Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies In A Jar

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies In A Jar – Our gluten-free M&M cookies in a jar are a simple, delicious homemade gift you can make in minutes. Don’t miss our free printable tags for gifting!

Hi, I’m Emily, and I love bringing people treats.

I come by it honestly–my mom bakes up a storm for the holidays and always has bags and plates full of treats to deliver to friends and neighbors. My grandmas, too, have their own specialties–things like homemade caramels, fudge, and incredible holiday chex mix people talk about all year long. Michael’s mom is a candy-making queen and makes homemade toffee and gorgeous chocolates that look better than anything I’ve ever bought from a store.

I’ve never settled into just one holiday “thing” to gift neighbors and friends (I love to mix it up!), but I do LOVE homemade and home-baked treats. I thought these homemade gluten-free(!!!) holiday cookies in a jar would be the perfect way to wrap up our Holiday Cookie Week this year.

There are lots of cookie in a jar recipes out there, but few of them are gluten-free or gluten-friendly. I’ve taken all the guesswork out of it for you, so you can feel confident making and gifting these gorgeous gluten-free cookie mixes this season.

I LOVE cookies in a jar as an edible holiday gift because they only take minutes to put together, look lovely, taste amazing, store for weeks in case the recipient is inundated with treats, and even come with free printable gift tags to make wrapping them up a breeze. Let’s get to it!

Here’s everything you need to know about making gluten-free cookies in a jar…

Here’s What You Need To Make Gluten-Free Cookies In A Jar:

Ingredients Needed For Gluten-Free Cookies In a Jar:

• Gluten-Free Flour. I recommend King Arthur Measure-For-Measure brand gluten-free flour. My second choice is Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour blend. Both contain xanthan gum and will work for this recipe. Don’t substitute coconut flour, almond flour, or other alternative flours as they won’t work in this recipe.
• Baking Soda & Salt. These will help the cookies spread and balance the flavors.
• Brown Sugar & White Sugar. To sweeten the cookies and make pretty layers in the jar!
• Chocolate Chips. I prefer semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for these cookies.
• M&Ms, Chocolate Candies, or Chopped Nuts. For a fun finishing touch! Regular, dark chocolate, peanut butter, or even mint M&M’s will work. Keep an eye out for the holiday bags for a festive touch!

Supplies Needed To Package The Cookies In a Jar:

• Wide Mouth Jars. You’ll need 1 (32oz.) jar for each batch you plan to make. Wide mouth jars are easier to work with than regular/narrow mouth jars. (Easier to pack with ingredients & easier to get the ingredients out!)
• Wide Mouth Jar Lids. You can use the metal lids & rings that come with your jars, or these reusable plastic lids. (I love them!)
• Free Printable Gift Tags. These give instructions for how to make and bake the cookies!
• Ribbon. You’ll use ribbon or twine to attach the tags to the jars. We used this red & white polka dot ribbon for these photos.
• Scissors or a Paper Cutter. To cut out the printed labels.
• A Hole Punch. Makes punching a hole in the corner of the tags easier (so you can string the ribbon through).
• Optional: Gift Tags Or Gift Bows For The Tops Of The Jars. I just love these as a finishing touch. Totally not necessary, but fun if you have the time! We used these round chalkboard tags and white paint markers to write “happy holidays!”

How To Make M&M Cookies In a Jar, Step By Step:

1. Assemble all your ingredients and utensils. Print your free printable gift tags, if needed.
2. Start With The Flour, Baking Soda & Salt. In a medium bowl, combine gluten-free flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine, then pour the flour mixture into a clean quart-sized jar. (Use a funnel if it helps!) Gently shake the jar back and forth a bit to level the flour layer. (If you don’t have time, you can simply add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the jar.)
3. Carefully Add The Brown Sugar. Add the brown sugar on top of the flour mixture and gently pack down using the back of a small measuring cup or a small juice glass.
4. Then, Layer In The Sugar. Then, add the sugar on top of the brown sugar layer. Gently shake to level the sugar or use a measuring cup.
5. Add Chocolate Chips. Now, you’re ready to add the chocolate chips! Pour in the chocolate chips as gently as possible to layer on top of the sugar.
6. Finish With M&Ms. Last, you’ll add the M&Ms on top of the chocolate chips.
7. Secure The Lid & Attach Your Tags. Make sure the lid is screwed on tightly. Add any gift labels, or a gift bow on top of the lid if desired, then attach the tag with ribbon.
8. Store At Room Temperature Till You’re Ready To Gift! Assuming you used fresh ingredients, these gluten-free cookies in a jar can be stored at room temperature up to 6 months (though they’ll be freshest used within 3-4 months)

Tips & Tricks For The Best Gluten-Free Cookies In a Jar:

Use Wide Mouth Jars If Possible. Wide mouth jars (with a wide opening at the top) are much easier to pack and empty than those with a more narrow mouth. It allows you better access when packing the jars so you can evenly pack down or distribute the ingredients. They also make it easier to get the ingredients out when it comes time to bake the cookies!

Weigh Your Flour If You Can! Since these are a quick cookie, where you won’t be taking extra steps to add ingredients one at a time as you make them, adding just the right amount of flour can really help with the taste and texture. An inexpensive kitchen scale will totally change your life, but if that’s not in the cards, be sure to use the Scoop & Level Method to measure your flour.

Add The Ingredients In The Order Directed. The ingredients are listed in a specific order because that’s how they’ll look most distinct and beautiful in the jar. If you start with the chocolate chips, for instance, the flour mixture will sink down through the gaps between them and you’ll lose that crisp, layered look.

Free Printable Gift Tags For Gluten-Free Cookies In a Jar:

Gluten-free cookies in a jar make a GREAT homemade holiday gift for friends, neighbors, co-workers and more. And to make it easy to gift them, we’ve created free gift tags you can download to use for these gluten-free cookies in a jar.

To Print & Attach Your Cookie In A Jar Labels:

1. Tap the “Get Your Labels Now” button below
2. Save or print the labels. (We recommend printing on cardstock if you can for a sturdier label)
3. Cut the labels out with scissors or a paper cutter.
4. Punch a hole on the grey “x” in the top left corner of each label with a hole punch.
5. Attach the labels with ribbon. Slide the ribbon through the hole and tie around the neck of your jar (just under the lid)

FAQ + Frequently Asked Questions For Gluten-Free Cookies In A Jar:

How long do cookies in a jar last? As long as your ingredients are fresh and the jar is kept tightly sealed, cookies in a jar can last around 6 months, but 3-4 months will give you fresher results. Obviously, the sooner you make them, the fresher they’ll be!

Are M&M’s gluten-free? Many varieties are! At the time of this post, the regular (milk chocolate) M&Ms, dark chocolate M&Ms, peanut M&Ms, and peanut butter M&Ms are all gluten-free. (Pretzel, Crispy, & some seasonal M&Ms are NOT gluten-free. Learn more here.) As always, check your labels! If you need another brand, we’ve liked Little Secrets and Unreal chocolate candies which taste great and come in fun colors.

What’s the best flour for gluten-free cookies in a jar? We prefer and recommend King Arthur Flour Measure-For-Measure gluten-free flour for gluten-free cookies in a jar. It has great texture, no grittiness, and works well for cookies, brownies, cakes, and more.

What size jars do you need for cookies in a jar? Wide mouth quart size jars (32 oz/4 cups) work best for cookies in a jar. They’ll have plenty of space!

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