Sending baked cookies in the mail is a super sweet gesture, so long as they arrive on time, and in one piece! A cookie jar mix, however, means that your recipient will be enjoying oven-fresh cookies at their leisure, all the while thinking about how awesome you are.
But sometimes cookie jar mixes can be too rooster, denim and gingham. What about a mix for those of us who only wear black and couldn’t tie a perfect bow to save our lives? Enter the punk rock cookie jar mix!
With cut-out ransom letters as the label, and a safety pin holding together the ribbon, you don’t need to be too precise with the design. And the whole thing comes together in about half an hour, making it a great last minute gift. I sent these Double Chocolate Pecan cookies to my friend Anna Dorfman, because she built and designed such a lovely site for the Teal Cat Project.
What you’ll need:
All of the ingredients for the cookies (below)
A clean empty jar with a lid big enough to hold 3 1/2 cups of stuff (I used a mason jar here, but an empty spaghetti sauce jar works, too.)
Some ribbon, about a foot (somewhere between 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide)
Some glossy magazines
A used card, or stock paper with a pretty print and a blank side, about 4×3
Small safety pin
Hole puncher
Glue stick
Optional (both of these things are available at craft stores):
Sticker strips of animal print
Small silver stud stickers
1) Gather your ingredients. You’ll need:
1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons ground flax seeds, 1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans, 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup chocolate chips
2) Wrap jar one inch from the bottom and 2 inches from the top with the animal print stickers. You can make your own strips with some printed paper and a glue stick.
3) Cut out letters from magazines to spell out C-O-O-K-I-E-S
4) Place the “K” first. Because it’s the middle letter it will give you more control in where the other letters are going. Use a glue stick to completely coat the backs of the cut out letters, and stick them firmly in place. Rub them to make sure they stay put.
5) Time to fill the jar! Make a funnel out of paper to get your ingredients in without making a mess. Just roll a sheet of paper into a cone and snip off the bottom.
6) Add the flour first, along with the baking soda, salt and flax. Then add the pecans, and use a spoon to smush them into the sides so that they show through. Add the sugar, then chocolate, then the chocolate chips. Seal jar tightly.
7) Make the card. Use an old card or stock paper with a pretty print and a blank side. I used the May image from the My Zoetrope calendar. Make a rectangle big enough to fit the text. Fold it in half and punch a hole in the upper left side.
8 ) The card can say whatever you want, but it should definitely have the cookie title and directions. It should say “Double Chocolate Pecan Cookies” “Mix with: 1/3 cup veg oil, 1/4 cup soy milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla.” “Roll into 1 inch balls. Place on parchment lined baking sheets. Flatten into 1 1/2 inch discs. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 F. Makes 20 cookies.”
9) Slide the ribbon into the hole you punched and make sure it’s secure. Wrap ribbon around the lid and affix with a safety pin. The card should be dangling a few inches.
10) Stick a few silver stud stickers on the jar letters, and the card. Voila! Your punk rock cookie gift jar is finished. Makes sure to pad it really well if you’re mailing it. Perhaps throw in an oven mitt?
Okay, now I know what I’m giving as holiday presents 🙂 probably including to myself. This looks amazing, thank you!
I love your jar! I’ve been sending out things like the ingredients for vegan Holiday treats in a similar manner, but I’m definitely going to do more about the container and e.g. also use nice tin cans etc. It’s a wonderful interactive way to get those non-vegans trying out vegan yumminess. 😉
I have included the idea in a much simpler and cheaper way on my blog, but of course also linked back to your page (twice actually). I hope that is okay with you, otherwise let me know. Direct link to my budget-version: http://vintagevegan.net/keeping-up-appearances/gift-ideas/gift-idea-cookie-mix/ (almost embarrassed, know that I look at your cool jar).
Isa Chandra, I want to tell you that I recently bought Veganomicon, and I am love with this book. I’ve been making 2-3 recipes out of it each week and am completely satisfied each and every time. It’s changing the way I eat for the better.
Now, I was immediately excited when I saw your idea here, especially because I owe a few overdue thank yous, and this rocks. I made them tonight for myself because I wanted to taste them, so I know exactly what it is I’m giving my loved ones. And WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!! Seriously. I think that’s the best cookie I’ve ever tasted in my entire life. Thank you so much for posting this. It is so thoughtful, sweet, and delicious. Thank you. -Lauren Carruth
just made some of these jars over the weekend. I LOVED the idea! I have never heard of these! I did modify a little and made Halloween Jars instead. Followed the recipe minus the pecans (we have some allergies that run in the family) and the cookies were absolutely delicious. they were so simple, and baked beautifully. THANK YOU!
You are my favorite person ever. I love your site and always visit time & again for great recipes and inspiration. Thank you!
Ever? There are a lot of people in this world so thank you!
I love this idea! I received one of these for the holidays two years ago and thought it was such an awesome idea. Definitely make sure you know of any food allergies the gift receiver might have to be sure they can eat the cookie mix you are sending. Thanks for the inspiration PPK!!
These look great and I’m definitely planning on making a bunch of these for the holidays. This might be a stupid question though – what size are the mason jars? Quart? Pint? Thanks!
i have a LOT of coworkers i’d like to recognize this holiday season…thus 2 dozen mason jars and craft supplies. thanks for sharing such a fun idea! then they’ll have pie. pie in the sky pie. oh my!!
I run a baking stall at our local market and do only vegan stuff, though I dont explicitly advertise it as vegan, as many people here still think “vegan” means “something must be missing.” So, if I don’t make explicit that things are vegan, people see the great cookies and buy them and don’t even think about it/realize it. I want to make these jar mixes to sell at our local Christmas market….but I really only want to encourage vegan baking, and if I put soy milk on the label, it may discourage some people…but I refuse to just put “milk” on the label…so i was thinking about using soy milk powder or coconut flour in the mix itself as a substitute, then i could just put water on the label to add, rather than soy milk…. anyone have any ideas if/how this would work and what amounts might be good to try? thanks much!
You would be surprised how mainstream soymilk is. I would go with the recipe as Isa created it and view it as an awesome opportunity to encourage people to try it. I have MANY carnivore friends (unconditional love?) and everything I make, bake and share is welcomed with open arms. It’s all in the presentation and conversation. My meat eating husband actually enjoys soymilk and stevia in his tea…so I would say ” Yes, they are awesome and can you believe, how great is this, they are vegan!”
hi annette–
its not that soymilk isnt readily available here–it is. it more that there are loads of people that are turned off by it, and or think its weird…. its ok when i sell them cookies that are already made that are vegan, because then they dont realize they are made with soy (unless they ask for ingredient lists), but if people are seeking out christmas gifts to buy for others (i.e. mixes in jars, etc, seeing “add soymilk” in the instructions rather than “add milk” is likely to turn a lot of people off from buying it, whereas if theres already soymilk powder in there and the instructions just say “add water” or such, then its not going to be so explicit. The general attitude is that people here are willing to try vegan things for free, but not super-keen on paying money for them if they realize they are vegan. if its explicitly made known that it doesnt have dairy or eggs in it, they think something is “missing.” 🙁 and…i need to have a sell-able product(s) or else I have no more market stall :/ so…thats why Im wondering about the powdered soymilk route…
I think powdered soymilk would be great! I just never have any around…
I made these yesterday and they were very tasty! My vegan son was so happy that he could eat them.
hey guys brill, cheaper idea for xmas, we are poor this xmas cos we just had a baby im making 8 of them for family, i have made one up as banana everything cookies in a kilner jar thingy, no soy milk to add (from vegan cookies take over world) they are my fave cookie. cant post the pics on fb tho cos then my family will know what they are getting. : D
what an awesome secret santa idea! who wouldn’t love this?!
What a fantastic idea! I love how creative they are. Cannot wait to try them this christmas and naw ruz! THanks 🙂
So ingredients say baking SODA but the steps and instructions say add the baking POWDER
Which one is it?!!
It’s soda! I updated, thanks for the catch.
My first vegan cookies turned out great! better than dairy ones!
I just became vegan and your website is really helpful for me..
Just a question,is it possible to buy your books in switzerland?
Just spent my night making 3 of these. They are beautiful, thanks Isa!
I just found this recipe about two months ago, and it is awesome!! It has very quickly become a favorite in my house. I thought I should share this very awesome vegan cookie recipe with some of our non-vegan family for the holidays. However, I can’t seem to find the right size jar. I have 3 1/2 cup ball jars, but there is too much room left. Does anyone have any other jar suggestions?
very nice. good like. thkans
Someone sent me this as a housewarming gift, and it was great! These vegan cookies are so delicious!!
Could Chia seed be substituted for the flax?
Thanks!
Hey Isa,
How long do you think these jars are good for? I mean, how long would their “shelf life” be, you think?
Thanks!
I probably wouldn’t let them sit for any more than 2 months, and that might be pushing it.
Love this idea! This inspired me to make vegan cookie mix jars for my omni sisters for Christmas and they were a huge hit! I think I may have started a new holiday tradition.
what an awseome gift!!!! I cant wait to make these!!!
Absolutely delish! I tried out a test batch of these cookies before I start giving them out as gifts. This is now my go to cookie gift jar!!!
Hi Isa 🙂
I just got sent a book, Vegan Freak, and got excited when I saw “Foreword by Isa Chandra Moskowitz”!! It reminded me about your blog and I’m back and reading again. So when I thought I’d search for Christmas recipes on here, I was so glad when I found this!! I am DEFINITELY going to make these for people this year!! I do have one question though – would coconut sugar work??
Loving the blog 🙂
Any recipes that don’t require “veg” ingredients? If I give this out, no one would go buy soy milk, and just use regular milk, defeating the purpose. I want something fool proof that where the only ingredients to add can only be vegan!
1/4 cup water would work!
Hi, I just made these. They are my first attempt at cookie jar mixes (we don’t really have them in the UK) and they look great. But the jars are only about 3/4 full when complete – perhaps due to a different jar size or cup size difference between US and UK. Any ideas what I can top them up with so they still look good and don’t spoil the recipe? Thanks!
These are so yummy! I gave them out as Christmas gifts and every body loved them! I also baked some for a family gathering and they turned out great. My cousin is allergic to nuts so I replaced ther walnuts with dried cherries… and awesome aternative!! I found the dough was a bit too dry to form into balls so I added alternate tsp’s of oil and soy milk until they were the right consistency. They were so chewy and yummy. My extended family usually makes fun of me for being vegan… these cookies had them eating their words