Last Updated on April 12, 2023 by Ellen Christian
Looking for gifts in a jar recipes? Check out these easy Mason jar recipe gifts and make a few for your friends this year.
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Are you hoping to make a few homemade Christmas gifts this year? Have you considered gift mixes in a jar?
Gifts in a Jar for Christmas
Most of the mixes I see people make for Christmas are for things like cookies and brownies. But, what if you want gifts in a jar for Christmas that aren’t sweets? I’ve got a great one for you!
Because my husband is diabetic, I try not to make a lot of sweets to tempt him. And because many people are following diets to lose weight, sweet treats aren’t always appreciated by everyone on your list.
Let’s just not even mention the ten pounds people put on over the holidays. Nobody needs that!
But, the fact is that gifts in a jar for Christmas are an affordable and easy gift idea. You can easily make five or six of them up all at the same time.
And, the ingredients tend to be relatively inexpensive. If you’re looking for gifts in a jar for Christmas that aren’t sweets or desserts, you might want to consider a chili mix or a soup mix.
This Friendship Soup Mix is a great idea for people who want gifts in a jar for Christmas that won’t be too sweet. There is even a printable gift tag with the directions to go along with it.
Just scroll to the end for the recipe and the printable.
What can I fill a jar with as a gift?
Of course, you don’t have to make a mix for your gifts in a jar. There are a lot of things that you can put in a jar to gift to someone.
Why not consider one of these Mason jar gift ideas. Or, try making this healthy hot chocolate and gifting it in a jar.
These savory spiced pecans are paleo-friendly and make wonderful gifts in a jar. If you’re looking for gifts in a jar soup recipes, you are in luck!
Keep reading for this Friendship Soup Gift in a Jar Mix.
How to decorate Mason jars for Christmas
I typically just use an empty Mason jar and add the printable tied to the top with some ribbon. But, you can certainly put a piece of felt on the top of the lid to dress it up a bit.
Or, why not try adding jingle bells, a few sprigs of pine, or a Christmas ornament to the top. It’s really up to you and what you have available when you make gifts in a jar recipes for Christmas.
If you want to, you can add this gift mix along with a loaf of homemade bread to a basket as part of a larger gift. You could even include wooden spoons, pot holders, and a set of Christmas soup bowls. I just love these.
Can I use different types of pasta?
Definitely! This recipe uses ditalini which are small tube-shaped pasta. But, you could certainly use another type provided it was the same size.
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If you use pasta that is too large, it won’t fit properly in the jar. Why not try this Christmas pasta?
That would definitely give your gifts in a jar recipes a little bit of pizzaz.
Is this gift in a jar mix gluten-free?
No, it is not. Because this mix uses pearl barley, it cannot be made gluten-free as-is.
You can remove the pearl barley from the jar and instead, add gluten-free pasta. You would need to add a bit more gluten-free pasta to make up for the room that the pearl barley was using. The end result should be fairly similar.
Now, if you want to give a Mason jar Christmas ornament instead of gifts in a jar for Christmas, here are a few things that you can try:
- These Let it Snow ornaments are absolutely adorable. I love the way the lettering turned out. Check it out here.
- Or, if you want an ornament that has a little bit of bling to it, these are stunning. You could easily change the color theme if you wanted to. Get the directions.
So, if you want gifts in a jar recipes that aren’t sweets, here’s the recipe for the Friendship Soup Gift Mix. Remember, it’s important to layer the ingredients in the order they are listed so the seasonings don’t fall to the bottom.
You can make your own Italian Seasonings as well.
Related reading
- Check out my recipe for Italian herb spice blend.
- Or, you might want to try these Christmas peppermint brownies.
- Preschool Christmas snack ideas
- Baked rice pudding
Friendship Soup Gift Mix in a Jar
Friendship Soup Gift Mix in a Jar is a healthy gift mix in a jar for Christmas.
Ingredients
- 1 quart (32 ounce) jar with lid
- Printable label/gift tag
- 1 cup dried split peas
- 1 cup dried lentils
- ½ cup pearl barley
- ⅓ cup beef granules
- ¼ cup dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup uncooked white rice
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ cup uncooked small pasta, like Ditalini
To make the soup, you will also need:
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey, browned and drained
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3 quarts water or beef stock
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- To avoid the sifting of seasonings through the beans, layer ingredients in the jar in this order: onion, ½ cup split peas, rice, ½ cup lentils, beef granules, ½ cup split peas, barley, ½ cup lentils, Italian seasoning, and pasta. Optional: place pasta in a small storage bag to make easy to remove.
- Seal and attach a gift tag.
Notes
Layer the ingredients in the order specified to avoid the seasonings falling to the bottom.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 700Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 558mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 11gSugar: 6gProtein: 55g
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
can you use othe beans besides lentils and split peas?
Yes certainly. You may need to adjust the cooking time.
Are the “beef granules” beef bouillon or gravy granules?
I use beef bouillon. Thank you for stopping by.
Hello
Is there a way I can download the label to add to this recipe?
thanks
Irene
Hi – Thank you for stopping by. If you click on the “download the printable” link in the blog post, it will open a PDF that you can print.
How do I print the label?
Hi – Thank you for stopping by. Click where it says “download the printable” and it will open up a PDF file you can print out.
So how long do you cook it? 30 minutes? An hour? When giving this as a gift this is an important thing to put on the recipe.
Hi Joni – The full instructions including how long to cook it are on the printable tag that you hang around the neck of the Mason jar. Just print it out.
What a wonderful idea. Thank you.
Thanks for stopping by!
Will be trying thus recipe, and probably making for gifts in a jar, for presents. I love healthy recipes.
Thanks, Jeanette!