13 Cookie-in-a-Jar Recipes to Give as Gifts for Any Occasion

Butterscotch-Pecan Shortbread Cookie Mix in jar with ookies
Photo: Andy Lyons

The foodie and sweet tooth-lovers in your life are going to absolutely love you after getting a homemade cookie mix in a jar. Try these cookie-in-a-jar recipes when you're in need of a creative addition to your cookie exchange party or a tasty gift. Each cookie mix in a jar takes less than 30 minutes to create and features layer upon layer of favorite cookie, brownie, or blondie mix-ins. Mason jar cookie mixes are also fun to build with the kids to introduce them to baking without all the hazards of stirring, breaking eggs, and hot ovens. Be sure to include baking directions when you give your food gifts in a jar.

01 of 13

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cup Cookies mix in jar with cookies on tray
Jason Donnelly

With peanut butter cups in every bite, there's no way your peanut butter cookie-loving friend won't enjoy this thoughtful gift. Gift your cookie mix in a jar with the baking directions, so they know how much peanut butter, butter, eggs, and vanilla to add.

02 of 13

Chocolate-Covered Raisin Oatmeal Cookie Mix

Chocolate-Covered Raisin Oatmeal Cookie Mix in jar
Andy Lyons

Why choose between raisin oatmeal cookies or chocolate chip oatmeal cookies when you can have both?! Dress up this standby cookie recipe with a beloved candy. Adding chocolate-covered raisins to traditional oatmeal cookies is an unexpected touch to a cookie recipe in a jar. It's an unexpected twist to any cookie recipe!

Buy It: Ball Quart Mason Jar Pack ($14, Target)

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Lemon Crispies Mix

Lemon Crispies Mix with stack of cookies
Andy Lyons

Crunchy with refreshing notes of citrus, these lemon crispies make delightful winter food gift jars. The white ingredients pop in the jar when a bright red ribbon is added. It only takes 30 minutes to put together this thoughtful cookie-in-a-jar recipe, and your recipient will have freshly baked cookies in less than an hour.

04 of 13

Butterscotch-Pecan Shortbread Cookie Mix

Butterscotch-Pecan Shortbread Cookie Mix in jar with ookies
Andy Lyons

You can't go wrong with this cookies-in-a-jar mix for a full-flavor holiday treat. Pecans and butterscotch pieces add deliciousness to decadent shortbread bites. The recipient only has to add shortening and butter and bake for about 7 minutes, so you may want to deliver this cookie mix in a jar when you have a little time to visit. Fingers crossed, they'll want to bake immediately so you can enjoy the buttery cookies.

05 of 13

Toasted-Coconut Drops Mix

Toasted-Coconut Drops Mix in glass jar
Andy Lyons

This layered cookie jar recipe is perfect for the health nut in your life to prove you can eat sweets while getting a nutritional boost. These giftable cookies have fiber-boosting flaxseed, heart-healthy oats and nuts, and a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour.

Buy It: Wilton Collapsible Cooling Rack ($20, Walmart)

06 of 13

Cranberry-Vanilla Cereal Drops

Cranberry-Vanilla Cereal Drops in jar and stacked
Blaine Moats

Take a break from chocolate. Cranberries lend festive color while marshmallows and macadamia nuts combine for satisfying texture in each mouthful. This no-bake cookie is a ready-to-eat mason jar food gift, so your recipient doesn't have to do any kitchen work before enjoying.

07 of 13

Hazelnut Rocky Road Brownie Mix

Hazelnut Rocky Road Brownie Mix
Andy Lyons

Chocolate + hazelnuts = surefire new favorite. Already-tempting brownies benefit from mini marshmallows, toasted hazelnuts, and chocolate-hazelnut spread. Personalize to individual taste by adding milk or dark chocolate pieces to the jar. It's one of our favorite brownie mix-in-a-jar recipes.

08 of 13

Toffee-Pecan Cookie Mix

Toffee-Pecan Cookie Mix in jar with red bow
Jason Donnelly

This holiday season, give the gift of a tasty dessert to friends and family with this delicious cookies-in-a-jar recipe. This crowd-pleasing cookie mix, featuring layers of chocolate, toffee, and coconut, can be stored for up to a month. Based on ratings, this is one of our best cookies in a jar, try it to confirm.

09 of 13

Coconut-Crunch Cookie Mix

Coconut-Crunch Cookie Mix in jar
Kritsada Panichgul

The secret to these extra-crunchy cookies? A cup of crushed cornflakes. The cereal blends with flaked coconut and chopped pecans for a seriously indulgent cookies-in-a-jar recipe ready to gift to anyone on your "nice list" in just 20 minutes.

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Whole Wheat Chocolate-Raisin Cookie Mix

Whole Wheat Chocolate-Raisin Cookie Mix in jar with snowflakes
Jason Donnelly

Deliver nutty flavor to this classic cookie-in-a-jar recipe by swapping all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour. Golden raisins, dark chocolate, and toasted pecans complete the mouthwatering medley to create a Mason jar cookie mix you can feel good about giving.

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Milk Chocolate-Cherry Cookie Mix

Milk Chocolate-Cherry Cookie Mix in jar with red yarn
Jason Donnelly

Creamy milk chocolate and fruit combine in this coconut-studded cookies-in-a-jar recipe. Sweet dried cherries add the perfect amount of tang to these loaded holiday cookies. Gift them to neighbors and coworkers to spread holiday cheer.

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Macaroon Mix

Christmas Macaroon Mix
Blaine Moats

Get into the holiday spirit with our flaky Christmas macaroon cookie mix. Candied cherries and orange peel add bright citrus flavor and color to the cookie-in-a-jar gift anyone would love to receive.

Test Kitchen Tip: Make your cookies-in-a-jar recipes for gifts up to a month in advance to help ease some of the holiday stress.

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Toffee Blondies in a Jar

Toffee Blondies In A Jar
Blaine Moats

Get all your favorite cookie flavors in the form of a rich and crumbly blondie bar. This golden Mason jar cookie recipe yields 16 dense, buttery, and decadent dessert bars packed with toffee and pecans.

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