Cookies in A Jar

Okay, okay, you can officially call me the. worst. blogger. ever.  I'm pretty sure it has been over a month since I've updated this thing and I truly do apologize.  I guess I just got caught up in the holiday hoopla, but that's really no excuse.

New Years Resolution: Create more, be it food or crafts.  Find inspiration in my everyday life.  Blog about it!

Speaking of the holidays, I would like to share with you one of the homemade edible gifts I made for some friends and family thanks to some recipe inspiration from Food Network (where else would I turn?)  I slightly adapted these Super Chunky Christmas Cookies and put all the ingredients in a 1 quart mason jar.  I consider cookies, or any treat, in a jar a great gift because the creator gets to express their creativity in decorating the jars, making recipe tags, etc.  Plus, the recipient still gets to mix and add a few more ingredients, having a little fun themselves!  These gifts in a jar don't need to just be limited to  Christmas-time, maybe find a fun recipe for Valentine's day (brownies with pink and red chocolate candies?), St. Patty's day (something green? just add beer?)...okay, you get the picture.  The possibilities are endless.  Bonus: When you're done, use the mason jar as creative storage or decor.  I'm using a jar to have all my makeup brushes in one place.

Super Chunky Christmas Cookie Mix
1 cup toasted shredded coconut* (toast your coconut before putting in the jars)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks (or chips)*
1 cup white chocolate chips*
3/4 cup red and green M&Ms*
1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
* My measurements were near these amounts, but may have been slightly less because of the jars size, just use your best judgment.
**Add 1/2 cup chopped cashews if desired (I excluded these because my jars were smaller than the 1.5 liter jars that were suggested and also because not everyone likes nuts...plus they are just as tasty without :) But on the directions tag, I did say to add if desired. )

The ingredients.

The Maker simply puts these ingredients layer by layer into the jar.  I started with the salt on the bottom, flour, cocoa powder, M&Ms, chocolate chips, and coconut at the top.  Seal and decorate. Simple as that.  I cut circles out of holiday patterned fabric that were large enough to cover the lid, added some ribbon, and a recipe tag (I cheated, got mine from the food network site, sorry) and that was that!

Now, before I gave these as gifts to people I did have to try these for myself.  In making my sample batch I decided that it definitely needed another egg (they only use 1 in the directions) because they were too dry, even without the nuts.  With that minor adjustment, they turned out just right!

Cookies, pre-baking

Some of the jars, pre-ribbon and tag.  Side note: Used two different brands of cocoa powder, as you can see by the color differentiation.

Directions Tag:  Beat 1 1/4 cups sugar and 1 stick butter and mix until light and fluffy.  Add in 2 eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla extract until combined.  Add the Super Chunky Christmas Cookie mix until well combined.  * Add 1/2 cup chopped cashews if desired.  Scoop into balls and place on baking sheet.  Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes or until done.  Cool on rack.  Enjoy!

It's that simple.  Cookie Mix + sugar + butter + eggs + vanilla extract!

Quick pic of the finished product

Did I mention that these cute little gifts are quite friendly on the wallet as well?  Well, they are.  I believe my total was about $5ish per jar and I made about 10-12 jar (including all the jars and ingredients which may vary depending on the quality and brands of ingredients you choose to use).  Sorry to those of you reading this that got a jar...at least you know I was being economical!

Until next time!...Which will be soon, I promise!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

And the pumpkin overload continues...

Seriously though, I'll abstain from posting more for a while (unless you're dying for more, in which case I may be able to work something out). 

This baking experience was a lesson learned about baking at my boyfriend and his roommates house who don't own a whisk, let alone an electric mixer (still love you guys despite this :)  ).  Just a girl, a bowl, and a spoon?  Not quite the ideal baking scenario, but it worked.  I was actually pleasantly surprised that they had most of the ingredients already.  I baked these on a lazy, halloween day, as a little baseball game snack.

I got this recipe from the Food Network website.  This recipe yields about 60 cookies, so I, personally, halved it.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cloves*
2 cups milk chocolate chips

*I skipped on the cloves because we didn't have any there and I didn't feel like buying them, I don't really think it affected the cookie too much, to be honest.

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350F
• Beat butter until smooth
• Beat in white and brown sugar 
• Beat in eggs
• Add vanilla and pumpkin puree
• In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and the rest of the spices
• Add flour mixture to the batter in portions and mix
• Stir in chocolate chips

Bowl + spoon+ ingredients = cookie batter the 'old-fashioned' way

• Place tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto prepared cookie sheet
• Bake for 15-20 minutes
• Remove from sheet and let cool

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Great success!  The cookies turned out really moist and chewy, just the way I like them! Try them for yourself and then tell me what you think.