DIY Gift Idea: Present Homemade Cookies in Mason Jars

Yesterday I shared the recipe for these delicious Lemon Shortbread cookies.  As promised, I'm back today to share the details of how I packaged them so they'd be gift-worthy and protected for mailing.  I've always been smitten with the way Miette packages their graham crackers and I wanted to create something similar for my shortbread cookies.  Searching my mind for an appropriate, affordable straight-sided round container, I remembered the wide mouth pint size mason jars I had recently used for a few craft projects and thought they'd be perfect!  Turns out I was right.

I used a 2 5/8" scalloped cookie cutter from this set for my cookies and they fit perfectly in the jars.  My cookie dough had been rolled to 1/4" before cutting and I found that a dozen of the cookies fit beautifully inside the mason jars.  Depending on your recipe and your cookie cutters, you should be able to mimic these results.  This technique is great for packaging any crisp, thin cookies (shortbread, graham crackers, chocolate wafers, etc.) but you could also stack thicker cookies for a more rustic effect-though you'll fit less in your jar.

Here's what I used:

1 dozen cookies, rolled 1/4" thick and cut with a 2 5/8" scalloped cutter (I used Lemon Shortbread)

Pint size wide mouth Ball mason jar

6"x6" square piece of fabric

Ribbon to coordinate with your fabric

Handmade chalkboard tag (an unfinished wooden tag painted with chalkboard paint)

Chalk pen (to label the tag)

To assemble your jar for gifting, carefully stack your completely cooled cookies in your jar.  Top the mason jar with it's lid (the flat disk).  Next, center your fabric square on top of the lid and hold it firmly in place while you attach and screw on the band (this is the part that screws onto the jar).  Cut a piece of ribbon with plenty of excess for tying and run it through the hole on your tag.  Position the ribbon neatly around the jar and tie it securely and finish with a bow.  Cut off any extra length from your ribbon ends and that's it!

This will provide a safe and attractive way for you to gift any number of homemade cookies for birthdays, holidays, or just anytime you feel like lifting someone's spirits with homemade cookies.  The options for decorating your jar are limitless, though I personally think the chalkboard tags are darling and you can't go wrong coordinating your fabric and ribbon to the cookies you're gifting (such as my yellow theme for the lemon cookies).

There is something so wonderful about treating someone to a dozen homemade cookies.  What better way to present them than in a darling mason jar that can be reused time and again!


*I'm joining The Scoop Link Party.  Check out all the other fantastic submissions here.

Lemon Shortbread

My husband and I recently participated in a Snack Exchange through Reddit.  We were assigned to send snacks to someone who simply requested, "Fruity, Sour, Sugar!"  My hubby suggested that, in addition to some unique store bought treats, that I make something homemade to send to our match.  Being a little nervous about shipping homemade desserts for the first time, I decided to choose a sturdy recipe that would stay fresh for at least a week.  My first thought was shortbread, and to incorporate the "fruity, sour" request, I thought lemon would be a lovely favor choice.

I wanted to stick with a very simple, traditional shortbread and this recipe from Today's Nest looked perfect...  And perfect it was!

When working with such a simple ingredient list, it's ever so important to use high quality ingredients.  I used Plugra (a high quality European style butter) for the first time making these shortbread and the result was divine.  These shortbread are melt-in-your-mouth tender, oh so buttery, and subtly tart from the lemon zest.  The flavor is humble yet heavenly.

To get uniform sized cookies, it's important to carefully roll your dough to an even thickness.  I use this rolling pin and it makes rolling out cookies, pie doughs, etc. effortless.  Once your dough is rolled out, you can cut these shortbread into any shape you desire.  I used a 2 5/8" scalloped cutter from this set and was able to get 16 cookies out of this recipe before rolling scraps.  I kept a few of these cookies for us to enjoy and sent the rest off to our Snack Exchange match.

With a little careful planning, I discovered that I could perfectly fit a dozen of these delicious shortbread cookies into a mason jar for safe travels.  Check back tomorrow where I share details and ideas on how to package these cookies for gifting!

Lemon Shortbread
via Today's Nest

1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup corn starch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lemon zest (more or less, to taste)
lemon sugar (optional)*

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Sift together the flour, corn starch, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth, about 1-2 minutes.  Beat in the vanilla extract and lemon zest until just combined.  With the mixer on the lowest speed, gradually add the flour and mix until just combined.  Do not overmix.

Remove the dough from the bowl and form into a flattened disk; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch.  Cut out shapes with cutter of your choice.  Place cut cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet at least 1 inch apart.  Sprinkle with lemon sugar, if using.  Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before baking.

Bake the cookies for 14-16 minutes, or until very lightly browned.  Allow cookies to cool on pan for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

*If you can't find lemon sugar in your area, or don't want to shell out for such a specific ingredient, you can leave these cookies plain or top them with regular demera sugar for a similar effect.

High Five for Friday

1. Something about whipping up a batch of adorable cupcakes makes me so happy.  These Chocolate Grand Marnier Cupcakes were a recent creation, but I'm already dreaming up ideas for future flavors.  The hubby and I are in love with the White Chocolate Raspberry cupcakes from a local bakery (the same bakery that made our wedding cake in the same flavor), and I've make it a goal to try to recreate the cupcake as closely as possible.

2. I've toyed with the idea of purchasing a camera bag from Jo Totes for quite a while.  They're honestly way outside the price range I'm normally comfortable spending on a bag, but because I don't currently have a way to protect my camera (and thus rarely ever take it anywhere), I figured the price would be worth having such a multi-functional bag.  I ordered the Missy bag in Mint this week and I'm so excited for it to arrive.  Now I've just got to break my shyness about taking photos of things in public.

3. Another purchase from the week, this time initiated by the hubby.  While relaxing in bed a couple of evenings ago, the hubby pulled up this 5.5 Quart Cuisinart Dutch Oven on one of his favorite deal sites.  It was a bargain and the reviews were fairly spectacular.  I've wanted a Le Creuset dutch oven for years but never thought I'd own one because they are so stinkin' expensive.  I'm excited to have such a great kitchen work horse and I look forward to all the roasts and braises and stews I can make in this beautiful oven.

4. My 400 Follower Giveaway ended and Lori (entry #47) was announced as the winner.  Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to Lori!  I hope to have another giveaway in the near future.

5. Last night I made myself a Vermontucky Lemonade.  It made me long for summer and the idea of hosting outdoor parties where I can serve festive cocktails like this one in little mason jars.  We have a lot of work to do to get our backyard in shape for entertaining (it's entirely lacking furniture and decor), but I really want to make it happen this year!  My birthday is in June and I dream of throwing the most darling outdoor ice cream social.  Hopefully that will be the motivation I need to do some sprucing up out there.

*I'm linking up with Lauren of From My Grey Desk!  She's gorgeous and wonderful and you must check out her blog if you don't already follow her.  I was inspired by her clean and darling H54F layout and modeled mine after hers.