KARE in the Kitchen: Easy to make 'Gifts in a Jar'

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn — The holidays are getting closer, and sometimes you just need easy ideas for a gift on short notice. Hy-Vee Dietitian Melissa Jaeger shared these recipes for simple and healthy "Gifts in a Jar."

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

All you need: 

• 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts
• ½ cup quick-cooking oats

To prepare dry mix: 

1. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Layer flour mixture, brown sugar, ½ cup chocolate chips, cranberries, walnuts, oats and remaining ¼ cup chocolate chips in a 1-quart glass jar
2. Put a lid on the jar and attach a label with the baking instructions below:

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350◦F
2. Mix together 2/3 cup softened butter, 1 egg and ¾ tsp vanilla extract in a large bowl until blended
3. Add dry cookie mix ingredients and stir to combine
4. Place rounded spoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. (Makes about 2½ dozen cookies.) Bake for 10–15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack

Barley Wild Rice Soup Mix

Serves 6

All you need:

• ½ cup dried pearl barley
• ½ cup Hy-Vee dried chopped onions
• ½ cup wild rice
• ¼ cup Hy-Vee dried green split peas
• 2 tsp Hy-Vee Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp Hy-Vee lemon pepper
• 2 tbsp Hy-Vee instant beef bouillon granules
• 1 tsp dried minced garlic

To prepare dry mix:

1. Place barley in a 1-pint jar with a tight-fitting lid
2. Add dried onion, rice and peas in layers
3. In a small bowl, combine Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, bouillon granules and minced garlic. Place in jar
4. Put a lid on the jar and attach a label

Barley Wild Rice Soup

Place soup mix in a Dutch oven. Add 10 cups water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes or until rice is tender.

Cookies for Santa Jar Mix 

All you need:

• 1-1/3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 cup cooking oats
• 1/4 cup M&M’s
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

To prepare dry mix:

1. Layer ingredients in a quart-size jar. Put the lid on the jar and attach a label
2. Give as a gift to someone or follow the instructions on the label and bake before Christmas Eve for Santa!

Cookies for Santa

1. Preheat oven to 350◦F 
2. Stir dry ingredients in a large bowl and add 1 cup butter (softened), 1 egg, slightly beaten and 1 tsp vanilla extract
3. Combine thoroughly and roll into 1½-inch balls and bake for 12 - 15 minutes

Get more recipes:

Watch the latest recipes featured on KARE 11 News in our YouTube playlist: