Customer Reviews

Gifts in a Jar: Bars & Brownies (Gifts in a Jar, 3)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought the entire series and was very impressed. I was tired of baking cookies every Christmas and thought I would try something new. I am SO glad that I gave "mixes" instead of stressing over baking. The responce I got was TWO THUMBS UP!

I made over two dozen mixes in two hours! The most difficult part was cutting the labels and decorations! I bought fabric that didn't fray, elastic jeweler's thread and gold bells. The books come with six receipe cards to attach to the jar!

The only suggesting I have is to buy the supplies at Costco and buy bulk. You'll need 10# more pounds than you think. I found myself running back to the store two times. For four dozen mixes (of cookies and bars) you'll need 40# of flour 20# sugar 15# brown sugar plus hoards of chopped walnuts and various "chips". I found that I needed far more white chocolate chips than anticipated. I experimented by adding different flavored chips (peanut butter, andes mint chips). Buy the WIDE mouth jars - you can buy a "funnel" at Walmart for $1.50. My local grocier ran out of wide mouths so I bought regular jars and had to make a paper funnel (pain in the...). Now-a-days, when you buy the wide mouth jars the lids are attached (no precleaning).

I live at high altitude and made adjustments to the cookie mixes, still they baked flat. For high altitude - stick to the bars and breads.

The only thing I would do differently: Photo copy the receipe cards so you don't have to recreate them on the computer. You can buy heavy stock paper (20#) and go to Kinkos and reprint them.

I'm only writing this review to let you know the actual outcome of one of the recipes. I fell in love with Gifts In A Jar because they make great unique gifts. I made 4 jars today to give to teachers. Because this was my first time giving the gift to others I thought I'd try the recipe to taste what they would be making. They were VERY dry. Have one with a big glass of milk. The jars themselves came out very cute but I wished I had tasted the recipe before I decided to do them. I am a little disappointed. Just thought you'd like to know too. Try the recipe first and then decide if you want others to think this is your culinary best. I wish I had time to get another gift. Oh well.

This is a good gift item, not only to give as a gift but also to make gifts from. The only problem that I have with it is there are only a handful recipes in it and alot of tags to attach to the jar. The improvement I think could be made is to have the lables availible online and put more recipies in the book.

This book is great! It has alot of what you would expect to get. I like that is has many differnt recipes. This will be fun to use for gift giving.

I too own a bunch of these gift in a jar books and use them for idea kickers. I don't often make just these recipes as they come with the books but they give me ideas. For more than 40 years now I've made my own version of mixes starting with bisquick. When I got married in the 70's I told my husband I was not buying bisquick at those prices and never have. Only trouble with making it up yourself is everyone else in the house catches on to how great it is to have on hand and uses it up. And you go to get some and it's gone and no one else has replentished. The same holds true of making your own mixes or putting them in a jar all cute like. Someone else always discovers it and away it goes. I've never given any mix in a jar I haven't first made myself and checked out quality and value. And never give a mix in a jar that requires more than 1-4 extra ingredients to make...and make sure those are staples everyone should have on hand...anything exotic is not a gift. No cute hints on how to fancy up a gift because I'm more into making mixes for our own pantry and for camping and backpacking and similar use. Not so much as the gift crafty thing here. Otherwise think outside the box always and make your own favorite recipes up in jars or mixes to avoid paying outrageous supermarket ones. A bundt cake in a pan such as my rum cake put together as a mix except for the rum and egg and oil put in a plastic bag and given with a quality bundt pan....no teflon coating all aluminum heavy duty ones and a small bottle of rum.....cute! I might have to do that for all those who get a rum cake usually from me:)))) My boss would not be amused:))) Then again I would!

I love the gifts in a jar, all of them. Great service from vendor.

I was glad to find this book to help me give interesting gifts I made myself for those I care about. Thanks.

This cookbook is great! I will use it for gifts for those people on your list who have been kind to you and deserve a little something. With the family getting bigger, a gift out of a jar is the best gift to give because it's not pricey and someone will always know it came from the heart!

Annamaria

Item arrived quickly and in great shape. Very professional business relations. I recommend this buyer and this book.

Lots of fun. I've done all of the recipes on two other books in this series and have been impressed with almost all of them. I hope to try all of them in the future.