Friday, December 21, 2007

Cookie in a Jar

Not much time to post today (thanks for your patience, I plan on getting back to my regular, daily posting routine after Jan 1st)...but I wanted to share this great idea for a last minute gift and a fun recipe for you to try! I made some like these as thank you gifts for my hostesses earlier this fall (a slightly fancier version)...and shared this idea with my customers at November workshops. It's easy to create any theme (Christmas, Birthday, Thank you etc) depending on the papers and stamps you use. Because you need paper that is 12" wide, to go all the way around the jar, Stampin' Up's Simply Scrappin' kits are perfect...they include everything you need: textured cardstock, DP and self adhesive die-cuts! You can add stamped images if you'd like...but if you choose not to, you can easily do an entire jar just using the kit (and maybe a little ribbon). You do need a good extra sticky adhesive to adhere the ends of your strips to the jar. I used SU's Sticky Strip..I love that stuff....it's got great holding power!! The Jars I made this fall for thank you's included a layer of textured cardstock behind the DP and a coordinating enclosure card. The great thing about this idea is that you can decorate the jars (and lids) a lot or a little...it's up to you! I print the baking instructions and either adhere them to a tag/card or adhere them directly to the back of the jar (this also covers the seam where the papers meet). My daughter, Meg, made the darling jars in the picture above, using pieces from the Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' Kit. You can google "cookie in a jar" and get a ton of recipes, but if you want to keep it REALLY simple...here's a recipe that starts with a cake mix.
Here's what you need:

German Chocolate Cookie in a Jar

Ingredients
Wide Mouth 1 quart canning jar
1 Betty Crocker Super Moist Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
¾ cup of shredded sweetened coconut
¾ cup of mini chocolate chips
¾ cup of thinly sliced almonds or finely chopped pecans


Directions for assembly
Pour cake mix into jar and press down firmly
Add coconut, chocolate chips & almonds
Place lid on & add instructions & decorations to the jar & lid…waa-laa!!



Label to attach to the jar (baking directions) ~

German Chocolate Nuggets

Pre-heat oven to 350*
Lightly grease your cookie sheet

In a large bowl, add ½ cup oil
& 2 eggs to the dry ingredients

Mix well by hand…dough will be thick

Form into ping-pong sized balls and
space evenly on cookie sheet (12 per sheet)

Bake at 350* for 10 minutes

Allow to cool on pan for 5 minutes
then transfer to cooling rack
Stamping Supplies for the Jar
Stamps: Merry & Bright (retired from the holiday mini)
Papers: DP from Winter Bright, Whisper White, Real Red, Wasabi
Ink: Stazon Black
Accessories: SU Markers and Blender Pens, 1 3/8" circle punch & scallop circle punch, Paper piercing tool, Sticky strip adhesive, Die cuts from Winter Bright

Hope your day is filled with Christmas Joy = ) !!!

3 comments:

Nancy Riley said...

Nancy, this is a wonderful gift idea! Megan decorated the jars beautifully, and the recipe sounds delicious! Thank you so much for sharing!

Diane Noble said...

How wonderful! So much detail for us on this post. Thanks for the great idea and the recipe. Fabulous!

Dawn Easton said...

Wow Nancy! Thanks for sharing your little gift idea! They would be perfect for any occasion! LOVE the decorated jars!!!
Hope that you have a Merry Christmas!!