Homemade Holiday: Giftable Treats, Perfectly Packaged
Each of the recipes below are delicious on their own but, we’ve also included a creative way to present them as a gift by using a simple canning jar! Gather the kids or a group of friends and make multiples of these for teachers, neighbors, friends, or anyone on your gift list this year.
Click here to download your free gift tags that go along with the recipes.
Marinated Mozzarella Cheese in a Jar
Bursting with herbs, garlic, and olive oil, this recipe creates a simple, elegant appetizer that’s irresistibly creamy, flavorful, and perfect for gatherings. Make one week ahead of time for best results.
Print Recipe
Equipment
- 3-4 Decorative lidded glass containers. Mason jars work fabulously.
Ingredients
- 1 pound mozzarella balls
- 1 red bell pepper, cut thinly
- 1 green bell pepper, cut thinly
- 2 cups olive oil
- ¼ cup vinegar
- 1 tablespoon oregano leaf flakes
- 1 tablespoon basil leaf flakes
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaf flakes
- 3 cloves garlic, halved
Instructions
- Divide the mozzarella balls evenly into the glass containers.
- In a sauce pan, combine the remaining ingredients. Heat over medium-low heat until just warm. Cool completely and pour over the cheese — dividing evenly.
- Place lids on the jars, and store in the fridge for one week before using. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- These will keep for up to 6 weeks in the fridge.
Notes
Perfectly Packaged Presentation
This easily makes a beautiful hostess gift. Simply tie a festive bow or raffia around the rim of the jar, include a sweet note, and you’re good to go!
Make sure to grab your free gift tag to go along with this recipe here.
French Market Layered Soup Mix in a Jar
Use this eye-catching mixture of dried beans as a base for a delicious soup or add the dried beans to a decorative jar and use as an easy gift.
Print Recipe
Ingredients
Dried Bean Mixture (makes two batches of soup)
- ½ cup navy beans
- ½ cup pinto beans
- ½ cup black beans
- ½ cup split peas
- ½ cup lima beans
- ½ cup kidney beans
- ½ cup cranberry beans (borlotti beans)
- ½ cup northern beans
- or any other combination of dried beans totaling 4 cups
For the Soup
- 2 quarts broth (chicken or vegetable), more if needed
- 1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
- 1 28-ounce can chopped tomatoes, with juice
- 3 cups cooked ham, chopped
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Soak 2 cups of the bean mixture 8 hours or overnight in enough water to cover them completely.
- Drain the beans and add to a large soup pot. Add 2 quarts of broth to the pot fully covering the beans, add more broth if needed.
- Cook over medium heat until beans are slightly tender, about 2 hours.
- Add in garlic, tomatoes, ham, carrot, onion, basil, and salt.
- Reduce heat to low, and simmer until vegetables are tender and beans are cooked through, about 1.5 hours.
Notes
Perfectly Packaged Presentation
In a quart mason jar, layer the mix of dried beans smallest at the bottom to largest at the top. Close the lid. Add a festive ribbon around the top, and tie on the instructional tag for an easy gift.
If you feel like adding more, you could stick with the French theme — place the jar in a basket lined with a new dish towel; include a loaf of French bread, a map of France, an Eiffel tower figure, or a book that takes place in France. You can truly tailor this to your recipient’s taste.
Make sure to grab your free gift tag to go along with this recipe here.
St. Nick Snowball Cookies in a Jar with Stocking Cap
These snowball cookies melt in your mouth! With buttery crumble, hearty pecans, and powdered sugar, they are an easy, festive treat perfect for holiday gatherings and gifts.
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup powdered sugar, divided
- 14 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 ⅞ cups flour, (not quite 2 cups)
- 1 cup ground pecans, (or very finely chopped)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300℉.
- In a mixing bowl, add 3 tablespoons powdered sugar with the butter, flour, pecans, and vanilla extract. Mix well.
- Roll dough into 1.5 inch balls.
- Bake on an un-greased cookie sheet for 40 minutes. Cool slightly, until warm to the touch.
- Fill a small paper bag with the remaining powdered sugar. Working in small batches, place the slightly cooled cookies in the bag, close securely, and shake gently until the cookies are coated. Add more powdered sugar as needed.
- Cool completely and store in a covered container at room temperature.
Notes
Perfectly Packaged Presentation
For this festive presentation, we’ll be adding a sweet little knit hat as a topper to the mason jar. You’ll need:
- a quart sized mason jar with lid
- red toddler sock
- a piece of string or rubber band
- hot glue
- a pom-pom or jingle bell
- scissors
Make sure to grab your free gift tag to go along with this recipe here.
NOTE: You can find 200 creative gift ideas in my co-authored book Homespun Gifts from the Heart where these ideas came from. It is available in e-Book.
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