who me? yes you! not me! then who?
Sorry, I’ve had that song in my head since I’ve made these cookies in a jar as gifts this year. I always like to give something handmade when I can and these were perfect for my boss, my massage therapist and my hair stylist.
I saved some Mason jars from my Dad’s homemade pickles (yum) and bookmarked this blog post from Tip Junkie listing 48 ways to give gifts in a jar. 48 ways!!! (I will think of someone I can give pie in a jar to because who wouldn’t love pie in a jar???)
The recipe for these cookies are actually Cowboy Cookies by Bakerella- click on Idea #20 on the Tip Junkie post.
*Sidebar- Check out #37, Bakerella’s Coca Cola Snowglobe cupcakes which are too freaken cool for words*
Truth be told, I really wanted to make Christmas Cookie tags, with a stamp I have from Clear Dollar Stamps, and this was perfect motivation.
I used my Nesties to create all the circles and stamped the sentiment in SU Chocolate Chip ink on SU Whisper White cardstock. I layered SU Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate Chip, punched a hole, added some Martha Stewart baker’s twine, a gingerbread man from the best paper punch I own, and c’est finis!
{Every time I make one of these guys I think of “Not my gumdrop buttons!” from Shrek.}
I added the Gingerbread man, drew on some squiggles, buttons and a smiley face with a white gel pen and was finished the tag.
Now, back to the jar. When Bakerella tells you to pack the ingredients tight or they won’t fit, she means it! I had no idea what to use, so first I tried one of the beaters from my mixer, but it didn’t work so well. Then I tried an ice cream scoop, but the angle wasn’t right for the jar.
Finally I found a digital thermometer which was flat topped, like this one, it worked perfectly! I also would recommend using a funnel for the main ingredients, it made things easier.
I bought some fun Christmas fabric on my way home from work, sewed the edges on my tiny $20 sewing machine and wrapped some baker’s twine around the lids.
I love how they turned out, I love all the layers and the little bit of pecans peeking out
I gave my boss her cookies today and she was thrilled, it’s such a good feeling when you can give someone a gift like this.
If you’d like to make your own cookies in a jar, I have some tags in my Etsy store now.
Happy Baking!
Ciao for now,
I think these would be great for the office or your group of close friends. Nothing too fancy- I stamped Happy Valentine’s Day on the inside- but still a little something special.
