Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies are the quintessential holiday treat, embodying the festive spirit in every bite. Designed not only for delicious homemade enjoyment but also as an incredibly thoughtful and charming gift, these cookie mixes are presented beautifully in a mason jar. Coupled with our exclusive free printable recipe attachment, they transform into the cutest and most personal festive present for anyone on your holiday list.
This week, we’re celebrating the joy of giving and baking with a series of delightful Christmas Mason Jar dessert ideas, sharing a new one every day (four in total!). If you missed our previous festive creation, be sure to click here to see the M&M Christmas Cookies we shared yesterday.
Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies: The Ultimate Homemade Holiday Gift
The holiday season calls for warmth, joy, and delicious treats, and what better way to share that cheer than with homemade edible gifts? Our Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies offer a unique blend of convenience, charm, and delectable flavor. This recipe transforms a simple brownie mix into ultra-fudgy cookies studded with the irresistible combination of peppermint bark, rich milk chocolate, and creamy white chocolate chips. Presented in a charming mason jar, this mix becomes a beautiful, personalized present that your friends and family will adore. They simply need to add a few wet ingredients and bake!
The Magic of Mason Jar Gifts
Mason jar gifts have surged in popularity, and for good reason! They offer a delightful blend of practicality and heartfelt sentiment. Each jar serves as a miniature wonderland, holding perfectly measured dry ingredients for a delicious treat. Not only do they look incredibly appealing, adding a rustic yet elegant touch to any gift exchange, but they also provide a fun activity for the recipient. Imagine the joy of receiving a beautifully layered jar, knowing that a batch of warm, freshly baked cookies is just a few steps away. These gifts are especially cherished because they represent time, effort, and a personal touch that store-bought items often lack.
For the giver, assembling mason jar cookie mixes is a rewarding process. It’s an opportunity to get creative with layering ingredients, tying on festive ribbons, and adding custom tags. This particular Peppermint Cookie mix is a standout choice for the holidays, as its vibrant flavors and colors perfectly capture the seasonal spirit. It’s an ideal present for teachers, neighbors, co-workers, or as a thoughtful hostess gift.
Why Peppermint Cookies for Christmas?
Peppermint is synonymous with the festive season. Its cool, refreshing flavor and crisp aroma instantly evoke memories of candy canes, holiday parties, and winter celebrations. When combined with rich, fudgy chocolate, it creates a flavor profile that is both decadent and invigorating. Our Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies leverage this classic combination, delivering a cookie that is incredibly moist, deeply chocolatey, and bursting with minty freshness from the peppermint bark. The addition of milk and white chocolate chips creates layers of texture and sweetness, making each bite an unforgettable experience. These cookies aren’t just food; they’re an experience, a little piece of holiday cheer baked into a delightful treat.
Essential Supplies for Your Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies
Creating these charming Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies requires a few key supplies to ensure both aesthetic appeal and ease of preparation for the recipient. Gathering these items beforehand will make your assembly process smooth and enjoyable:
- Mason Jars (Set of 12): Standard quart-sized (32 oz) wide-mouth mason jars are perfect for holding all the dry ingredients. A set allows you to prepare multiple gifts efficiently.
- Wide Mouth Funnel: This is a game-changer! It makes transferring the ingredients into the narrow neck of the mason jar incredibly easy and mess-free, saving you a million headaches.
- Food Scale: Essential for accurately dividing the brownie and pudding mixes, ensuring the recipe works perfectly for the recipient. Precision makes all the difference in baking!
- Red Holiday Ribbon: A festive ribbon adds a beautiful decorative touch. The exact one pictured below was sourced from Hobby Lobby, but any vibrant holiday ribbon will do.
- Miniature Clothespins: Perfect for attaching the printable recipe card to the ribbon-adorned jar. They add a quaint, charming detail.
- Mini Wire Kitchen Whisks (Set of 12): A delightful little extra that makes the gift even more special and usable. Attach one to each jar for a whimsical touch.
- FREE Printable Recipe Attachment: Our specially designed printable recipe card provides all the instructions your recipient will need to turn the jar mix into delicious cookies.
We’ve previously shared our popular peppermint bark brownie cookies, which have been a huge hit! Since the full recipe was too large for a single mason jar, we meticulously adjusted it to create a perfect half batch, ideal for gifting. For those who wish to bake the full, larger batch of these delectable treats for themselves, you can find the complete peppermint bark brownie cookie recipe here.
Download Your Free Peppermint Bark Cookies Printable Here
To complete your thoughtful gift, simply download the free Peppermint Bark Cookies printable recipe card here. This card includes all the necessary instructions for the recipient to easily transform the dry mix into freshly baked cookies. Please remember that all recipes and printables provided are copyrighted for non-commercial use only.
Mason Jar Peppermint Bark Cookies Recipe
Mason Jar Peppermint Bark Cookies
By Chelsea Lords
Ultra Fudgy brownie cookies bursting with chunks of real peppermint bark, rich milk chocolate, and creamy white chocolate chips – a true holiday delight!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 14 minutes
Total Time: 29 minutes
Servings: 16 cookies
Ingredients
(For the Mason Jar Mix)
- 1/2 of 1 full package (18.4 ounce package) fudge brownie mix (9.2 ounces total)
- 1/2 of 1 full package (3.9 ounce package) instant chocolate fudge pudding mix, dry (approximately 2 ounces total)
- 1/2 of 1 full Ghirardelli peppermint bark bar or Hershey’s peppermint bar, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips
ADD IN LATER (by the recipient)
- 2 ounces cream cheese, full-fat, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk
Instructions
- FOR THE MASON JAR ASSEMBLY: Carefully separate the fudge brownie mix and the instant chocolate fudge pudding mix into exact halves using a food scale for precision. Begin by adding one half of the brownie mix to the bottom of your clean mason jar (do not pack it down). Next, gently layer in one half of the pudding mix (again, avoid packing it down to maintain distinct layers). Finally, add the coarsely chopped peppermint bark bar, followed by the milk chocolate chips, and then the white chocolate chips. Seal the mason jar tightly with its lid. For presentation, tie a festive red holiday ribbon around the jar, optionally attaching a miniature whisk and the free printable recipe attachment using a small clothespin.
- FOR BAKING (Instructions to attach with the jar): When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large mixing bowl, cream together the room temperature cream cheese and room temperature unsalted butter until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Beat in the large egg yolk until fully incorporated. Now, gradually add the entire contents of the mason jar mix to the wet ingredients. Beat until a very thick, cohesive dough is formed. Scoop out spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake for approximately 13-16 minutes. For an incredibly fudgy brownie-like texture, slightly underbake the cookies. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: For the most accurate and best results when dividing mixes for the mason jar, always use a food scale.
Storage: To store any leftover baked cookies, place them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness. For longer storage, you can freeze the baked cookies in a sealed freezer bag or container. When ready to enjoy, simply bake them from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time until warmed through and chewy.
Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)
Serving: 1 cookie | Calories: 197 kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 109mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 0.7g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 70 IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Tips for Perfect Peppermint Cookies and Gifting
- Layering for Visual Appeal: When assembling the jars, gently tap the bottom of the jar on your counter after adding each layer of ingredients. This helps settle the ingredients and creates clear, distinct layers, making the gift even more attractive.
- Ingredient Quality: Using high-quality peppermint bark and chocolate chips will significantly enhance the flavor of your cookies. Ghirardelli and Hershey’s are excellent choices for peppermint bark.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For the recipient, emphasize the importance of using room temperature cream cheese and butter. This ensures a smooth, lump-free dough and a perfectly uniform cookie texture.
- Customizing Your Jars: Feel free to get creative with your jar decorations! Besides ribbons and whisks, you could add small holiday ornaments, personalized gift tags, or even a mini cookie cutter tied with twine.
- “Add In Later” Card: Make sure the “Add In Later” ingredients (cream cheese, butter, egg yolk) are clearly listed on the printable recipe card so the recipient knows what fresh ingredients they need to supply.
- Experiment with Chocolate: While milk and white chocolate chips are recommended, you could experiment with dark chocolate chips for a richer, more intense flavor contrast with the peppermint.
Discover More Holiday Treats and Gift Ideas
The holiday season is a fantastic time for baking and sharing. If you’re looking for more delicious recipes or creative gift ideas to spread festive cheer, explore our collection of other holiday favorites:
- Festive Christmas Cupcakes
- Creative Christmas Mason Jar Gift Ideas
- Adorable Santa Cookies
- Mason Jar Sugar Cookies Gift
- Easy Christmas Oreos
These **Mason Jar Peppermint Cookies** are more than just a recipe; they’re an experience, a thoughtful gesture, and a delicious indulgence all rolled into one. Whether you’re baking them for your family or gifting them to loved ones, these fudgy, minty delights are sure to bring smiles and festive cheer. Happy holidays and happy baking!