Mother Earth’s Garden

Homemade Gift Ideas: Get Out Those Canning Jars

by linette on November 20th, 2008

Holidays are the perfect time to bake homemade goodies for loved ones, and to make from the heart Christmas gifts. Canning jars are also great to package up dry mixes to give as a hostess gift, or to friends and relatives. I always try to have a few mixes made up for those last minute gifts I’ve forgotten about.

Here’s a recipe originally from Ball Canning’s Fresh Preserve website:

Pumpkin Pie Bars

• You’ll need one or more (depending on how many gifts you want to make) Ball wide mouth canning jars with lids.
• A small decorative or handmade card to write or print the mixing and baking instructions on.
• a funnel
• a ribbon
• a hole punch

Mix For the Jar

• 1 1/3 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 3/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 cup of old fashioned or quick cooking oats (uncooked)
• 1/2 cup of chopped pecans

Layer all the ingredients one at a time in the jar, patting down each layer firmly before adding the next. When all the layers are in there screw the lid and band down tight on the jars.

Mixing and baking instructions:

The instructions below should be written on the card, and attached to the jar with a ribbon. Punch a hole in the corner of the card, then feed the ribbon through the hole and tie it around the top lip of the jar.

To Prepare Add:

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) of cold butter or margarine
• 1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1 - 15 oz can of pumpkin (or 15 oz of cooked pumpkin)
• 1 Tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice

Preheat the oven to 350`F. Line a 13×9 inch baking dish with aluminum foil, grease the foil lining, or coat with cooking spray. Remove the pecans and oats from the jar, and place them in a small bowl. Remove the granulated sugar from the jar, and place it in a separate small bowl.

Place the brown sugar and flour in a medium bowl. Measure 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and add it to the flour mixture. Stir the mixture evenly to blend. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender, or two knives until it resembles coarse crumbles. Stir in the pecans and oats. Reserve one cup of the crumb mixture. Press the remaining crumb mixture into the bottom of the baking dish and bake at 350`F for 15 minutes.

Beat the cream cheese, remaining half cup of granulated sugar, eggs, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until well blended. Pour over the crust, and sprinkle with the crumb mixture. Bake for 25 minutes. Lift the baked bars from the pan with the aluminum foil, cool completely, and slice into bars. Makes about 24 bars.

There are also a few other options you can add to make your gift truly unique.

• cut a small 5″ x5″ square of fabric to use as a jar topper.
• Print or hand make a label to stick directly on the jar with your own handmade brand name and instructions.
• Give with a baking dish, and pot holders so the maker will have everything they need for baking.

It’s a simple, and fun way to add a little homemade to your gift giving this year. Especially if you have a few leftover canning jars laying around the house.

If you want to make some homemade preserves for Christmas gifts check out the Black Currant Jelly, and for eco-friendly homemade gifts take a look at Homemade Eco Gifts You Can Make For The Holidays.

Image courtesy of Ball(tm)

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POSTED IN: Canning and Freezing, Christmas from the Garden