Christmas gift-in-a-jar ideas

[EPCOT is a verb]

I just found a box of quart size blue canning jars in my basement and thought maybe I could give them as Christmas gifts to co-workers. What could I fill them with? Homemade caramel popcorn? Some sort of trail mix? Other ideas?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I enjoyed receiving a Chocolate Chip Cookie mix layered in the jar -
- Flour, salt, soda, etc.
- Oatmeal
- Chocolate Chips
= No wet ingredients - Tag with recipe tied on with a ribbon - cotton quilt square between the seal and the jar ring, so it was festive.

I've also had a bean soup one with layered colors of beans and legumes, and a seasoning packet attached to the jar. I'm just no good with seasonings, but I'll bet you could google it.

 

[bookgirl]

hot cocoa mix

 

[mothermouse]

I'm a childcare teacher and the best gift I got from a parent was in a canning jar 1. jar ( get powertool and put a hole on the bottom side of jar 2. small thing of white christmas lights (very small) stuff lights in hole, so plug sticks out 3. potpourri( fill jar with it) 4. some kind of material, lace (put lace on top then lid(side lid only ) sounds hard because the way I typed it but very easy. when you plug it in it looks so pretty don't keep pluged in all night, I never had any problems

 

[rainy~daze]

cinnamon glazed almonds

 

[mrsw94]

I just finished googling "cupcakes in a jar". I just saw it on a TV show! They look super fun and cute!

 

[Terrie..]

hot cocoa mix layered with mini marshmallows

 

[blackforest]

Watch doing a mix in a jar that the receiver is going to bake the item IN the jar. Sometimes older jars can have hairline cracks that aren't noticable to the eye. If it's just to gift the item, any jar will be fine. But to bake in it, you should use new jars.

 

[MPLsDad]

I'd like to find cash or a gift card in that jar!

 

[tinkmom2]

Today one of my students gave me cookie mix in a jar. How nice!

 

[RNMOM]

I like to put pistachios. They seem so popular these days. You could even do any kind of candy. Kisses, mints, peppermints, gum or anything you like. You could even customize them a bit.

How about even a couple for the whole group? You could fill one with chap sticks of different flavors/brands. One you could fill with small hand creams from Avon or other sources. I don't know what kind of office you have or what you do but a jar of pens might be nice. You might put a jar of coupons or small cost gift cards for local restaurants like pizza, Starbucks or fast foods. Toss in menus too.

I worked for a nurse call center and one year made bags that were about 12 inches square with a draw string closure. I lined them fully. One each draw string I used letter beads to spell out their names. Everyone loved them and as new people came on board, the manager asked me to make them for them also. I had a lot of scrap fabrics at the time but not anymore!

 

[shortbun]

My MIL got a jar of layered mix for Chai Latte. It was marvelous! One year I got a jar layered with beans and dried onions, soup spices etc. It made a great bean soup. I don't even remember who gave it to me but I bet you could find a recipe.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

I made homemade granola, hot chocolate and a spice rub one year.

 

[beansmom]

i love the cake in a jar! it keeps for quite a long time...i'm baking some for my dss for xmas.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I made homemade granola, hot chocolate and a spice rub one year.

I was going to suggest the granola! My MIL's recipe is wonderful, and very flexible: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Homemade-Cereal/Detail.aspx

 

[TLuvsD]

Soup Mix...I just buy the multi bean soup mix from the grocery store, retype the directions, add soup and boullion (I think). Friends LOVED it, and it was soooo easy.

 

[MEM]

OP, I noticed you said "blue" Mason jars - if they are old, they are sought after by collectors (like me!). If you plan to give them away, I agree with the granola idea or something like Alton Brown's white trash snack mix. Most of the people in my gift circle don't have time to bake or make soup so I give them ready-to-eat treats.

 

[snoopyluvsdis]

Money in a jar appeals to me.

 

[Gigi22]

We used to fill old Mason jars with homemade Nuts and Bolts--we had a really huge recipe that made quarts of them.

 

[mtblujeans]

Taste of Home has an instant oatmeal mix that sounds perfect for your jar gifts. I have made this mix up for my DSs and sent them off to college with it and they both like it. All you add is water as the dry milk powder makes it creamy.

Also, Family Circle has some 'jar gift' recipes on their site.