How to make a Healthy Cookie Mix in a Jar!

If you've been reading Southern In-Law for a while, you'd know that Jesse and I are kinda sorta cookie fiends. Or maybe that should be cookie monsters.... 

We make at least one batch of one of our Healthy Cookie Recipe each fortnight and we love sharing them with our friends and family - but what better way than to share the cookie love than with a super cute Healthy Cookie Mix in a Jar! 

There are dozens of recipes online for Cookie Mix in a Jar - but after having a look through dozens, I realised that there weren't any recipes for Healthier Cookies - and gluten free mixes were hard to come by. Being the queen of making classic treats healthier, I decided the Cookie Mix in a Jar idea needed a healthy makeover and I set to work! 

So let me show you how to make a Gluten Free and Healthy Cookie Mix in a Jar! >>

First things first, you'll need to gather up your supplies and wash out your jars ready to get creating! 

For this project, you'll need; 

• A jar! 
  We bought a 6 pack of 500ml canning jars from The Reject Shop for $7 which is the perfect fit for a double batch of our favourite healthy cookie recipe. You can buy a bigger jar if you'd like to have more room in your jar or would like to make a bigger batch!
• The ingredients for your cookie mix
  You'll need gluten free plain flour (or regular plain flour), baking soda, sugar and chocolate chips.
• Decorations for your jar
  You'll want to at least have a label for your jar so you can add the instructions. We decorated our jar with a pretty pink label (Party Gift Tags from The Reject Shop - $1 for a pack of 8) and tied it on with some Bakers Twine ($4 per roll at The Reject Shop). We also spray painted our jar lid with some pink spray paint, taping off the entire inside of the jar to ensure no paint got on the inside (as no one wants paint in their cookie mix). 

Next you'll want to add your flour and baking soda to your jar (don't worry, the full recipe is below!). For this recipe, you'll need 2 cups (240g) gluten free plain flour or regular plain flour (for a non-GF version) and 1/2 tsp baking soda. 

Once you've put the flour in the jar, press it down with a spoon to form an even layer (or you'll never fit anything else into the jar!)

Now is the fun part - it's mix in time! We went for a classic chocolate chip cookie mix with our jar, however, you can add whatever you like - nuts, dried fruit, candy bar chunks, m&m's (for a non-GF version) etc. 

I wouldn't recommend using any more than 1/2 cup or you won't be able to fit everything into your jar!

Next it's time to add the sugar! For our Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe, you'll need to add 1/2 cup (100 grams) brown sugar or unrefined cane sugar.

Just like you did with the flour, press the sugar down with a spoon to form a nice and even layer!

Now it's time to pop your lid on and get decorating! Be really careful when you're decorating your jar because if you're moving and knocking the jar around, your layers are going to mix up - you know, like that sand art jar you may have accidentally knocked off the shelf when you were a kid.... oh, that was just me?... never mind...

To decorate our jar, we first spray painted our lid pink, making sure to tape off the entire inside of the lid so the paint didn't get on the inside, and then allowing it to dry overnight. 

Then we wrote out our instructions on the back of our Party Gift Tags ($1 for a pack of 8 at The Reject Shop) and tied it onto our jar with a bow using Baker's Twine ($4 for a roll at The Reject Shop). 

You can add stickers, ribbons, flowers, fabric - whatever you like!

The most important part is that you provide your cookie mix jar recipient with instructions so that they can actually make these delicious cookies - so be sure to check out the full recipe and instructions below!

Once your jar is filled, decorated and labeled you're ready to share it! This Healthy Cookie Mix in a Jar makes a brilliant Christmas or Birthday Present Ideas and is perfect for Party Favours and Thank You Gifts - or just a gift for a friend who's in need of a pick-me-up!

-See the full cookie recipe here-

What you need to do: 

1. First, get all of your supplies and thoroughly wash and dry your jars.
2. Next, add 2 cups (240g) gluten free plain flour or regular plain flour (for a non GF version) plus 1/2 tsp baking soda to the bottom of your jar. Press your flour mixture down with a spoon to form a nice and even layer. 
3. Then add in your mix ins. We used 1/2 cup chocolate chips, however, you can use up to 1/2 cup of any mix ins you like. Try nuts, dried fruits or even chopped up candy bars. 
4. Add in 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar or unrefined cane sugar to the top of your jar and press down to form an even layer. 
5. Pop your lid on top and seal your jar.
6. Decorate to your liking and add your instructions label.
7. Give your finished jar to a lucky friend or keep on hand for future cookie baking!

Instructions for your jar:

"What you'll need:

60g butter - 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce - 2 tsp vanilla extract - 2 egg whites

All you have to do:
Melt your butter and mix with your applesauce, vanilla and egg whites in a medium mixing bowl. Add in your cookie mix and mix until just combined. Divide into cookies and bake for 8-10 minutes at 180C/355F or until cookies are lightly golden and cooked to your liking. Makes 16 delicious cookies."

But tell me, who do you think would love this gift idea?

And what's your favourite homemade treats to share with friends and family? 

Pssttt: If you liked this post, be sure to check out our Terrarium In A Jar post and DIY Halloween Treat Bags posts also created for The Reject Shop!

This was a sponsored post for The Reject Shop. All opinions expressed in this post and the DIY How-To are completely our own and have not been influenced by the company in any way. If you're interested in working with Southern In-Law on a sponsored post, please contact us at southerninlaw@gmail.com for more information.