Genius Christmas Recipe Jars

It's a great present idea for anyone with kids, and they're incredibly easy to make! We have recipes for gluten-free Shortbread and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Here's how to create your perfect Christmas Recipe Jars....

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Jar

To make the ingredients jar:

Ingredients

• 110g/4oz granulated sugar
• 110g/4oz soft light brown sugar
• 85g/3oz rice flour
• 85g/3oz cornmeal or ground almonds
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 85g/3oz dark chocolate (chopped)

1. Mix together the granulated sugar, baking powder and salt (granulated sugar mix).
2. Layer ingredients into your jar in the following order: soft light brown sugar, granulated sugar mix, ground almonds/cornmeal, rice flour, chocolate (wrapped in a cling film pouch).
3. Decorate your jar with a scrap of fabric (you can trace a circle of fabric out neatly by using an upturned breakfast bowl), a pretty ribbon, and attach the instructions below.

Instructions

You will need to add:

• 110g/ 4 oz softened butter or dairy free margarine
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tbsp milk/ dairy free milk

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 350°F/ gas mark 4. Line 3 baking sheets with greaseproof paper and lightly oil them. Sprinkle a spoonful of gluten free flour over the baking trays until the oil is evenly covered.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with a wooden spoon or whisk until it’s pale and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well.
3. Remove the chocolate from the top of the jar.
4. Sieve the rest of the cookie mix into the beaten butter and mix together. Stir in the tablespoon of milk/ dairy free milk and the chopped chocolate.
5. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly.
6. Shape heaped teaspoons of dough into small balls. Place on the lined baking trays 2 inches (5cm) apart.
7. Bake for about 15 minutes at 180oC/ 350oF/ gas mark 4 or until the cookies are lightly browned. Leave the cookies for 30 seconds to set then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
8. The cookies are best served freshly made, but they will keep for up to two days in an airtight container.

Gluten-Free Shortbread Recipe Jar

To make the ingredients jar:

Ingredients

• 55g/ 2 oz caster sugar
• 85g/ 3oz ground almonds
• 85g/ 3oz rice flour
• Optional – 85g sultanas or 1 tsp mixed spice to add a festive twist

1. Layer ingredients into your jar in the following order: caster sugar, ground almonds, rice flour, sultanas (wrapped in a cling film pouch).
2. Decorate your jar with a scrap of fabric (you can trace a circle of fabric out neatly by using an upturned breakfast bowl), a pretty ribbon, and attach the instructions below.

Instructions

You will need to add:

• 110g/ 4oz butter or dairy free margarine

1. Preheat the oven to 150°C/ 300°F/ gas mark 2.
2. Beat the butter or dairy free margarine with a wooden spoon in a large mixing bowl until it is soft and pale. Remove the pouch of sultanas and add to the beaten butter.
3. Sieve the remaining contents of the jar into the bowl and stir together with the butter or dairy free margarine.
4. Trying not to handle the mixture too much, shape the dough into a ball and place on a floured surface (we recommend using gluten free flour for this). Flatten the dough to around 2.5cm/ 1 inch thick and the cover with cling film. Chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm it up.
5. Put the dough on a floured surface and roll it out to 5mm/ ¼ inch think using a floured rolling pin. Use the attached cookie cutter to cut out your shortbread shapes and place them on a baking sheet. Make sure there is enough space between your shortbread shapes to allow them to expand in the oven.
6. Gather up the excess dough trimmings into a ball and roll it out. Use the cookie cutter to cut out more biscuits. Repeat this until you have used up the dough.
7. Bake the shortbread on the middle shelf of your preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes or until it is a light golden colour.
8. Leave the shortbread to harden for 30 seconds when you remove it from the oven before your transfer it to a wire rack to cool.