Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar

As I shared last week, the cookies I baked (these and those) for my mom and mother-in-law were rendered completely and totally un-giftable after they crumbled in my hands. I hadn't thought for a second that the cookies wouldn't make the short trip from the counter to a box, but as with most cooking and baking ventures, rarely does everything go exactly the way you want it to. So, after sitting in a defeated heap on the floor for a little while, I hugged my husband and started thinking of a plan B.

I was at a creative block and couldn't think of anything that didn't involve just starting over. But luckily, Mark seemed to have been studying Good Housekeeping magazine that week and came up with a great idea: Cookie mix in a jar!

There's nothing more I wanted than to send the moms some homemade treats, but if that wasn't possible then this idea was a darn good alternative. The mix involves just eight ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your cabinets, is very easy to assemble, and is a creative way to send a caring, semi-homemade gift when fragile cookies just won't cut it.

Not only would this make a nice Mother's Day gift, but it could also be a sweet host gift or holiday gift to neighbors, friends, teachers and coworkers, or contribution to a bake sale. This cookie mix is a variation of this recipe from AllRecipes, and from the reviews you can see how much fun it is for everyone, and what scrumptious cookies it yields!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar
Printable Recipe

Ingredients
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Layer the ingredients in a wide-mouth 1 quart jar in the order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next layer. If the jar is not wide-mouth, shape a piece of paper into a cone, stick the small end into the jar, and pour ingredients through the top.

Include a card with the following instructions:
?  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheets.
?  In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the entire contents of the jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut shell sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
?  Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven. Transfer from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Enjoy!