I love a homemade gift! It warms my heart to have someone make something especially for me. And I love to do the same for others. Here are my top 4 gifts to make and give from the kitchen: Spicy Snack Mix, Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, Old-Fashioned Gum Drop Cookie Mix, and Hot Cocoa Mix.
Some of my favorite jars include the Fido Bormioli Rocco, and these Ball Wide Mouth Quart jars. I also love to replace the lids and rings with these plastic ones because they easily hold a sticker and look fantastic, plus they come in colors if you like. Wide mouth pint jars are the ones I use for Hot Cocoa Mix. They’re even great for smaller amounts of Spicy Snack Mix and other treats, as well. Plus, the plastic lids fit both sizes of wide mouth jars! That’s a bonus!
For downloadable, gift tag templates that include ingredients and instructions, click on each title below.
Spicy Snack Mix (Laura’s Version)
Equipment
- Quart Jars
Ingredients
- 4 cups wheat cereal
- 4 cups rice cereal
- 4 cups corn cereal
- 2 cups dry roasted peanuts
- 2 cups pecan halves
- 1 cup mixed nuts
- 2 cups mini pretzels or pretzel balls
- 2 cups Gardetto garlic rye chips
- 1.5 sticks butter
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil or neutral oil (I use light olive oil or avocado oil)
- 1 pkg. dry ranch dip mix
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1.5 teaspoons season salt
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1.5 teaspoons onion powder
- 1.5 teaspoons cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Heat oven to 250 degrees. Add cereals, nuts, pretzels, and Gardettos to large roasting pan. Stir to mix thoroughly.
- In a 4-cup, microwave-safe measuring cup, melt butter in microwave.
- Add oil and remaining ingredients to melted butter. whisk thoroughly.
- Pour over cereal mixture in roasting pan. Stir to coat everything well.
- Bake in oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to make sure all pieces are coated well.
- Mixture will look drier when finished.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely. Makes about 6 quart jars to keep and give as gift. Enjoy!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Equipment
- Wide mouth quart jar (or other container)
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup mini M&M's
Instructions
- In medium bowl, add flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk together. Add to quart jar.
- Add brown sugar to jar, pressing down with spoon to compact.
- Next add sugar and use spoon to level.
- Add chocolate chips and M&M's. Place lid on jar and provide instructions for baking.
Old-Fashioned Gum Drop Cookie Mix:
Old-Fashioned Gum Drop Cookie Mix
Equipment
- Quart jar
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup oats
- ¼ cup sweetened coconut flakes (optional, but recommended)
- ½ cup gum drops, quartered
Instructions
- In medium bowl, add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine. Add to quart jar.
- Add brown sugar to jar, packing it down with a spoon.
- Add sugar to jar. Then add oats.
- Next add coconut and gum drops. Place lid on jar and provide instructions for baking.
Hot Cocoa Mix
Equipment
- 2 Pint jars
- Mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered milk
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons mini semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons mini dehydrated marshmallows OPTIONAL
Instructions
- Into a large bowl, sift powdered milk through a mesh strainer to remove any lumps.
- Sift the cocoa powder into the sifted powdered milk.
- Next sift the powdered sugar into the powdered milk and cocoa mixture.
- Add mini chocolate chips and marshmallows. Whisk to blend evenly.
- Spoon into two pint jars. Secure lids on jars and provide instructions for making delicious hot cocoa.
