Healthy Homemade Granola Gifts-in-a-Jar!

Guest Post by Kelly of The Nourishing Home

Everyone loves wholesome homemade granola! Besides being a much healthier option than commercial breakfast cereals, homemade granola’s crunchy sweetness makes it the perfect topping for creamy treats like yogurt, oatmeal and ice cream. And one of my personal favorites is to use homemade granola to create incredibly delicious and healthy homemade granola bars.

So whether it’s simply combined with some crispy nuts and dried fruits – or all layered up in a mason jar ready to be transformed into some oh-so-chewy granola bar treats – the delicious versatility of granola makes it a thoughtful and welcomed gift!

“The Best Granola” Gift-in-a-Jar

The easiest way to give the gift of homemade granola is to simply combine it with an assortment of healthy add-ins, such as shredded coconut, dried fruits and crispy nuts and seeds. Then, place it in whatever size mason jars you’d like, and dress it up with a festive bow and gift tag, as described in the granola bars recipe below.

The beauty and simplicity of homemade granola is why it’s one of my favorite go-to holiday gifts. In fact, I usually keep about a half-dozen extra granola-filled jars on hand, so I always have a delicious gift ready for those unexpected “uh-oh!” moments when you realize you inadvertently forgot someone, or if I need a thoughtful gift for the host of a last-minute holiday gathering.

“The Best Granola” Bars-in-a-Jar

Wholesome homemade granola bars are a real favorite among kids and adults alike! My real foodie recipe uses homemade soaked granola mixed with lots of other wholesome ingredients, so it really layers-up beautifully to create a stunning gift-in-a-jar! And the best part is, these bars are super easy to make and only require a few standard ingredients almost everyone always has on hand.

To create this beautiful, nutritious gift, simply layer these ingredients in a one-quart mason jar in the following order:
• 1 cup homemade granola
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped organic dried fruit (such as raisins, cranberries or cherries)
• 1 cup homemade granola
• 1/2 cup blanched almond flour
• 1/4 cup walnut pieces

Finishing the gift
– Cut out holiday-themed paper in circles the same size as the mason jar’s lid. Then, place the paper on top of the lid and seal the jar with the ring. To make it even fancier and festive, add a decorative bow and gift tag.

Baking instructions – Be sure to print out the Granola Bars-in-a-Jar Baking Instructions and include them with your gift. (I like to place the baking instructions in the Christmas card we give along with the gift jar. To make it extra festive, I place both the card and gift jar into a pretty recycled gift bag.)

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Looking for more homemade holiday gift ideas?

Check out:
• The Nourishing Home’s Top 5 Favorite Homemade Gifts-in-Jar
• 10+ Homemade Gifts for {Almost} Everyone on Your List

What are your favorite homemade “Gifts-in-a-Jar” ideas?