Christmas Cookie Week: Gourmet Oatmeal Cookies In A Jar...

I want to thank everyone for coming along with Grace and I  this week for "Christmas Cookie Week".

It has been so fun sharing all of these cookies with you!

I want to bring you the final recipe which can be used as gifts in a jar, or as a big mix you can keep in your fridge to bake as the need arrives.
*Gourmet Oatmeal Cookies In A Jar*

This recipe comes from the Canadian Living Christmas Book, which came out around the time I got married and it is one of my Christmas books!

So here goes:

In one big bowl dump together:

6 cups rolled oats

4 cups all purpose flour

3 cups packed brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda 

Stir together dry ingredients.

With pastry blender, cut in

1 lb. shortening

{I used Tenderflake. It come packaged in 1 lb. blocks.}

Set aside.

In separate bowl, stir together:
{this has been adapted by me slightly...I reduced the raisins and added craisins.}

1 cup raisins

1 cup craisins

1 1/2 cup coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup nuts {I used walnuts.}

This is the fun stuff that goes into the cookies. It was put in a separate bowl so it can be added to the top of the mix in a jar to give it some different texture.

The cookies mix now goes into 1 litre mason jars {which holds 4 cups} or any other jar of the same quantity.

If you have one of these canning helpers, it is great to use to load the mix into the jar.

In the jar, spoon in 3 1/2 cups of oatmeal mix.

Tap down cookie mix with the end of a wooden spoon to make enough room.

Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of chocolate chip mixture to top.

Then close up the jar and decorate as desired.

I used ribbon and a cinnamon stick.

Then I went to my computer  and made labels at avery.com.

The directions for the cookies mix that go on the jar are:

In bowl combine Cookie Mix with 1 egg, 2 tbsp. milk and 2 tsp. vanilla until soft dough forms.

Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls.

Flatten with fork dipped in sugar.

Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Makes approx. 24 cookies.

This mix makes 20 cups of mix, or enough for 4-5 batches of cookies.

 The Mix can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 10 weeks.

So that means you can make it now, put it in mason jars or ziploc bags and keep it in the fridge until gift-giving time.

I have 3 jars of mix in my fridge right now!

And here's another way you can package the cookie mix without using jars.

Measure the mix into ziploc bags.

Then put  the ziploc bag into a paper lunch bag and decorate with the label and ribbon.

This is a great cost effective way of giving cookie mix if you don't have mason jars, or if you would like to mail the mix or send it to school in your child's backpack without fear of broken glass.

Thank you so much for sharing in  Christmas Cookie Week with Echoes of Laughter and Sense & Simplicity

and

I hope you have found something that inspires you!

This post is linked to:

Homemade Gift & Wrap Party, Handmade Gifts,