Introduction
Have you ever walked into a country store and been delighted by rows of beautiful Mason jar mixes? Decorated with a square of fabric and a brightly colored ribbon, each container holds the nonperishable ingredients—flour, sugar, and the like—needed to bake a batch of luscious cookies. All you have to do is follow the simple instructions on the attached card, and you have a batch of home-baked treats. No fuss. No bother. Just delicious cookies.
If you have wished that you could make these Mason jar mixes in your own home, or if you have tasted Mason jar cookies and wished you could bake them yourself, I have wonderful news: You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to create these charming, practical gifts. Nor do you have to be an expert to bake treats that will delight adult and child alike. In fact, The Mason Jar Cookie Cookbook was designed specifically to bring the pleasures of home-baked cookies not only into your home, but also into the homes of friends and family. In these pages, you’ll find fifty recipes for truly delectable cookies—treats like Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies, Gooey Turtle Bars, and Mocha Rum Balls. These cookies are easy to make for even the novice cook, and are guaranteed to please the most demanding of cookie monsters. Better yet, this book will show you how to assemble beautiful Mason jar cookie mixes so that you can give the gift of home baking to everyone on your list, from your child’s teacher to your next-door neighbor to your favorite hostess. I have been making Mason jar cookie mixes for years, and I can tell you that everyone’s face lights up when they see these mixes. That’s why they’re not just perfect gifts, but also fund-raising favorites. Who can resist a beautifully arranged container that holds nearly everything needed to bake rich, chocolatey brownies or old-fashioned sugar cookies? All the lucky recipient has to do is pour the contents of the jar into a bowl, add a few basic ingredients like butter and eggs, and follow a handful of easy instructions. The result? Wonderful homemade cookies in minutes!
The Mason Jar Cookie Cookbook begins by discussing cookie basics. The first part of the “Basics” chapter guides you in buying the best ingredients and equipment for your baking adventures, and provides tips for mixing, forming, and baking scrumptious cookies. Here, you’ll find invaluable advice that will help you turn out perfect cookies every time. The second part of the chapter covers all the ins and outs of creating the jars. What size jar should you use? How can you make neat, even layers of ingredients? And how can you add those finishing touches that turn the jar into a beautiful gift? This chapter tells all.
Following the “Basics” chapter are fifty recipes for luscious cookies, brownies, and bars. Because this book is designed for both the baker and the crafter, you’ll find that each recipe has been presented in a unique two-page spread. Intended for the home baker, the left-hand page contains the recipe itself. Kitchen-tested, each recipe is simple to follow and yields simply scrumptious results. Intended for the crafter, the right-hand page provides directions for creating the jarred mix. In each case, a diagram shows you how to layer the ingredients for attractive results, and a box neatly displays the baking instructions you’ll want to include on your gift tag.
So take out your mixing bowl and get ready to experience the joys of Mason jar cookies. Whether you want to fill your kitchen with the aroma of homemade cookies, you’d like to give distinctive Mason jar mixes to cookie-loving friends and family, or you’re searching for a unique fund-raising idea, you’re sure to find what you want within these pages. Who knows? You may even bring home-baked cookies back in style.
