Gift-giving season can be a struggle. The goal is to show our friends and family that we care, and maybe even to make their lives a bit brighter. The reality is that it can be hard to know what another person truly needs. There is, however, a safe bet. Everyone always has room for dessert. 

The holidays are a time of abundance. Desserts and gifts are everywhere. Mason jar baking kits are a way to give something delicious that the recipient can prepare themselves whenever their table is empty. They’re inexpensive, cute, and perfect for friends, teachers, or co-workers.

How to make a Mason jar baking kit

A Mason jar baking kit is basically just the dry ingredients for a baking recipe, measured out and layered into a clear jar. After the jar is assembled, just attach a card with instructions on how to finish the batter or dough and bake. To make a DIY baking kit, you’ll need a jar with a lid, dry baking ingredients, some card stock, and ribbon or twine. 

Almost any cookie or brownie recipe can be made into a kit. Here’s how we adapted our beloved 5 ingredient brownies. 

Measure the dry ingredients into the jar. Pour in one ingredient at a time. You want to form layers, so don’t share the jar.  For extra fun and flair you can add chocolate chips, m&ms, nuts, or other dry mix-ins between the layers. 

Our jar contains:

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

After the dry ingredients are measured, secure the lid. To decorate, tie a ribbon around the top of the jar and write the remaining instructions on a small card. 

Make sure to mention the other ingredients that they’ll need to complete the kit. Here’s what we’re writing on our card: 

You’ll need

  • ½ cup salted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 large eggs

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Whisk together the melted butter and eggs. Add the wet mixture into the dry mixture, stirring until just combined. Pour the prepared batter into a greased 9×9 baking pan and bake for 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!

Careful not to shake it up! You don’t want to ruin the layering effect.

Still feeling the holiday spirit? Find more gift ideas for people who love to cook here.