Homemade Gifts in a Jar

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Cookies in a mason jarSome hosts are so easy to shop for: bottle of wine or scented candle. But if you’re trying to stay within a holiday budget or think of a creative gift idea for the person who “has everything”, these gifts are the perfect solution. Gifts in a jar are festive, heartfelt, easy and delicious. Not to mention, cost effective for you! Simply layer the ingredients in a jar, add a ribbon and tag, and you have a simple but stylish gift.

Soup Mixes

For an easy shortcut to homemade jar gifts, simply visit our Bulk Department and find your favorite soup mix. Pour the mix into a jar and be sure to include cooking instructions on a gift tag.

Baking Mixes

Give the gift of baking by attractively assembling all of the dry ingredients needed for cookies, muffins or brownies in tall glass jars. Use pretty ribbons to tie on the recipe, along with a wooden spoon or whisk for an extra special touch. Friends will be encouraged to easily bake their own treats that come from the heart, not a box!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup White sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups Semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Baking soda

Instructions:

Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add 1 slightly beaten egg, 1/2 cup melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir until well mixed. Drop by rounded spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes. Allow to cool, then enjoy!

Bulk Candy & Nuts

Our Bulk Department is a snack lover’s paradise. Fill a mason jar with an assortment of candy, dried fruit and/or nuts, tie it with some beautiful wired ribbon, and you’re on your way. For the avid hiker on my holiday list, I combined six of my favorite bulk ingredients to make a trail mix that’s full of energy, flavor and texture. You could certainly layer each ingredient separately for a more artistic presentation.

Ingredients:

  • Cashews
  • Almonds
  • Pistachios
  • Dark chocolate chips
  • Dried cranberries
  • Dried cherries
 

DIY Baked Goods in a Jar

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Give the gift of baking by attractively assembling all of the dry ingredients needed for cookies, breads or brownies in tall glass jars. Use pretty ribbons to tie on the recipe, along with a wooden spoon or cookie cutter for an extra special touch. Don’t forget to print out and attach the recipe cards to the jar mixes! Baked Goods Here are a few tasty suggestions to get you started.

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 3 1/2 cups Coconut flour
  • 2 tsp. Ground ginger
  • 1 tsp. Ground cloves
  • 1 tsp. Ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. Ground allspice
  • 1 tsp. Baking powder
  • 1 cup Brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup Solid coconut oil, melted
  • 2 Eggs

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, melted coconut oil, brown sugar spices and vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, fold in coconut flour.
  3. Scoop cookie batter onto prepared baking sheet using a small ice cream scoop or 2 teaspoons. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until golden. Cool completely before removing from the pan.

White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup Softened butter
  • 1 1/2 cups Brown sugar
  • 3 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 1/2 cups Flour
  • 1 tsp. Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Salt
  • 1 cup Dried cranberries
  • 1 cup White chocolate morsels

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a medium pan with parchment paper.
  2. Soak cranberries in bowl with hot water for 3 minutes. Drain water from cranberries.
  3. Cream butter, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the butter-sugar mixture with a wooden spoon or large rubber spatula. Carefully mix in cranberries and white chocolate morsels.
  4. Press mixture evenly into pan and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

  • 1 2/3 cups Flour
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Baking soda
  • 1 tsp. Cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. Baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. Ground cloves
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 cup Sprouts Canned Pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • 1/2 cup Chocolate chips, optional

Instructions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, spices and baking powder. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin and water. Stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips if desired.
  2. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for 55–65 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing.

Peppermint Brownies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 2/3 cup Cocoa powder
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup Crushed peppermint sticks
  • 1 1/4 cups Flour
  • 1 pinch of Salt
  • 1 cup Butter
  • 1/4 cup Boiling water
  • 2 tsp. Vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing excess paper to overlap the edges.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and sugar; set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, add the cocoa powder and salt. Add the boiling water and stir with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is paste-like. Add sugar, vanilla and butter, mix using an electric mixer until smooth. Using a wooden spoon, slowly stir in the flour mixture, and mix until combined.
  4. Spoon the brownie batter into the prepared baking dish, batter consistency will be thick. Smooth top with a rubber spatula. Bake for 35 minutes or until the brownies are cooked through. Cool in the pan or a wire rack for 1 hour.
 

DIY Valentine’s Day Gifts

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Go ahead, wear your heart on your sleeve and embrace the sentimental feelings in the air. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to share a bit of your heart with others. The best news? You don’t have to stick with the standard gifts that may come to mind. With these easy-to-make and thoughtful DIY ideas, you can brighten the day of a special someone, friend, family member or colleague. Hot Cocoa

Peppermint Infusion Hearts

What You’ll Need:

  • Crushed peppermint
  • Coffee filters
  • Baker’s thread
  • Construction paper
  • Hot chocolate

Directions:

Using a folded coffee filter, cut out a heart shape. After you have two heart shapes, stitch together around the edges until only a small opening remains. Place peppermint candies in a plastic bag and crush until the pieces are broken down. Put about a spoonful of crushed peppermint inside the small opening of the coffee filter and finish stitching until it’s closed. Attach a medium-length piece of baker’s thread to your peppermint-filled heart. Cut a small heart out of paper and add it at the other end of the thread to make a little “tag” like the ones that tea bags have. Present the gift with hot cocoa for a refreshing peppermint twist on a classic chocolatey treat.    

Homemade Lotion Bars

What You’ll Need:

  • 1 cup Beeswax
  • 1 cup Coconut Oil
  • 1/2 cup Shea butter
  • Silicon heart-shaped mold
  • 25 drops Lavender essential oil
  • At least 2 hours for refrigeration

Directions:

Start by warming beeswax in a double boiler until it becomes smooth. Add coconut oil and melt the two ingredients. Stir until smooth and add lavender essential oils. Let cool and place in silicon molds and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.              

“Simply Nuts for You” Mason Jar“

What You’ll Need:

  • Chalkboard spray paint
  • Painter’s tape
  • Chalk
  • Trail mix
  • Gift tag
  • Twine or ribbon

Directions:

Create a heart shape on the mason jar with painter’s tape. Using an open area, cover the mason jar with the chalkboard spray paint. Once it’s dry, carefully peel off the tape. Add a personalized touch by making a design with white chalk. Cut out a gift tag and create a small hole at the top. Thread twine through and loop around twice at the top of the mason jar. Pour in your special someone’s favorite trail mix.

Cookie Better Blondies

This gift is made from one of our favorite new treats! Sprouts Cookie Butter Blondies are sure to brighten someone’s day, but let’s be honest—you could give the cookie butter as a stand-alone gift as well. Delicious by the spoonful or as an addition to baked goods, it’s a perfect way to spread the yum! View the recipe!  

Dry Rub Recipes

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All the grill masters in your life will love these flavorful DIY dry rub recipes and you’ll love how easy they are to make! Paired with a new set of grilling tools, these create a great gift. Dry rub recipes

All-Purpose Spice Rub Recipe

  • 2 Tbsp. Coffee beans, finely ground
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. Granulated garlic
  • 1 tsp. Black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. Ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Caribbean Rub

  • 3 Tbsp. Brown sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. Paprika
  • 1 Tbsp. Cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp. Coarse salt
  • 2 tsp. Ground ginger
  • 1 tsp. Allspice
  • 1 tsp. Cayenne pepper
  • 3/4 tsp. Nutmeg
  • 3/4 tsp. Freshly ground black pepper
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Buffalo Spice Rub

  • 1/2 cup Brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. Chile powder
  • 1 Tbsp. Smoked paprika
  • 1 Tbsp. Cumin
  • 1 tsp. Cayenne, plus more for taste
  • 2 Tbsp. Garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp. Ground mustard
  • 2 Tbsp. Kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp. Freshly ground black pepper
Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

DIY Mother’s Day Gifts

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This Mother’s Day, thank Mom for all she does. Whether she plans to spend the day relaxing or staying active, treating her to a homemade gift is a perfect way to show her how much you care. You’ll love having a chance to personalize just as much as she’ll love receiving a gift that’s heartfelt and thoughtful. Find ideas below for celebrating Mom with gifts that have an extra special touch just from you. Coconut Orange Body Scrub

Coconut Orange Body Scrub

What You’ll Need:

• 2 cups Coconut oil • 1 cup Epsom salts • 8-10 drops Sweet orange essential oil

Directions:

Mix coconut oil, Epsom salts and essential oils together. Use as a body scrub, hand scrub or foot scrub. The coconut oil may leave your tub a little slippery so be careful if you use this in the shower. Be sure to store in an air-tight container to preserve freshness.

How to Use:

Use as a body scrub, hand scrub or foot scrub.

Tip:

Make sure to be careful if you use this in the shower! The coconut oil may leave your tub a little slippery.              

Heart shaped lotion barsLavender Lotion Bars

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup Beeswax • 1 cup Coconut oil • 1/2 cup Shea butter • Silicon heart-shaped mold • 25 drops Lavender essential oil • 2 hours for refrigeration

Directions:

Start by warming beeswax in a double boiler until it becomes smooth. Add coconut oil and melt the two ingredients. Stir until smooth and add lavender essential oils. Let cool and place in silicon molds and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.              

Sunflowers in Mason JarDIY Mason Jar Vases

What You’ll Need:

• Mason jars • Chalk paint in your preferred colors • Sand paper • White chalk • Clear acrylic spray • Paint brush

Directions:

Paint the outside of each mason jar with chalk paint and let dry for one hour before applying another coat. After the jars have completely dried, use sand paper to take the paint off the raised, designed areas of the jar. Rub white chalk over jar to create a distressed look. Seal jars by spraying thoroughly with clear acrylic spray and let dry for at least 2 hours. Once dry, add your mom’s favorite fresh flowers.          

Peppermint Vanilla Bath FizziesPeppermint Vanilla Bath Fizzies

What You’ll Need

• 1 cup Citric acid crystals • 1 cup Baking soda • 1/2 cup Almond oil • 5 drops Aura Cacia Vanilla Essential Oil • 5 drops Aura Cacia Peppermint Essential Oil

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine citric acid crystals, baking soda and corn starch. Add almond oil and essential oil drops. Mix ingredients thoroughly with a spoon or by hand until the consistency is that of damp dough. Press dough firmly into desired shape using ice cube trays or a muffin pan. Let set overnight for approximately 12 hours before removing from ice cube trays or pan.            

Lemon and Rosemary BathLemon and Rosemary Bath Salt

DENVER METRO MOMS BLOG

What You’ll Need:

• 3/4 cup Coconut oil • 2 cups Sprouts Epsom Salt • 2 sprigs Rosemary • 10 drops Lemon oil

Directions:

For this project you’ll need a small mixing bowl to combine the ingredients. Simply mix all the ingredients and pour into a mason jar. Want to get the kids involved? Have them help mix the ingredients and decorate by spelling out MOM on the jar. The bath salt should last six months but the metal on the mason jars may begin to rust.            

Rose and Lavender Body ScrubRose and Lavender Body Scrub

DALLAS MOM BLOG

What You’ll Need:

• 1 1/2 cups Coconut oil • 1 1/2-2 cups Sprouts Epsom Salt • 1/2 Rose petals • 3 Tbsp. Sweet almond oil • 15-20 drops Lavender essential oil

Directions:

Pour coconut oil into a mason jar. Add a layer of rose petals into jar evenly. Add sweet almond oil and lavender essential oil on top of rose petals. Begin mixing the Epsom salt into mixture until salt has fully saturated with the oils. Seal and wrap for Mother’s Day!            

Easy Salt ScrubEasy Salt Scrub

NASHVILLE MOM BLOG

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup Sprouts Epsom Salt • 2 cups Coconut oil or olive oil (take any allergies into account here!) • 20-25 drops Essential oil of choice (I decided on a lavender and citrus blend that includes bergamot—two of my favorites!) • Bowl and spoon for mixing • Jar or other container with tight-fitting lid

Directions:

Measure out the Epsom salt and pour into your bowl. If you’ve chosen coconut oil as your moisturizing oil, keep in mind that you may need to (gently) warm it in order for it to mix well with the salt. It’s generally at least semi-solid at room temperature. Add your essential oil, and stir to blend. Once you’ve reached a fair homogenous consistency, your salt scrub is ready for packaging! For ease, you can choose small reusable containers like my sister did at Christmas. (This choice makes it a much safer option for keeping on a shelf in the shower since there’s no possibility of shattered glass in the tub.) If you want to dress it up a little, you can use a small Ball jar (like mine picture above) instead. Cover with cloth and a ribbon, print off a fancy label, and you’ve got a sweet gift for any mom in your life!

DIY Friendsgiving Centerpieces

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Video description: Learn how to make holiday centerpieces with Baked by Joanna during our recent Facebook Live. Full instructions below.

#1 Small, but Flexible

Sprouts carries a wide range of florals that will make it easy to outfit your table for a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving celebration. For an easy centerpiece, head to the Produce Department, where you can pick up a pumpkin cup bouquet from the manager. The display works perfectly for small tablescapes. You can also create a more substantial centerpiece by combining multiple pumpkin cup bouquets with some bulk food items and candles.

Materials

  • Serving tray
  • Dried beans and peas
  • 2–3 Pumpkin cup bouquets, depending on the size of your tray
  • Candles
  • Hazelnuts

Directions

  1. Fill the bottom of a serving tray with a mix of dried beans and peas sourced from the Bulk Department of Sprouts.
  2. Place the pumpkin cup bouquets in the bed of beans and peas. Finish by placing candles around the pumpkins and sprinkling whole hazelnuts throughout.
  3. When ready, light the candles to create a nice glow for dinner.
   

#2 Traditional Bounty

Gourds, squash, nuts and corn are fall holiday staples. Separately, they look lovely, but together as a centerpiece, they can be a showstopper. This centerpiece is ideal if you love traditional hues of the season and prefer something quick and easy to make. All you need to do is pick up some essentials from Sprouts and raid your home for the rest. From there, it’s all about layering.

Materials

  • 1 Cinnamon wreath
  • Fall dried foliage mix
  • Pedestal bowl
  • Squash
  • Gourds
  • Decorative corn
  • Pinecones
  • Bulk nuts, in shell

Directions

  1. Begin by weaving sprigs of the fall dried foliage mix through the cinnamon wreath. Place the wreath on the table where you prefer to display your centerpiece.
  2. Place the pedestal bowl in the center of the wreath and begin layering in the squash and gourds. Start with the largest of the bunch to ensure there’s room for it to fit.
  3. Adorn the bottom of the display with the decorative corn, pinecones and more gourds. Finish by filling the base with bulk nuts until nearly full. Add some nuts to the pedestal bowl as well.
 

#3 Versatile and Filling

No one ever said a centerpiece couldn’t be interactive. In this case, it’s filling too. I teamed up with Sprouts to show you how a centerpiece can be transformed into an edible garden. It still incorporates traditional decorative elements of fall, so don’t worry, you won’t be missing that autumn flair. But now, you and your guests can snack the night away. This centerpiece shares the best cheeses, nuts, dried fruits, chocolate and more. Just customize it to fit your taste.

Materials

  • Cutting board
  • Rustic charger
  • Bowls
  • Squash
  • Gourds
  • Decorative corn
  • Variety of breads
  • Crackers
  • Variety of cheeses
  • Variety of bulk dried fruit
  • Variety of bulk nuts, sweet and savory
  • Chocolate
  • Honey or agave
  • Preserve, such as fig spread
  • Fresh herbs, such as sage and thyme

Directions

  1. Place the cutting board in the center of a table. Use a bowl to prop up the rustic charger on one end of the display.
  2. Place the larger elements on the board. Larger items include the bowls, squash, gourds and decorative corn.
  3. Add the bread and crackers to the smaller surface, the charger. On the larger surface, fill the board and bowls with cheeses, dried fruit, nuts and chocolate. Place the preserve and honey, or agave, on opposite sides of the board.
  4. Finish the centerpiece by tucking fresh herbs along the base of the smaller surface to hide the bowl propping it up. Also, create a more cohesive look by cascading the herbs down the side of the small surface onto the larger. Additional herbs can be tucked into the squash and gourds for texture.

About Joanna Meyer

Food Stylist, Culinary Creative and Blogger

Joanna is a commercial food stylist based in Phoenix, AZ. Her work and recipes have been seen around the world. When she is not styling for her favorite brands, she enjoys publishing recipes and sharing her love of everything food on her self-titled blog, Baked by Joanna. Her other interests include spending time with her family and staying healthy and fit.

DIY Father’s Day Gifts

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Father's Day Gift Basket Say thank you to all the doting dads and handsome heroes this Father’s day. After all, where would we be without dad jokes, practical advice and bear hugs?If the standard gifts are feeling a little tired, we have a few ideas to “tie” this Father’s Day together. Check out these fun gifts that he’s sure to love, including one by blogger, Julie, from Fort Worth Moms Blog! Julie shares her process in creating a one-of-a-kind gift for Dad. Keep reading to learn how to make your own unforgettable gift: I considered a basket of grilling items. After all, it is summer, and summer is grilling season. Sprouts has a huge selection of fresh produce, meats, spices for DIY dry rubs and craft beers, microbrews, etc. But goodness, y’all! I am weeks away from delivering our second baby. Everyone here needs to stay ready-to-jump-behind-the-wheel-at-any-moment sober (so no alcohol), and I refuse to step outside into the heat for any reason (so no outside cooking for us). I had to rethink my plan. Because a trip to Labor & Delivery is in our near future, I decided he needed a “We’re Having a Baby, Baby” basket. Read more of Julie’s full story!    
Rosemary Shaving Cream

Rosemary and Peppermint Shaving Balm

Your dad will feel pampered and refreshed after using this rosemary mint shaving balm—and will love knowing that it was made with love, by yours truly!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Shea butter • 1/4 cup Virgin coconut oil • 1/4 cup Jojoba or sweet almond oil • 10 drops Rosemary essential oil • 3-5 drops Peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

1. Place a small saucepan over low heat and mix shea butter and coconut oil, stirring until melted. Transfer mixture to a heat-resistant bowl and add in jojoba oil (or almond oil), then the essential oils and stir. 2. Chill mixture in the refrigerator until solid. Once solid, remove from refrigerator and whip mixture using a beater. Mix until light and fluffy. Store in an airtight container for up to one month. Note: This shaving lotion is soap-free and will not create a lather, but rather, a protective barrier between the razor and skin. Swish razor in water between strokes and enjoy!
Dads Dry Rub

Dad’s Day BBQ Rub

Here’s a super easy and thoughtful gift that you can gather from our Bulk Department! Let your inner artist out by layering spices to create a colorful complement to your summer barbecues.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Chile powder • 1 tsp. Black pepper • 1 1/2 tsp. Onion powder • 1 Tbsp. Thyme • 2 Tbsp. Sea salt • 1 tsp. Garlic salt

Instructions:

Layer spices multiple times into a small mason jar and seal. Decorate with a ribbon or twine.

DIY Bloody Mary Bar

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Four glasses of Bloody Mary Drinks Next time brunch is at your place, try this fun and unexpected DIY Bloody Mary Bar! Mimosas are the classic brunch cocktail, but breaking out the veggies instead and mixing up a hearty Bloody Mary is another great way to start the day. Not only will this build-your-own-drink bar impress your guests with its stunning display, they’ll also have a blast making their own Bloody Marys and experimenting with unique flavor combinations. Better yet, for a non-alcoholic or “mocktail” version, simply replace vodka with sparkling water!Bacon, tomato juice, vegetables, celery in a glass With vibrant, fresh citrus and colorful veggies, the only thing you’ll need is R.W. Knudsen’s savory tomato juice. R.W. Knudsen’s Organic Tomato Juice features flavors like Sriracha and red bell pepper, so you and your guests can skip adding the heat—it’s all the spice you need in one bottle!

 You’ll need:

  • Vodka or sparkling water
  • R.W. Knudsen’s Organic Tomato Sriracha Juice and/or Organic Tomato Red Bell Pepper Juice
  • R.W.Knudsen’s Organic Chopped fruits and veggies for garnish—these could be cherry tomatoes, lemon, lime, celery, bell peppers or olives
  • Optional garnish: bacon
  • Cayenne pepper salt for a salted rim
  • Glasses

Set up:

  • Lay out glasses
  • Arrange juices and garnishes
  • Lay out skewer sticks for an easy garnish kabob
  • Let guests enjoy and experiment with the Bloody Mary fun!

Preparing Food and Avoiding Cross Contamination

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Food Preparation Raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs can spread illness-causing bacteria to ready-to-eat foods if you don’t keep them separate. Remember these helpful tips to avoid cross contamination:
  • Use one cutting board for fresh produce and a different one for raw meat, poultry or seafood.
  • Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs.
  • When storing in your refrigerator, place raw meat, poultry and seafood in sealed bags or containers to prevent their liquids from contaminatingotherfood and surfaces.
  • If you are not planning to use these foods within a few days, they should be kept frozen.
Visit fsis.usda.gov to learn more tips on why cross contamination matters.