Create an easy and delicious homemade Christmas gift with this layered cookie mix in a jar! Filled with colorful M&Ms, it’s always a big hit. Free printable gift tags and baking instructions included.
We’ve shared plenty of mason jar gifts before, like this peppermint brownie mix in a jar, but this M&M cookie mix has to be one of my favorites!
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Key Takeaways: Cookie Mix in a Jar
- Easy homemade gift: This cookie mix in a jar takes just 10 minutes to assemble and makes a cute, budget-friendly gift for teachers, neighbors, and friends.
- Festive M&M cookies: Colorful M&Ms make the layered cookie mix extra pretty and bake into delicious cookies everyone will love.
- Free printable tags: Includes festive gift tags and baking instructions. Just add butter, an egg, and vanilla when ready to bake!
- Make ahead: Assemble several jars at once! The sealed cookie mix stays fresh for 1–2 months, making it perfect for holiday gifting.
Cookies in a Jar Gift
It’s no secret that cookies are one of my favorite things to bake and give, whether it’s chocolate crinkle cookies or M&M cookie bars. But I especially love giving this cookie mix in a jar because friends and family can bake a fresh batch whenever they’re ready for a treat!
I’ve tested the proportions several times to get them just right and adapted this mason jar cookie mix from my favorite M&M cookies recipe. If you’d rather bake the cookies yourself, my M&M Christmas cookies are another holiday favorite!
I am giving out these jars for the holidays and had to test it before giving them out and WOW!! This is the perfect recipe!! Absolutely delicious and perfect instructions.
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Dry ingredients for the jar: Flour, baking soda, salt, brown sugar, granulated sugar, chocolate chips, and M&Ms are layered into a jar and sealed until ready to bake.
- Wet ingredients to add when ready to bake: Add butter, egg, and vanilla to bring the cookie dough together.
How to Make Cookie Mix in a Jar
The trick to making these pretty layered cookie jars is packing the ingredients tightly so everything fits! Start with a clean, completely dry 1-quart mason jar. I recommend using a regular-mouth jar instead of a wide-mouth one.
Use a funnel or spoon to add the flour, baking soda and salt. Gently tap the jar on the counter to level the flour, then add the brown sugar, pressing it down with a spoon to create an even layer. Next, add the granulated sugar.
Finish with the chocolate chips and colorful M&Ms on top. Add a few extra M&Ms if needed to fill any space, then seal tightly with the lid. Now it’s ready for a cute gift tag and baking instructions!
Tips for Making Cookies in a Jar
- Keep the layers neat. Use the back of a spoon to even out each layer and wipe away any flour or sugar that sticks to the inside of the mason jar.
- Pack everything tightly. If you’re having trouble fitting all the ingredients, press down on the sugar layers a little more. Just be careful not to mix the layers together.
- Change up the colors. Use red and green M&Ms for Christmas, pastels for Easter or your favorite colors for birthdays and other occasions.
- Dress up the jar. Cut a 6-inch square of festive fabric and place it over the flat lid before securing the screw band. Finish with ribbon and a printable gift tag.
Free Printable Tags
Print on cardstock paper with colored ink (or take to your local copy store) and then cut out tags. Tie the ‘Merry Christmas’ tag onto the top of the mason jar with bakers twine and then use glue or glue dots to adhere the instructions to the front of the jar. You could also tie the instructions on top along with the tag if you’d prefer.
I hope you enjoy this quick and adorable DIY Christmas gift idea.
Cookies in a Jar Recipe FAQs
Yes! Any 1-quart (32-ounce) airtight container will work. I prefer a regular-mouth mason jar because it helps keep the layers tightly packed and looking pretty.
Why won’t all the cookie mix ingredients fit in my jar?
Make sure you’re using a 1-quart jar and pressing the sugar layers down firmly. If you’re running out of room, try packing the ingredients a little tighter. If there’s extra space at the top, fill it with additional M&Ms or chocolate chips rather than more flour or sugar, which can affect the cookie texture.
Why is my cookie dough dry or crumbly when I’m ready to bake?
When you’re ready to bake the cookies, beat the slightly melted and cooled butter, egg and vanilla together before adding the dry ingredients from the jar. The dough may seem crumbly at first, but keep mixing and use your hands if needed to bring it together. If it’s still too dry, too much flour may have been added when assembling the jar.
Can I use other mix-ins instead of M&Ms?
Absolutely! Try white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, pistachios or pecans. You can replace the M&Ms with an equal amount of your favorite mix-ins or combine a few for a fun variation.
The sealed jar will stay fresh for 1 to 2 months. Store in a cool dry place away from sunlight.
More Christmas neighbor gift ideas we love include Rolo pretzel reindeer, best homemade toffee and homemade caramel candy.
More Delicious Christmas Cookies
M&M Cookie Mix in a Jar
Ingredients
Dry ingredients for jar
- 1 ½ cup +1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup light brown sugar , packed
- 5 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ¾ cup M&M’s , plus more or less as needed to fill jar
Wet ingredient for baking
- ½ cup butter , slightly melted and cooled
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Dry ingredients for jar
- Clean and dry 1-quart jar (don't use a wide mouth). Using a funnel or spoon add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Tap on counter to level.
- Spoon in the brown sugar and press down the edges with a spoon. Layer in the granulated sugar.
- Add the chocolate chips and M&M’s. Seal jar.
Wet ingredient for baking
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (or 375°F if you like edges a little more golden). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat together the butter, egg, and vanilla.
- Dump the jar ingredients into the bowl and stir until combined. Use hands if needed to combine mixture. Refrigerate at least 15 to 30 minutes for thicker cookies.
- Using a large cookie scoop (or about 2 Tablespoons), scoop the dough onto the baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are slightly crisp yet still soft in the middle. Remove from oven. Let cool on baking sheet 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Andrea Lodge
Recipe card please
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Hi Andrea, in the post at the top click the jump to recipe and the recipe card is there. Enjoy!
Lesley
I don’t understand any complaints. The cookie mix fit my jar perfectly, and I appreciated the printable tag & decorations. There were no problems with printing. I also made the cookies, and they were amazing!! Thank you so much!
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad the cookie mix in a jar worked out well for you!
Casey-Lynn
amazing!
JR
Easy to make and the cookies are fire! I add in a 1/2 cup of Oats as well since I like those in my cookies. Been making these for about 5 years now and decided to make these for my staff this year! Hope they like em!
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad you love the cookie mix in a jar!
Brenda
I put this recipe together, but can’t find my free printable tag.
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Hi Brenda, there is a form on the page, just fill it out and it will open in a new window to print the tags immediately. A desktop or laptop is easiest.
Brenda Lau
Trying this as a gift for a friend this year.
Elizabeth
Do you think it would be OK to put the M&Ms on the bottom? I’m a big stickler about which order I put things in when I make my cookies, and I’ve noticed that when I make M&M cookies, if I mix them in before the flour, they get really runny and melted! Do you think that the M&Ms would hold up under the rest of everything?
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Hi Elizabeth, I don’t think the presentation will be as pretty as the rest of the ingredients will sink down in between the cracks of the M&Ms. If you are worried about the M&M color running, ensure the butter is melted but then completely cooled.
Molly Nosbisch
Such a good recipe and great children’s gifts.
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
So glad you made the cookie mix in a jar!
Jollon Duncan
how do you get the tag?
Sarah @IHeartNaptime
Hi Jollon, there is a form near the bottom of the post, just enter your name/email for an immediate download. Enjoy the cookie mix in a jar!