When I was younger, my holiday gift-giving list was pretty much limited to my immediate family. My parents took care of everyone else but these days that list has grown to include significant others, friends, coworkers and gym instructors. But, it can be difficult to find just the right (and budget-friendly) gift for all the people in my life.

So, I often turn to buying a set of maison jars and adding ingredients to make a homemade treat that can’t be found in stores. From savory to sweet, these gifts are thoughtful and fun for the recipient.

I typically create two types of mason jar gifts – a peppermint hot chocolate mix (that will be perfect for the winter ahead) and a chocolate chip cookie mix (because who doesn’t love cookies anytime of year).

For the peppermint hot chocolate, simply add instant hot chocolate, crushed candy canes and mini marshmallows to a mason jar. I like to use a gift tag for any instructions needed and add a festive bow to jar.

For the cookies, I used Nestle’s chocolate chip cookie mix recipe which make delicious treats every time. It’s especially important for this recipe to note all baking instructions and the wet ingredients that will need to be added to complete the recipe.