CHRISTMAS CRAFT D.I.Y: GIFT IN A JAR

I'm glad Christmas isn't tomorrow because I feel a tad unprepared. I usually have all my Christmas baking done by now and ready to post but I have just begun- YIKES! So I have decided to fast track a few baked items and do some good ole' gifts in jars. Making up your own cake/bread/cookie/pancake mix is a quick and easy present that is still homemade, yay! Another good thing about these gifts is that the person receiving it can choose when he/she wants to bake it. That way there's no spoilage, no squished cakes, crushed cookies or melty chocolate....just a jar full o' flour and stuff.

To make it look like you've put in SOME effort you can layer the ingredients which will make it look all fancy and if you use a jar that is jussssst the right size then the layers shouldn't get muddled, even if you are planning to post them. I used some old Dijon mustard jars that were about labelled as 820 gram, they basically were 4 - 4 1/2 cup capacity and were a PERFECT size. You could make up some cute labels to stick on the jars, just remember to include the recipe! I also like to include the list of dry ingredients used so the recipe can be made again from scratch. And there you have it. Present: Done!

CRANBERRY ORANGE AND OAT QUICK BREAD

recipe adapted from here

1/2 cup caster sugar
zest of half an orange
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 dried cranberries

In a small bowl combine the orange zest and caster sugar so you make 'orange sugar' and set aside.

In a clean jar layer 1 cup of the plain flour, baking powder, bicarb soda, rolled oats, remaining 1 cup of plain flour, brown sugar, 'orange sugar' and top with dried cranberries. Seal with lid and label the jar.

You may need to push your ingredients down to fit them all in. The jars I used were big enough for me to use my hand but you could use a glass, rolling pin, bottle, anything with a flat bottom, Alternatively give the jar a gentle tap on your kitchen bench top and things should sink down a bit.


Print or write out this recipe and include with the jar.

Cranberry, Orange & Oat Quick Bread

1. In a large bowl, mix the contents of this bottle: 2 cups plain flour, 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup caster sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, zest of half an orange, 1/2 cup dried cranberries

2. In a small bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, 2 large eggs, and 1/4 cup melted butter.
*to make buttermilk add 1 1/2 teaspoons of lemon juice to 1 1/2 cups of milk

3. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined (batter will be lumpy).

4. Scrape into a buttered and floured large loaf pan and bake in a 180° C oven until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes.