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Christmas is just around the corner and one of my favorite things to give as a gift is food because I love making it and eating it.  I can’t wait to show you how easy this Christmas Cookies in a Jar is and your kids will love creating them as well!

A jar adorned with red and green ribbons, showcasing a festive recipe card for "Christmas Cookies in a Jar." The card details ingredients and directions, framed by holiday decorations. Blurred cookies and candy canes add to the seasonal ambiance.
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With Christmas just around the corner I thought I would share with you a super fun (and frugal) gift idea – Christmas Cookies in a Jar. This is crazy easy to make. All you need is to add 3 ingredients to the jar ingredients in a large bowl for the perfect cookie recipe.

This cookie in a jar recipe creates delicious Christmas M&M Cookies. The ingredients are layered in a jar for an easy holiday gift and dessert recipe. Homemade gifts makes the perfect gift that everyone loves and it also helps that it budget friendly. You may even like to gift this Christmas Potpourri Stove Top Recipe or Slow Cooker Christmas Potpourri.

Why We Love Making Cookies in a Jar

Around Christmas time is a great time of year to make memories and I love to get my kids to help make these cookie jars. This is the perfect cookie recipe for neighbors, friends, and family.

We even like to keep our pantry stocked with them, so we can easily create the cookie dough for a quick and easy holiday dessert.

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredients and full instructions.

How to Make Christmas Cookies in a Jar

I don’t like anything too complicated and that goes for Christmas gifts too. This recipe is so easy to throw together, your kids can do it for you.

Overhead view of baking ingredients for festive Christmas cookies in a jar on a hexagon-tiled surface: a jar of sugar, a bowl of chocolate chips, red and green candies, and a brown-rimmed bowl. A colorful cloth with cheerful patterns lies nearby.

Step 1 – First put the cake mix in the mason jar that you chose.

A jar filled with green and red M&Ms sits on a hexagonal patterned surface, evoking the festive vibes of Christmas cookies in a jar. Nearby is a bowl of chocolate chips and a colorful fabric with a holiday theme, while a wooden lid rests off to the side.

Step 2 – Then pour the M&Ms in the jar and fill it up to the top.

A glass jar with a silver lid is filled with layers of white flour, brown sugar, and colorful candy-coated chocolates, creating a festive scene reminiscent of Christmas Cookies in a Jar. It rests on a white surface with a light hexagonal pattern, next to a brightly colored cloth.

Step 3 – Add your lid. Then decorate the outside of the mason jar by adding ribbon so it looks cute and like a little present.

Four festive recipe cards titled "Christmas Cookies in a Jar" are arranged on a marble hexagon-patterned surface. Each card lists ingredients and instructions for holiday cookies, framed with a decorative red and green border.

Step 4 – Finally, the most important part is to add a Printable Tag or note to give with the Christmas cookies mix in a jar that has instructions on how to finalize the cookies.

   

Expert Tips

  • Contents of the Jar – When adding the ingredients to the mason jar, make sure to layer in a clear jar. This helps for presentation when giving out as a gift.
  • Adding Ingredients – We like to use a funnel to easily add the pantry staples to the ingredients. This helps to quickly add and keeps the area clean.
  • Adding M&M’s – Gently add in the chocolate chips and M&M’s. This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom.
  • Baking Cookies – Bake the cookie dough on parchment paper in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. This helps for cleanup and to easily serve the cookies.
A festive jar of dry ingredients for Christmas Cookies in a Jar, topped with chocolate chips and red and green candy-coated chocolates. A green ribbon with a tag wraps around the lid, featuring baking instructions. The background is a white brick wall.

Printable to Add to Christmas Cookies

Print off these adorable labels, cut them out and tie them to the jar with kitchen twine or ribbon. We have even glued these free printable tags to fabric.

These labels make the jars look even more festive and give the gift receiver the step by step instructions on how to prepare the cookies.

Can I Make Cake Mix Cookies in a Jar?

When you make cookies from scratch you need granulated sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla extract, brown sugar, oil, (your wet ingredients) and sometimes flour, baking soda and salt, ¼ cup powder sugar with the flour mixture.

Then mix in ingredient (like m&ms or chocolate chips) in a small bowl and this creates a delicious cookie batter that can be used to make amazing cookies in no time at all.

Here are a few of my favorite cake mix cookies that I hope you try this week!

What Other Gifts in a Jar Can You Create?

I love jar recipes to give as gifts because they are so cute and very practical.  Here are a few other recipes that can be created in a jar as well to give to friends and family.

Any of these would also work great in a jar to be given as gift.  You could also make a ton and give 2-3 to each person on your list.  I know that they will love them all.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and please leave us a comment to let us know what you think!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long is Cookie Mix in a Jar Good For?

Make sure to use fresh ingredients when making these mason jar cookie recipe. The ingredients will stay good for up to 6 months. The perfect gift to make ahead of time.

What Are Cake Mix Cookies?

If you haven’t tried cake mix cookies, you need to try them soon….like tomorrow. They are delicious cookies that can be created with only 4 ingredients and they are generally done in less than 15 minutes.
My family and I love them.  I make cake mix cookies when I want to create cookies but am feeling lazy about it.  No one can tell that I saved tons of time because I didn’t have to mix up the dry ingredients first but the cookies still taste just as amazing as traditional cookies

A jar of Christmas Cookies in a Jar, with ingredients layered inside, is adorned with a green bow and a red-bordered recipe card. It sits on a kitchen countertop beside a small pine tree and a plate of cookies, surrounded by scattered candy canes.

More Christmas Desserts

We love to hear from you. If you make these Christmas Cookies in a Jar, please leave us a comment or a star review.

A mason jar filled with Christmas cookies in a jar ingredients, topped with a green ribbon and a recipe card. In the background, there are cookies, candy canes, and festive decorations adorning a white hexagonal tablecloth.

Christmas Cookies in a Jar

5 from 8 votes
Make this Christmas cookies in a jar recipe for a homemade gift idea. Everyone will love this m&m cookie in a jar recipe. They are quick and easy to make!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 1 jar (makes approximately 24 cookies)
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 3738

Equipment

Ingredients

To be added by gift recipient:

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Instructions

  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  • Spoon this mixture into the bottom of a quarter size (32 ounces) mason jar. Gently tap the jar against the counter to make the top of the mixture as level and possible.
  • Layer the brown sugar on top into an even layer. Be careful when adding it to make smooth lines on the edges of the jar.
  • Follow the same process with the granulated sugar.
  • Then top with the M&Ms and chocolate chips.  Make sure to fill the jar to the very top to ensure that the ingredients are packed tightly to prevent the ingredients from shifting when gifting them.
  • Place the lid on the mason jar tightly. Print off a printable label (I prefer on yardstick) and attach the label to the jar with ribbon or baker’s twine.
  • Then the jar is ready to give as a gift!

Instructions for the Gift Recipient:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Beat together the butter, egg and vanilla extract until combined and light and fluffy in a large mixing bowl.
  • Stir in the jar ingredients by hand until well combined (no more lumps).
  • Drop by rounded Tablespoons onto a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges are slightly browned.
  • Cook for 5 minutes, move to a wire rack to cool completely and then they are ready to enjoy!

Recipe Notes

These jars can be made up to a week in advance and make the perfect gifts for your friends, family, neighbors and teachers!  

Nutrition Facts

Serving 1g, Calories 3738kcal, Carbohydrates 498g, Protein 40g, Fat 179g, Saturated Fat 109g, Polyunsaturated Fat 7g, Monounsaturated Fat 42g, Trans Fat 5g, Cholesterol 486mg, Sodium 2131mg, Potassium 1066mg, Fiber 16g, Sugar 309g, Vitamin A 4014IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 524mg, Iron 19mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

5 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Leslee says:

    Love these ideas thank you so much!!

  2. Doyla says:

    Thank you so much! Iโ€™m a Lazy Day member and have enjoyed the recipes!! I canโ€™t wait to try all these cookies!! Your the best!! ????