie recipe.
Hey thanks for posting this recipe! I made 6 jars last week for decor/gifts. They are so beautiful! I switched a few things around like the M&Ms and the chocolate chips so you can see the red and green better. Also I mixed the white sugar into the flour mixture and then did a thicker white layer first, then the brown sugar, then the rest of the white layer. Really enjoyed making these
Thank you SO much for this, Sally! The cookies are delicious and I so appreciated having all the printables! I made the chocolate peppermint cookie jars for coworkers and I know they will just love them!
You are welcome, Lynne! I hope your coworkers love them!
I love this gift idea. Would it be possible to have the sticker and tag to celebrate other holidays? Right now Hanukkah would be helpful and Valentine’s Day in a few months.
Thanks Sally
Hi Valerie! I only have a Christmas version available, but maybe I’ll extend the options in new blog posts for different variations. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hi Sally! Oh wow – you had me at peppermint bark, especially the Ghirardelli kind. Totally my guilty pleasure at Christmas! So question about it – when you chop the bark up, how big should the pieces be? From your pix it looks like maybe the bark is chocolate chip size? Or am I overthinking this? LOL
Hey Vanessa! About the size of chocolate chips is perfect.
I made the chocolate peppermint cookies tonight because I love peppermint bark. Wow! The cookies are so good! I ate one to taste the cookie and froze the rest so I wouldn’t eat a ton of them before my kids return in 4 days. I pressed extra peppermint bark and chocolate chips on the cookies when they came out of the oven because my cookies didn’t really show any peppermint bark although you can taste them. Giving the ingredients in a jar would be a real treat.
This is such an awesome idea Sally! I love it and thank you for the beautiful stickers too.
I can’t wait to make these for gifts! I’ve already ordered the funnels and stocked up on supplies. Such a great idea! I love the printables you’ve included. Thank you so much!
I am soooooo excited you did these! I wanted to give these to my coworkers when we have our annual festivus next week, but could not find anything I like.
Thank you so much! I have no idea which ones I will make yet (though I have a feeling it’ll be a dozen of each), but I am so excited!
So excited about these! They are just what I was looking for as teacher gifts this year. Thanks so much for including the adorable free printables!
The fact that we you have provided these free printable tags is AMAZING! This is a huge help and they make the gift look so much nicer !! Thank you!
Oh my gosh!! Thank you so, so much! A group of close friends is doing a cookie exchange for the first time this year, and this will be a perfect gift to bring! And the TAGS! I love that you included the printables for those too. I could make all these ahead of time and not worry baking all those cookies at the last minute. Wonderful!! Hope you and your precious family have a wonderful Christmas Sally. I know it will be so fun with your sweet little one!
Sally, you have really outdone yourself this time! 🙂 This is a perfect gift idea for coworkers.
Thank you so much for this wonderful gift giving idea. These are beautiful and the chocolate peppermint cookies sound amazing!
Oh my goodness!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!! Such a cute idea, Sally! I will definitely make a few of these for my neighbors this year.
Thank you for this, you have solved my xmas present problems!
This is such a great idea for Christmas!
This is a wonderful idea for gift giving! sounds fun!
I had the same problem with my M&M cookie – did you find a solution?