The perfect homemade gift to give this holiday season is this Oatmeal Cookie Mix in a Jar.
Made with wholesome oats, brown and white sugar, and colorful red and green M&M's, this gift in a jar is easy to put together.
And as an added bonus, there are free printable gift tags and jar lid covers at the end of the post for you to print out and use to add that extra touch of holiday magic!
Get ready to impress your friends and family with this thoughtful Mason Jar Gift Idea!
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When you combine all the ingredients for these Oatmeal Christmas Cookies, something truly enchanting occurs! It's just like making a wonderful artwork with lots of colors and textures.
And if you don't want to bake them right away, you can use the jar as a Christmas decoration on your kitchen counter!
Looking for more ? Try my Mason Jar Hot Chocolate that has a fun snow globe craft with it, Brownie Mix in a Jar, and even my Homemade Granola in a Jar. Want 10 different recipes with printable gift cards? Check out my Mason Jar Gift Ideas Digital Cookbook!
Table of Contents
- Recipe Notes
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add the Candy Pieces
- Add the Free Printable Gift Tag
- FREE Printable Gift Tags
- How to Bake Oatmeal Cookies from a Mix
- Storage Tips
- Freezing Tips
- Top Recipe Tip
- Try these recipes next...
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Recipe FAQ
- 💬 Comments
Recipe Notes
When it comes to keeping mason jar cookie mixes fresh for the holidays, here are some tips:
- Use Airtight Containers: Mason jars work great! They're not only decorative, but they're completely airtight. I used 32 ounce sized mason jars.
- Store in a Cool, Dry Place: Find a cool and dry spot to store your mason jar cookie mix. Avoid areas with direct sunlight or excessive humidity, as these can affect the quality of the ingredients.
- Label and Date: Remember to write what's inside the jar and when you made it. This will help you know how long the cookie mix has been stored and keep it fresh.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
More InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore InformationMore Information
Ingredients You'll Need
Below is a quick preview of the ingredients you’ll need. For exact amounts, check the recipe card below. You can also use the "Shopping List button" to create a printable shopping list, or the "Get Ingredients button" in the recipe card to order groceries online.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use this recipe as a gift any time of year by switching out the color of the M&Ms!
- You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips or white chocolate chips in place of the M&Ms.
- If you're a fan of oatmeal raisin cookies, add half the amount of M&Ms and add the other half in raisins or even dried cranberries.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
- Step 1: Stir the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together.
- Step 2: Add the flour mixture to a 1-quart jar.
- Step 3: Layer the brown sugar into the jar.
- Step 4: Then add the granulated sugar.
- Step 5: Press firmly using a tart tamper if needed after each layer added.
📌Quick Tip: Use a wide mouth funnel to help you get the ingredients in the jar without making a mess!
Add the Candy Pieces
- Step 6: Add the M&Ms to a bowl.
- Step 7: Then slowly pour the M&Ms on top of the sugars.
- Step 8: Add the oatmeal to a bowl.
- Step 9: Add the oatmeal to the mason jar slowly so it sits on top of the M&Ms and creates a nice layered effect.
Add the Free Printable Gift Tag
Step 10: Seal the jar with a lid.
Step 11: Attach the free printable gift tag and decorate with ribbon.
FREE Printable Gift Tags
How to Bake Oatmeal Cookies from a Mix
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Using an electric mixer, beat ½ cup softened butter with 1 large egg and 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until blended.
- Add cookie mix; mix well, breaking up any clumps.
- Drop by rounded tablespoon onto parchment lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
- Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
Storage Tips
- As long as the jar is sealed, this Oatmeal Cookie Mix should stay good for at least 3 months since they're shelf stable ingredients.
- Store in a cool, dry, dark place for optimal storage.
- Once the cookies are baked, store them in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing Tips
- You can freeze the cookie mix in the jar for up to a year.
- Once the cookies are baked, flash freeze them before adding them to a freezer safe zip top bag or air-tight container for up to 3 months.
- Let the cookies thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Top Recipe Tip
- Use a wide mouth funnel to make adding the ingredients to the jar easier and mess-free.
- Press firmly using a tart tamper after each layer added if needed.
Try these recipes next...
Check out my other Mason Jar Cookie Recipes.
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📖 Recipe Card
Oatmeal Cookie Mix in a Jar
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Method
- Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
- Place the flour mixture in a 1-quart jar.
- Layer the brown sugar, granulated sugar, M&Ms and oats in the order listed. Press firmly using a tart tamper after each layer added if needed.
- Seal with the lid and decorate with fabric and ribbon.
- Attach the free printable gift tag that includes the instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
- Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter with the egg and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended.
- Add the cookie mix and mix until well combined, breaking up any clumps.
- Drop by rounded tablespoon onto parchment lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Notes
- Recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies
- Use a wide mouth funnel to help you get the ingredients in the jar without making a mess!
- Press firmly using a tart tamper after each layer added if needed.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
Recipe FAQ
To view the answer, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
This recipe is for one quart-sized jar. Once the cookies are baked, the recipe yields about 2 dozen cookies.
MARIA FOSTER says
Your list of ingredients call for 1 teaspoon of baking soda. However, there is no use of the ingredient anywhere in the preparation. What should I do?
Lois says
Thank you so much for catching that! The baking soda is mixed in with the dry ingredients. The recipe has now been updated to say: Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Thanks again for asking!
Mariu Foster says
What an amazing and delicious idea! I cannot wait to try it and gift them to my friends.
Lois says
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you like the idea. These cookies make such a fun homemade gift, and I hope your friends enjoy them just as much as you do.