On The Sixth Day of Christmas

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves,
And the Best Ever Rum Balls Recipe

Today we will share the gift
of giving
Six Gifts of Cookies in a Jar

Make these fun Gift In A Jar recipes for your family and friends this year. These are easy to do, inexpensive, and very thoughtful home-made gifts.

Gift Number One

Chocolate Covered Raisin Cookies in a Jar

Makes about 30

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chocolate covered raisins
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Layer ingredients in order given in a quart size wide mouth canning jar. Press each layer firmly in place making sure you really pack it down before you add the flour mixture, it will be a tight fit but it will work.

Attach instructions to the jar:

Chocolate Covered Raisin Cookies

1. Empty cookie mix into large mixing bowl; using your hands thoroughly blend mix.

2. Add 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened at room temperature. DO NOT USE DIET MARGARINE. Add 1 egg, slightly beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

3. Mix until completely blended. You may need to finish mixing with your hands.

4. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet. DO NOT USE WAXED PAPER.

5. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) 13 to 15 minutes until tops are very lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to racks to finish cooling.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen

Gift Number Two

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies in a Jar

Makes about 30

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
8 peanut butter cup candies (e.g. Reese's) cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Mix together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside. Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 quart "wide mouth" canning jar.
Press each layer firmly in place. It will be a tight fit. Add chopped peanut butter cups last.

Attach these directions to jar:

To make the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

1. Remove peanut butter cups from jar. Set aside.

2. Empty remaining cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly blend mix.

3. Add 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened at room temperature. DO NOT USE DIET MARGARINE. Add in 1 egg, slightly beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

4. Mix until completely blended. You will need to finish mixing with your hands.

5. Mix in peanut butter cups.

6. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets.

7. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 12 to 14 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to racks to finish cooling.

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Gift Number Three

Potato Chip Cookies in a Jar

1 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups crushed potato chips
2/3 cup chopped pecans
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

In a small bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 quart "wide mouth" canning jar. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient. It will be a tight fit.

On a tag, write the following instructions:

1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pre-heat oven to 350 F.

1. Empty this jar of cookie mix into a large mixing bowl.

2. Mix well.

3. Add butter and vanilla and stir until blended thoroughly blended.

4. Shape into balls the size of walnuts, and place 3 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Flatten balls with the palm of your hand.

5. Bake for 14 to 18 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned.

6. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets then remove to wire racks to cool completely

Gift Number Four

Dreamsicle Cookies in a Jar

Makes about 30

1/2 cup powdered orange flavored drink mix, such as Tang
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups vanilla baking chips
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Combine the flour with the baking soda and baking powder. Layer the ingredients in a clean glass wide mouth quart sized jar, starting with the Tang, then sugar, vanilla chips and ending with the flour mixture. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next ingredient. Attach a recipe card with the following instructions to the jar.

Dreamsicle Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Empty contents into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg slightly beaten and teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until completely blended.
3. Roll heaping tablespoonfuls into balls. Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.
4. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 12 to 14 minutes or until tops are very lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes on the sheet then remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
Makes 2-1/2 dozen

Gift Number Five

Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar

Makes about 48

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Mix the salt and baking soda in with the flour, then layer the ingredients a large jar in the order listed, with the chocolate chips on top.
2. Use scissors to cut a 9 inch-diameter circle from calico.
3. Place over lid and secure with rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover rubber band.
   
   Enclose a card with the following mixing and baking directions:
   
   Chocolate Chip Cookies
   
   Note: Store this jar in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months before using.
   
   Contents of this jar
   1 cup unsalted butter or margarine
   1 large egg
   1 teaspoon vanilla
   
   Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

• Sift dry ingredients through a colander to separate the chocolate chips from other ingredients.
• Beat butter in a medium bowl until creamy.
• Beat sifted ingredients into butter until blended.
• In a small bowl, beat egg with vanilla than Mix beaten egg mixture into butter mixture until blended.
• Stir in chocolate chips.
• Drop teaspoonfuls of batter, spaced well apart, onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
Yield: 4 dozen.

Gift Number Six

Gingerbread Cookies in a Jar

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 gingerbread boy-shaped cookie cutter

Use a clean 1 quart jar and press each layer down firmly. Put in half of the flour along with the baking powder and baking soda. Add the spices and the remaining flour. Add the brown sugar last. Tie a ribbon around the top of the jar and attach the cookie cutter and the directions below.

Attach these directions to the jar:

Gingerbread Cookies

Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl

Mix thoroughly. Mix in 1/2 cup softened butter, 3/4 cup molasses and 1 or 2 eggs. Mix until completely blended. Cover and refrigerate 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes. Place cookies on lightly greased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake 10 to 15 minutes.

Decorate with icing and design of your making,