This festive “cookie jar” makes a great and thoughtful gift! The dry ingredients are layered in a mason jar and all of the colors look so beautiful! Our family always ties a pretty ribbon around the jar. When using cranberries, I choose a ribbon of similar color which highlights the pretty red and is perfect for Christmas!

We began making these “cookie jars” in 2000. We invited our church congregation over, and as a congregation, we made these for many people. We set up an assembly line of mason jars, dry ingredients, measuring cups, spoons, ribbons and tags. Everyone had their job, and like the body, we all worked together.

My friend Mary Rude once told me that the church works just like our bodies. Some are fingers, some are arms and others are feet…like a body, we all worked together, had a wonderful evening and a memory that would last a lifetime! Everyone had their station. Using a funnel, and a careful hand, we poured the ingredients into each jar. We’d then tie the tag around the jar with a nice ribbon! We even had folks making homemade bags to put the jars in! What a wonderful memory…

My children and I still make these today! It’s also a great way to instill the importance of giving to your children.

2.5 c. King Arthur unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. kosher salt
3 c. rolled or steel cut oats
1 c. dried cranberries or your favorite dried fruit like raisins, apricots or cherries
1/2 c. milk chocolate chips
1/2 c. white chocolate
1 c. chopped walnuts, optional

Attach the following directions to the jar with a ribbon:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Cream together:

1 c. softened butter
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. pure almond extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a separate bowl, pour all of the dry ingredients out of of your jar. Stir to combine.

Add dry ingredients to your wet ingredients and mix until combined.

Roll your cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on a greased baking stone or cookie sheet. Try not to eat it all like we do! Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the center of your oven. If baking two stones or baking sheets at once, move the stone up and down on different racks half way through. Remove from oven and let sit for a minute or two before transferring to a wire rack. Enjoy!

Tip: With most cookies, you should not cook them all the way through until they have hardened because cookies continue to harden once they are taken out of the oven. This is the secret to the perfect soft cookie!