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

• Pumpkin Biscoff Bread – Dinners, Dishes, and Dessert
• All-in-One Beer Bread Kit – girlichef
• Banana Coconut Coffee Cake with Macadamia Nut Streusel – The Lovely Pantry
• Pancake Mix With Apple Cider Syrup and Candied Walnuts – Tora’s Real Food
• Cranberry Hootycreeks – Baker Street 

Condiments / Ingredients

• Apple Butter – Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
• Cranberry Strawberry Jam – The Meltaways
• Herb Vinegars – Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Harissa – The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Homemade Vanilla Extract – Flour on my Face
• Homemade Cherry Extract – Cravings of a Lunatic
• Nutella Powder – I Run For Wine
• Apricot Pineapple Rum Sauce – Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Spiced Cranberry Apricot Almond Chutney – Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Pumpkin Butter – Family Foodie

Soup and Snacks

• A Soup For You – Momma’s Meals
• Maple Nut Granola - Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
• Sweet and Spicy Curried Nuts – Soni’s Food for Thought
• Roasted Spiced Nuts – Mrs Mama Hen 
• Sweet and Spicy Pecans – Supper For a Steal
• Maple Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars – Cupcakes and Kale Chips
• Orange Spiced Chickpeas – Home Cooking Memories
• Turtle Pretzels – The Messy Baker

Sweets

• Rocky Road Candy – Magnolia Days
• Dairyfree Vegan Caramels – Galactosemia in PDX
• Peanut Butter Cookies in a Jar – Mama’s Blissful Bites
• M&M Cookies in a Jar – Damn Delicious
• Monster Cookie Mix in a Jar – What Smells So Good?
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Biscotti – Meal Planning Magic
• Snickerdoodle Snack Mix – Pippi’s in the Kitchen Again
• Butter and Jam Thumbprint Cookies – Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
• Peppermint Stick Cookie Truffles - The Weekend Gourmet
• Nutella Truffles – Small Wallet Big Appetite
• Peanut Cajetas (Peanut Fudge) – Basic and Delicious
• Cookie Cutter Fudge – Chocolate Moosey
• Pumpkin Roll – Shockingly Delicious
• Homemade Chocolates – My Trials in the Kitchen
• Hot Chocolate on a Stick – Juanita’s Cocina
• Chocolate Toffee “Crack” – Ruffles and Truffles
• Holiday Tree Cake – Noshing with the Nolands
• Salted Caramel Cookies – Mama Mommy Mom
• Fruit and Nut Cookies – In the Kitchen with Audrey

Drinks

• Applepie Moonshine - My Catholic Kitchen
• Holiday Spiced Mocha - Daily Dish Recipes
• Homemade Peppermint Mocha Mix - In the Kitchen with KP
• Homemade Kahlua - That Skinny Chick Can Bake

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