Sunday, November 11, 2012

Monster Cookie Mix in a Jar for a Gift Giving #SundaySupper

While I'm not a fan of the holidays in general, I do love one thing about them - making and giving gifts. It's so rewarding to see the looks on people's faces when they unwrap something you've crafted with love, just for them. Even if you (like us) make batches and batches of cookies, then divide them up between recipients, the fact that it's homemade with the giving spirit in mind means so much more than spending thousands of dollars at the store. Homemade gifts are almost always enjoyed (since there are so many things you can make and give!), particularly those involving food, and on the whole they cost a lot less per person to concoct!

I actually chose this recipe (adapted from the fabulous Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine by Shaina Olmanson) for a few reasons. First, it's a cookie mix, and who doesn't like cookies? Second, I was testing recipes from the book so that I could write my review and was hooked by the fact that it had no flour and pretty candy-covered chocolate pieces (translation: I could use Hallowe'en leftovers!). Third, I had the perfect recipient in mind - my hairstylist who loves to eat (especially sweets... I'm jealous of her svelte figure!) but who claims she can't cook worth a darn. Well, I was determined to show her that she can bake some delicious, easy cookies too! And it really is easy, and fun, to do. Neither whipping up the mix (which you can make for yourself and keep in the pantry!) nor mixing the final cookies with regular butter, peanut butter, vanilla and eggs, is likely to cause a sweat or a kitchen catastrophe. And, as most of us foodies know, once you bake your first batch of anything and taste it, you're hooked on the victory!

Susan, AKA The Wimpy Vegetarian, suggested the theme of "Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen" for this week's Sunday Supper. Our contributors - over 50 this week - rose to the challenge with a huge array of breads, drinks, condiments, snacks, and desserts! Check out what we're giving out below:

Breads / Breakfast
Condiments / Ingredients

Soup and Snacks

Sweets

Drinks

Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper on November 11. In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat.

Monster Cookie Mix in a Jar
Makes 1 quart-jar of mix
1/2 cup vanilla sugar (or regular if you can't find vanilla sugar)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 1/4 cups rolled oats (not instant, I used a mix of "quick" 3-minute and thick-cut "10-minute" oats)
1 cup assorted candy, nuts and/or fruit (I used a box of Smarties and 2/3 cup of Chocolicious Snack Mix from Bulk Barn)
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips
  1. Mix together the vanilla sugar, baking soda and salt in a small dish and place in the bottom of a 1-quart jar.
  2. Layer with the oats, then the candy, brown sugar and chocolate chips.
  3. Seal the jar and attach directions, below:

To prepare Monster Cookies:
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter (not natural or unsweetened)
2 tbsp salted butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla (if you didn't use vanilla sugar in the mix)
1 jar Monster Cookie Jar Mix

  1. Mix together the peanut butter, butter, eggs and vanilla (if using) until well combined.
  2. Add the jar mix and stir well to combine.
  3. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350F and line three cookie sheets with parchment.
  5. Form 2" balls and place no less than 2" apart on the sheets.
  6. Bake 14 minutes.
  7. Cool on the sheets for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely.
  8. Makes 24 cookies.

Amount Per Serving (1 jar dry mix)
Calories: 2,408.3
Total Fat: 57.5 g
Cholesterol: 14.7 mg
Sodium: 1,956.6 mg
Total Carbs: 488.1 g
Dietary Fiber: 26.6 g
Protein: 39.8 g

Amount Per Prepared Cookie
Calories: 162.6
Total Fat: 7.9 g
Cholesterol: 18.6 mg
Sodium: 131.9 mg
Total Carbs: 21.9 g
Dietary Fiber: 1.6 g
Protein: 4.2 g

19 comments :

  1. My kids will love these monster cookies :) Lovely Holiday Gift idea :)

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  2. This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I love monster cookies! These are such a great holiday gift idea. Love it!

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  4. I would LOVE this gift! I'm a huge fan of monster cookies!!!!

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  5. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM COokies!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah Sarah!

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  6. I love how you are willing to teach your hair dresser that baking can be easy! Hopefully it'll be the gift that keeps on giving (hey maybe she'll even give you a cookie or two back ;) )

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  7. Love this cookie mix. You did it up right. Nothing better than monster mix in a jar.

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  8. I love that you are trying to encourage your hair dresser to bake. Some people just don't realize how simple it can be. And these sound like a lovely way to start.

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  9. Monster cookies rock! Great gift!

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  10. Monster cookies is a perfect holiday gift - or anytime all year long. I love the name, and am so in love with cookies in a jar as a gift now!!

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  11. Your hairstylist is one lucky lady. Nice combo of ingredients to make monster cookies :) !

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  12. I don't care if one cookie is 162 calories. I want the whole jar.

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  13. Great holiday gift! I would love something like this!

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  14. I am sure this monster cookies taste good by looking at the ingredients in the jar. Perfect for gift too!

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  15. What a fun cookie mix! I bet this would be a very popular gift.

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  16. I love the name and idea! Thank you for sharing :)

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  17. So fun to make custom jars. For some raisins are welcome and others are not a fan. We could add anything we want and everyone will be happy.

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  18. Love monster cookies and I like that you put these in a jar for a gift!

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  19. I gotta try this...I'm totally intrigued that it doesn't include flour! And I like that you can use an assortment of nuts, candies, etc.

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Thanks for the feedback!