Sugar Cookies in a Jar: Frugal Gift Idea
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I love homemade mixes! This recipe for Sugar Cookies in a Jar is no exception. It’s perfect to have on hand to make a quick batch of cookies or to give as a gift!
Sugar Cookies in a Jar
Here’s a cute, simple, easy-to-make, and frugal gift idea – homemade sugar cookie mix! These mason jar sugar cookies make a super cute gift idea that is both delicious and practical since your recipient can use what’s in them.
This time of year I’m always trying to come up with more homemade gift ideas. They are not only frugal, but they are such a unique and thoughtful thing for your gift recipient.
This mix recipe is based off our very favorite sugar cookie recipe that we make all the time. It’s a great way to make Christmas cookies for decorating and it’s a great way to make a special gift.
Tip: I love any kind of gift in a jar! Here are some Non-Food Gifts in a Jar ideas!
Sugar Cookies Mix Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- jar
- ribbon
- cookie cutter
We made these the other night and they are delicious! For us, one jar made 2 full cookie sheets of cut out cookies. Thanks for sharing!
Nikki, Little House Living reader
Mix up the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
(I used turbinado sugar in my mix instead of white sugar so it may look a little different than yours.)
Use a canning funnel to get the cookie mix into mason jars.
Attach the recipe for baking day to the jar.
Directions for Baking Day:
Sugar Cookie Mix Baking Day Instructions
To one jar of Sugar Cookie Mix, Add:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Mix all of your ingredients together in a large bowl. Roll your cookie dough out on a floured surface. Use the cookie cutter to cut out cookie shapes and place them on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool before decorating.
Tip: Looking for a different take on Sugar Cookies? These Slice and Bake Sugar Cookies include several variations to spice up your sugar cookies after they are baked!
Was looking for a sugar cookie in a jar and found yours! I made them last night for my family to make sure it was a good one. And it ended up being awsome!!!!! I used 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup turbinado sugar. Everyone loved the flavor and the thing I loved best is I did not feel the need to add frosting! Thank you for the recipe and I idea to use turbinado sugar in my cookies!
Amy, Little House Living reader
If you are giving this sugar cookie mix as a gift, you can write or print the directions on a cute little card to attach.
How To Dress Up This Gift in a Jar
- For an extra special touch, tie a cookie cutter around the jar with a nice piece of ribbon.
- Give it with a container of frosting and some sprinkles OR put together a dry “frosting mix” and attach that to the jar.
- Use a piece of fabric for the lid of the jar instead of a metal lid.
Love this recipe! I didn’t have any sour cream so I substituted Greek yogurt and they tasted wonderful! The dough was easy to work with, rolled out beautifully and the cookies held their shape even when cut out with fairly intricate cutters. This is going to be a nice little gift for my co-workers, so glad I found it.
Kathy, Little House Living reader
Need to print this to add to your Recipe Binder? Get the Sugar Cookie Mix in a Jar recipe below:
Sugar Cookies In a Jar Recipe
How to make a simple sugar cookies in a jar mix to give as a gift.
Ingredients
Ingredients needed for Cookie Mix in a Jar
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Ingredients needed for Baking Day
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
To make Cookie Mix in a Jar:
-
Mix up the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
-
Funnel the cookie mix into mason jars.
-
Attach the recipe for baking day to the jar.
Directions for Baking Day:
-
To one jar of Sugar Cookie Mix, Add: butter, vanilla, sour cream, and an egg.
-
Mix all of your ingredients together in a large bowl.
-
Roll your cookie dough out on a floured surface.
-
Use the cookie cutter to cut out cookie shapes and place them on a cookie sheet.
-
Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes.
-
Remove from the oven and allow them to cool before decorating.
More Mixes for Gifts
- Homemade Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix
- Homemade Oatmeal Cookie Mix Recipe
- Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe
- Homemade Cappuccino Mix Recipe
- Simple Scone Mix Recipe
- Lemon Poppyseed Bread Mix Recipe
- Homemade Muffin Mix Recipe
Give them as gifts, or add them to a Christmas Gift Basket!
Find more Homemade Gift Ideas!
Are you planning to give cookies in a jar as a gift this year?
Merissa Alink
Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.
This recipe for Sugar Cookies in a Jar was originally published on Little House Living in November 2011. It has been updated as of November 2023.
This is perfect! Thank you for sharing!
This is perfect! Thank you for sharing!
What size jar? Great idea!
Quart size jar:)
What size jar? Great idea!
Quart size jar:)
Great idea – how long will this last in the jar?
I’ve left them in there for several months with no issues. I would say at least a year.
What is the yeild with this recipe? How many and what size cookies does it make?
It really just depends on what size cookie cutter you use.
How many cookies does this make? How thick should the dough be once it’s rolled out?
It just depends on what cookie cutter you use. And the dough can be rolled as thick or as thin as you care to make it. Thicker cookies will be softer and thinner will be a little crunchy.
found this on Pinterest! (and repinned it!)
Thanks a bunch! Merry Christmas! Pat
Thank you, Merry Christmas to you too!
Hi Merissa, when you say 1/2t is that half teaspoon or tablespoon. I should probably know in relation to the other ingredient amounts but I don’t….lol. In Australia tbs or tbsp is tablespoon and tsp is teaspoon.
The lowercase t is for teaspoon 🙂
Thanks. I’m making a jar today for my sisters 10 year old foster child. She loves baking.
What a great idea for any age.
Thank you
Thank you I needed a simple sugar recipe and here it is.
Hi Merissa I was just wondering how many quart size jars this recipe yields???? Thanks a bunch.
This recipe is for a single jar.
Was looking for a sugar cookie in a jar and found yours! I made them last night for my family to make sure it was a good one. And it ended up being awsome!!!!! I used 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup turbinado sugar. Everyone loved the flavor and the thing I loved best is I did not feel the need to add frosting! Thank you for the recipe and I idea to use turbinado sugar in my cookies!
Thank you for the great idea!
Thanks for the great idea! My girls are so excited to make these!
Love this recipe! I didn’t have any sour cream so I substituted Greek yogurt and they tasted wonderful! The dough was easy to work with, rolled out beautifully and the cookies held their shape even when cut out with fairly intricate cutters. This is going to be a nice little gift for my co-workers, so glad I found it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Greek Yogurt sounds like a great substitute, I’ve made this recipe before with plain yogurt and they turned out great as well.
The tag on the jar says 1 cup of butter, but the recipe you wrote out says 1/2 cup of butter. Which should I follow. Thank you :]
The tag actually says 1/2 cup, it’s just hard to read 🙂 1/2 cup of butter is correct.
If I’m using pint jars, would I simply just cut your recipe in half (while still leaving it at 1 egg?)? Just curious, what does the sour cream do to the recipe? I’ve never used sour cream for sugar cookies. Does it just keep them moist?
Yes you can. Sour cream makes these cookies soft, they are so good!
Did you find that your recipe per jar pretty much filled the jar to the top? Thanks for your help!! 🙂
Yes this recipe just about does.
Instead of rolling I put them on the Pan with a spoon. Ending tasting just like the short cake cookies that are used in cheese cake factory’s strawberry short cake. Guess what I am making at home ?
Can you halve the mixture for a smaller jar
Yes, you should be able to.
what else can you use instead of sour cream
Yogurt may work in this recipe instead of sour cream.
We made these the other night and they are delicious! For us, one jar made 2 full cookie sheets of cut out cookies. Thanks for sharing!
What size jar did you use?
A quart size jar.
Is the butter softened to room temperature?
Thanks:)
Yes, the butter will work best when slightly softened for the final recipe.
What have you found to be the best gluten free substitute for regular flour? I have a friend who is still looking for something to use. Thank you.
For cookies I either use my Homemade Gluten Free Flour Blend or I use Bob’s 1-for-1 flour.