The big question is…
Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?
If they’re chocolate chip cookies, the answer is probably me!
In years past when I’ve made holiday cookies for friends, I’ve always given the already-baked versions. But so many desserts surround us during this holiday season (candy canes, Christmas cookies, party food, eggnog, peppermint bark!) that perhaps receiving more cookies might not be the most-appreciated gift. This year I decided to give a gift that can be enjoyed in February… or June… or whenever a chocolate-chip craving strikes and the holiday cookies are long gone.
I stand 100% behind today’s recipe and can vouch for it being a hit with even people who claim they hate healthy food and have never met a vegetable they didn’t loathe entirely. The recipe is adapted and scaled up from one of the most popular recipes on my blog: healthy chocolate chip cookies.
Cookie mixes in a jar might just be the perfect gift:
- Fun to assemble and decorate.
- Not expensive to make, yet they still show the recipient that you put time and effort into the gift.
- Who doesn’t love cookies?
No seriously, who? Also be sure to let the recipient know that with these cookies, it’s perfectly acceptable to eat the raw dough!
You can find quart-sized mason jars at craft stores, at hardware stores, or even at some grocery stores and dollar stores! (A box of 12 jars only costs about $7.)
Decorate with ribbon and odds-n-ends from a craft store, or use up old scrapbook supplies or kids’ unused school supplies. (I attached the labels to my jars with double-sided mounting squares, available in the scrapbook section of any place like JoAnn or Michaels craft stores.)
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar
(fills a quart-sized mason jar)
- 3 cups rolled oats (240g)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup coconut or brown sugar (90g)
- 1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp xylitol or white sugar or evaporated cane juice (70g)
- 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup chocolate chips (80-95g)
Grind the oats in a blender or food processor until you achieve a powder. Pour into a bowl and stir in all other ingredients except chips. Stir well. Now pour into a mason jar, pat down, then add the chips. Close the lid, and be sure to add a tag to the jar that says something along the lines of the following: To bake these cookies, pour contents of jar into a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, combine 6 tbsp milk of choice, 6 tbsp coconut or vegetable oil, and 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract. Pour wet into dry, stir to form a dough, drop spoonfuls (with a cookie scoop or a regular spoon) onto a greased cookie sheet, then chill at least 30 minutes if you want soft cookies as opposed to crispy ones. Preheat oven to 375 F, and bake 10-12 minutes (depending on desired crispiness). They will look underdone when they come out, but that is OK! It’s important to let the cookies cool at least 10 minutes before removing from the tray, as they continue to cook even after coming out of the oven. (You don’t have to make them all at once: you can freeze some of the cookie dough balls to cook at a later time. When you’re ready, simply pop frozen balls onto a cookie tray and bake.) This recipe yields around 25-30 cookies.
View Chocolate Chip Cookies Nutrition Facts
Have you ever made or received a meaningful homemade gift?
In past years, I’ve painted picture frames, decorated cupcakes, sent out homemade cards and photo albums, and made coupon books redeemable for favors like babysitting or cleaning. My favorite gifts to receive are homemade ones, as they show someone put time and thought into the gift. In our fast-paced society, time is a very treasured thing!
Link of the Day:
Sheila Stevenson says
I’ve successfully fixed two versions of this recipe! First, I cut the recipe in half to fix a batch for myself. Was it a Freudian slip that I forgot to reduce the amount of chocolate chips? Ha Ha For my second version, I added walnuts instead of chocolate chips and used the batter as a topping for apple crisp. I also fixed a “full throttle” apple crisp for my guest to try both. Her favorite was the vegan version (based on Katie’s recipe here)! I liked both versions equally. I just may become an accidental vegetarian. 🙂
Andrea Fleck says
I made these today with coconut oil and baked them for 10 minutes. I find them t be very dry… I double checked my measurements. Are they supposed to be a dry-er cookie?
Carl says
I just came across this cookie recipe. Thinking about trying it. The ingredients mentions 1/2 cup of coconut. I just wanted to reconfirm it’s 1/2 cup of coconut “oil” even though it says it in the directions.
If it is oil, would not the texture of the cookie be different if you used brown sugar?
Also, does coconut oil have the same level of sweetness as brown sugar?
JJ says
I think she means coconut sugar? Coconut OR brown sugar. It is a little vague if you’re not used to the less common ingredients 🙂
Anna S. says
Hey Katie, Just wanted to send you some overdue thanks for sharing your recipes with the world. You are inspired! I don’t know how you come up with some of the brilliant things you do to create healthier versions of foods I want to make and eat, that are delicious. I’m not vegan or vegetarian, and I appreciate it when you offer ideas for substitutes that are more commonly found ingredients, even though you’re vegan yourself. I find myself multiplying your “single lady” recipes by like 16 to bake for my family. Thanks also for being classy:)
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Aw thanks for such a sweet comment, Anna 🙂
Kelly @ The Nourishing Home says
What a great recipe. I linked it up in my Homemade Gifts-in-a-Jar guest post over at Keeper of the Home! Hope it brings some new friends your way! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! 🙂 Kelly
Mallorie Mae Faubert says
Can coconut butter be used instead of coconut oil in this recipe?
Huma says
I did not get the amount og f xylitol? Is it 1/4 cup and 3tbs????? Or just 1/4 cup
Kathryn says
I made a couple of these for gifts! One for my brother and his gluten intolerant fiance, who was very excited about it, and one for my dad who has a little bit of a wheat sensitivity but can’t say no to cookies. I loved making their gifts as opposed to just buying something and I’ve been wanting to make cookies in a jar for a long time. The only thing I did differently was not mix in the sugar. I wanted several layers for presentation. Thank you Katie!
Kris says
Hello! I’m really glad I found your website.
With regard to your cookie recipes, I would like to know the shelf life. Will it be possible if you add the shelf life info in your recipes? 🙂 Thank you!
Unofficial CCK Helper says
This one would be the same as a generic homemade chocolate chip cookies recipe. So three to four days.