Holiday Jar Cookies

Tammy: Tired of the same old “apple-theme” gifts for your kids’ teachers? Give them a break, and yourself too, by giving them a gift in a jar from your kitchen. At this extra-busy time of year, they appreciate the homemade touch. And since it’s a mix, they can enjoy it freshly made when it suits them best. I’ve given the Holiday Jar cookies as gifts the last 2 years for my kids’ teachers, and most of the teachers have asked for the recipe. That’s a pretty good endorsement! I usually make a jar for us too, because the kids enjoy eating the same cookies they gave their teacher, knowing they’re so delicious. Layering the ingredients in the jar is easy enough that the kids’ can help you with it. Then they’re that much prouder of the gift they give their teacher!

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Assembly Directions:
Layer the ingredients listed in a wide mouth quart jar, in the order they are listed. Pack each layer down so the ingredients will stay in layers, and also because the jar will be full to the top. An ice cream scoop or similar utensil works well to pack each layer down. Put the lid on and you just need to add a gift tag and directions! You can use a quart jar that isn’t a wide mouth, but it won’t be as easy to get the ingredients in.

Gift Tag Directions:
Use a recipe card for the gift tag. The front should have lines and the back should be blank. Fold it in half, so the lines are on the inside. Punch a hole in the top corner of the folded card. You will thread a ribbon through the hole to attach it to the jar after you write on it. On the blank front of the card, write “Happy Holidays”, or write the recipient’s name on the card, or if it’s a teacher gift, have your child write their teacher’s name on the card. Decorate it as desired with stickers or markers.

Write the following directions on the inside of the card:

“To make your Holiday Cookies, cream together 1/2 C. butter or margarine, 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 2 eggs in a large bowl. Add the contents of the jar and stir until well blended. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Makes 4 dozen cookies.”

Thread a ribbon or string through the hole in the card and attach it to the jar lid. You can attach it by tying the ribbon in a bow around the jar ring. Or you can unscrew the jar ring, put the ends of the ribbon through the center of the ring and screw the ring back on the jar. Then the ribbon is held on by the jar lid. Curl the ends of the ribbon, or cut them off. Put a sticky bow on top of the jar and it’s ready to give. Or, use a square of holiday fabric that’s slightly larger than the jar ring. Cut the edges with pinking shears if desired. Put the metal lid on the filled jar, lay the fabric over it, and screw the jar ring on over top of the fabric, threading the ribbon tag under the jar ring as described above. Or, put the lid and jar ring on the jar. Put the square of fabric over the top of the lid and use the tag ribbon to hold the fabric on, tying it around the jar ring. How (and if) you decorate the top of the jar is up to you… these are just some ideas to get you started!

Nutritional Info:
Per Serving: 73 Calories; 3g Fat (41.6% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 9g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 13mg Cholesterol; 52mg Sodium.
Exchanges: 1/2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.