One of my family’s favorite Christmas traditions is to make homemade gifts in a jar. And the wonderful thing is, they’re as much fun to make together, as they are to give to others! Simply layer the ingredients of a treasured recipe in a jar, then add a festive ribbon and tag, and there you have it – a thoughtful gift made with love.
Homemade gifts are not only a personal way to show your family and friends you care, but they also make thoughtful, economical gifts for all of the other special people in your family’s life too, such as teachers, coaches, neighbors, etc.
There are so many great gifts-in-a-jar ideas in cyberspace, but I thought it would be fun to share just a few of my favorites with the hope that this may help you to create some healthy homemade gifts of your own! And certainly, if you have some festive gift-jar recipe and ideas, please share a link to them in the comments below.
Sweet Gifts-in-a-Jar:
• Apple Butter (GF) from Happy Wives Club
• Apple Spice Raisin Muffins (GF) from For The Family
• Candied Orange Peel (GF) from Fresh Bites Daily
• Cinnamon Maple Nut Crunch (GF) from The Nourishing Gourmet
• Cranberry Christmas Bread from The Better Mom
• Cheesecake Baked in Mason Jars from The Greenbacks Gal
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix from Chocolate Covered Katie
• Cookie Dough Bites (GF) from The Nourishing Home
• Fruit & Nut Bars (GF) from The Nourishing Home
• Granola Bars-in-a-Jar (GF) from Keeper of the Home (shown above)
• Granola Munch Mix from Stacy Makes Cents
• Jumbleberry Jam (GF) from The Nourishing Home
• Meyer Lemon Curd (GF) from The Nourishing Gourmet
• Natural Fermented Pickles from My Humble Kitchen
• Oatmeal Cookie Mix from Food Network
• Pumpkin Spice Muffins (GF) from The Nourishing Home
• Trail Mix (GF) from Easy Natural Food
• Whole Grain Pancake Mix from Good Life Eats
Spice Mixes-in-a-Jar:
• Emeril Essence (Bam!) Seasoning from The Nourishing Home (shown above)
• Homemade Herbamare Seasoning from GNOWFGLINS
• 17 Homemade Spice Mixes from Keeper of the Home
Soup Mixes-in-a-Jar:
• 12-Bean Soup Mix from GNOWFGLINS
• Curried Lentil Soup Mix from Good Housekeeping
• Pea & Lentil Soup Mix from Pantry Paratus
• Vegetarian 5 Bean Soup Mix from Back to Her Roots (shown above)
Beverage Mixes-in-a-Jar:
• Chai Tea Mix from GNOWFGLINS (shown above)
• Healthier Hot Cocoa Mix from Don’t Waste the Crumbs
• Herbal Tea Blends from Wellness Mama
Healthy Body Gifts-in-a-Jar:
• Healing Lips Salve from Wellness Mama
• Homemade Belly & Body Butter from Smithspirations
• Lavendar Sugar Scrub from Whole New Mom (shown above)
• Lavendar-Mint Bath & Body Gifts from Natural Living Mamma
• Mama’s Belly Butter from Keeper of the Home
• Nourishing Body Scrub from A Delightful Home
• Orange Body Scrub from The Simple Moms
• Simple Citrus Bath Blend from A Delightful Home
• Whipped Coconut Oil Body Butter from Natural Living Mamma
Other Fun Gifts-in-a-Jar:
• Apron-in-a-Jar from A Bee in My Bonnet
• Beeswax Palm Candles from Health, Home & Happiness
• Garden Gifts-in-a-Jar from Frugal Granola
• Manicure Set & Lantern from Tidbits & Twine (shown above)
• Mason Jar Gift Card Holder from Cherished Bliss
• Playdough Snowman from Repeat Crafter Me
• Sewing Kit-in-a-Jar from Momtastic
I hope these ideas inspire you to create some thoughtful and festive homemade holiday gifts of your own! Wishing you and your family many blessings for a joyful and merry CHRISTmas!
P.S. Wondering what to do with leftover mason jars? Live Renewed has 17 great ideas!
8 Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap Ideas
Love all of these ideas Kelly!
Thank you, Rachel! You are always so encouraging! 🙂
So many great ideas and I love the pictures. They make me want to make everything! Thanks!
Thanks so much for your kind words. So glad you found this post helpful! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Thanks for so many great ideas! How do you make your labels?
Hi, Sue. I added those in a photo editing program after I realized I had taken the pix without putting the label on – oopsie! LOL! But to answer your question, I either buy pre made labels at a craft shop – they have some really cool selections or I use one of my scrapbooking hole punches and decorative paper to create them depending on how much time I have. Merry Christmas! Blessings, Kelly
These are great! I will definitely be making a few. Thanks!
That’s great, Amy. So glad you found these ideas helpful. Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind note! Merry Christmas! 🙂
I’m so glad I’ve found your blog. Your teaching me and many others a great deal. Praise God!
I wanted to comment that one year I made homemade salsa for gifts. I’m encouraged to try this again and photograph it as cute as the photos I see on your blog.
Thanks and God bless you.
So happy to hear that you’re finding this site to be a blessing to you, Francine! Appreciate you taking the time to leave an encouraging note to us! Blessings to you as well for a Merry Christmas! 🙂
Wonderful idea, Kelly! Your photos are so inspiring! I have already a plan for my mother’s Christmas present.
You are so welcome, Rosie. Glad you found this post helpful! I bet your mom is going to love your present. Homemade gifts are SO thoughtful. Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind note! Merry Christmas! 🙂
This is a fantastic collection of ideas! I have looked into doing this idea myself quite some time ago, but have since forgotten – thank you for reminding me! I have a blog (homemakinghearts.com) and I thought it would be fun to share your idea with my readers – I’ll send them your way soon!
Hey Kelly! Just recently discovered your blog. These are some fantastic ideas!!! Lovely photos as well. Thank you for the inspiration.
First visit to your site — I’m impressed! I’ve never thought about gifting soup ingredients in a jar. That is such a great idea! In fact, all of these jarred gifts are pretty neat. I <3 mason jars. They are so charming and fun. 🙂
Anyway, I will definitely be back to check out your website more in the very near future. You have so much I want to try and am inspired by…
~Stephanie @www.sostephaniesays.com
Kelly – I found this site thru a friend (tidbitsandtwine) and she’s right. Some cool ideas. What I like most is that they are relatively inexpensive to make but show a lot of thought and care. Not to mention, they would work for almost any occasion and any holiday. Thanks so much for putting this together. I’ve struggled with finding the right ‘gift’ or trying to make something that looks like a 1st grader made. Really sweet ideas. Much appreciated!