This little idea was one of the most popular gifts at the school Christmas fair last year! I was really pleased with them and there is scope to carry on the idea with other recipes, switching up for next year with some alternative ingredients.
There is so much goodness packed in this little wholesome gift! The 450ml jars were inexpensive from HobbyCraft. Made of glass, they can be reused again for jams etc or recycled when they are no longer needed.
Glass jars are back in fashion after being invented in 1857 by Mr Mason; they are such a great idea and need to be reinstated as a greener recyclable option with their many fabulous uses.
On the label for the cookie jar is the recipe for the Festive Cranberry and White Chocolate cookies along with the ingredients (see below for a download of the labels so you can print your own – this is why I am doing this blog is to inspire others to recreate the ideas and carry them on).
Ingredients
- Half teaspoon salt
- Half teaspoon baking powder
- 120 grams plain flour
- 60 grams light brown soft sugar (Fairtrade)
- 75 grams caster sugar (Fairtrade)
- 75 grams oats
- Quarter teaspoon cinnamon
- Quarter teaspoon ground ginger
- 50g white chocolate chips
- 50g dried cranberries
Add
- 90g melted butter
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC/160ºC fan
- Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper
- In a bowl empty the jar and mix together with 90g melted butter and 1 egg
- Spoon out the heaped teaspoons of the cookie mixture on the prepared baking sheets. Leaving space between the cookies as they will spread
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool
- Enjoy!
The dry ingredients are layered up in the order on the label to create a lovely striped pattern. I also love that the oats in the top are mixed with the ginger and cinnamon spices so as the jar is opened, there is a lovely festive fragrance when the ingredients are tipped into a bowl.
They are really simple, all that is needed is to add butter and an egg. Its a lovely baking activity with children, learning together and here are some pictures of my nieces making them:
Packed in the ingredients is also fair trade sugar. Using sugar with the fair trade symbol on it is making an ethical choice, knowing that the sugar cane farmers were given a fair price and good working conditions. This enables them to support their families and help them with building their community.
Helping children to understand that as consumers we have the power to choose to support fairly traded products in our buying habits is really important.
If the are made aware an early age then they will continue to buy fair trade in the future.
Each jar is finished with a little brown craft label tied to the top of the jar with some brown twine, giving it a rustic eco feel without using plastic or spoiling the jar for reuse.
I was really delighted when my youngest son was given a little gift from the school nursery, using the same jar with ingredients for some different oat cookies and a little label on the top with the instructions on it. This is what I was inspired to do and lovely to receive it back like that. To gift the idea and see it reproduced is wonderful!
I’m working on other ideas of the cookies in a jar, perhaps some gingerbread shapes with a seasonal cutter tied to the top, looking at dairy free and gluten free ideas too. There are so many other ways to fill a jar, homemade cosmetics like sugar scrubs or filling it with mindfulness quotes and fun things to do together. All for another post!
Little Eco Gifts 
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