40 mason jar Christmas gifts, from painted snowman jars and cookie mixes to hot cocoa, sugar scrubs and simmer pots, all budget-friendly and easy to make.
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Hey there crafty friends! This mason jar gift post has been on my blog since 2018, and it was way overdue for a refresh. I dropped the dead links, kept the favorites that still hold up, and added a bunch of new ones. Now it’s 40 mason jar Christmas gifts!
You’ll find painted character jars, cookie and brownie mixes, hot cocoa and treat jars, sugar scrubs, simmer pots and a few glowing jars. A mason jar costs next to nothing, and with a little paint or a layered mix it turns into a gift people actually use. These come from creators I love, plus one of my own.
Speaking of, start with my DIY snow globe candle. It turns a plain jar candle into a little snow globe. And if you have kids who want to make gifts too, my rock painting kit in a jar is a fun one to fill.
The Best Mason Jar Christmas Gifts
I put my snow globe candle first, then rounded up my favorites from other creators and sorted them into groups. Every one links to the full tutorial or video. Grab a coffee (or a mug of that homemade cocoa), because this list is long!
Mason Jar Candles and Glowing Jars
Let’s start with the cozy stuff. A little glow makes any gift feel special, and these are all easy to pull off.
Got extra lids after all this jar crafting? My jar lid Christmas ornaments put them to good use.
1. DIY Snow Globe Candle
This is my little snow globe hack for a jar candle. I snap the tab off a 4-inch fillable plastic ornament, then hot glue half of it over faux snow, mini bottle brush trees and tiny gift boxes on the candle lid. Pro tip: press at the base of the tab with pliers so it snaps off clean, then wrap ribbon around the seam to hide the glue.
2. Mason Jar Christmas Lantern
Kimberly layers cotton balls and faux snow in a mason jar, tucks in a few mini trees, then coils a strand of battery fairy lights inside before closing the lid. Such a cozy little glow for a nightstand or mantel, and every step has a photo.
3. Peppermint Mason Jar Candles
Crystal melts soy wax flakes, stirs in 15 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil and pours it into a mason jar around a centered wick. A pencil keeps the wick straight while it sets. Homemade candles always feel like a fancy gift, and these smell like Christmas.
4. Glowing Dollar Tree Mason Jar Arrangement
The Cozy Christmas Cottage turns a Dollar Tree mason jar into a Christmas arrangement that glows. The video is under a minute long, so it’s a great one to watch before you head to the store.
Painted and Decorated Christmas Mason Jars
Snowmen, reindeer, elves and Santa! With these, the jar is half the gift and the treats inside are the other half. Most just need paint, a hot glue gun and a few odds and ends from your craft stash.
Want even more jar makeovers? Check out my roundup of the best mason jar crafts.
5. Christmas Sweater Mason Jars
Linda primes pint mason jars, paints ugly-Christmas-sweater stripes using washi tape as her guide, distresses the edges, then dots on snowflakes with a white paint pen. Fill them with candy and you’ve got a gift plus a cute jar to keep.
6. Painted Frosty, Rudolph and Santa Jars
Louise paints three mason jars as Frosty, Rudolph and Santa with acrylic paint, then adds the details with puffy paint and red glitter glue. They’re easy enough for young kids, so this is a great pick if the kids want to make gifts for their teachers.
7. Painted Snowman Mason Jar
Jane and Sonja use tape as a resist: stick on the eye and button shapes, paint the jar white in a few coats, then peel the tape for clean circles. A carrot nose, a button mouth and a black lid finish him off, and there’s a video too.
8. Reindeer Mason Jar
Lalaine spray paints a mason jar brown, glues on craft stick antlers, big googly eyes and a red pom pom nose, then finishes the rim with burlap ribbon and a yarn bow. Fill it with cookies or candy. How cute is that?
9. Reindeer Candy Jar
Melissa fills a mason jar with Whoppers or chocolate-covered pretzels, then hot glues on pipe cleaner antlers and a red pom pom nose. The printed tag gets googly eyes too. Super quick if you need a bunch of neighbor gifts.
10. Dollar Store Santa Belt Jar
Katie started with a $1 Dollar Tree jar, added a belt with spray adhesive and a thrifted buckle, filled it with mint M&M’s, and finished it with twine, gold bells and greenery. A dollar store jar plus a thrift store find? Yes, please.
11. Elf Mason Jar
Melissa fills a smooth mason jar with green candy, then hot glues a zig-zag felt elf collar and white buttons around it. A printed tag, red baker’s twine and a tiny jingle bell finish it off. Easy peasy.
12. Holiday Snowman Jars
Bev turns quart canning jars into big snowmen with paper faces, lids painted black for top hats, and fabric scarves tied around the necks. Fill them with marshmallows, popcorn or cookies and they’re ready to give.
13. Sweater Snowman Mason Jar
This snowman jar has a sweater hat, glitter snow, a homespun scarf, a little greenery, a painted face and a rusty bell. It’s a cozy, rustic take, and Creating Through Chaos walks you through every little detail.
14. Decoupaged Holiday Mason Jars
Paint a glass jar, then Mod Podge a pretty holiday paper napkin onto it. This video shows the whole thing in under three minutes, and it’s a great way to use up jars from the recycling bin.
15. Gingerbread Man in a Jar Play Dough Kit
Noirin makes a batch of gingerbread-spiced play dough and packs it into a mason jar with googly eyes, buttons, pipe cleaners and a gingerbread man cookie cutter. What kid wouldn’t want to open that?
16. Mason Jar Tissue Dispenser
Handmade Happy Hour turns a mason jar into a decorated tissue dispenser with Mod Podge. It’s a practical little gift, and the video shows it in under a minute.
Cookie and Brownie Mixes in a Jar
Layered mixes are a classic for a reason. They look so pretty, they’re cheap to make in a batch, and your friend gets fresh-baked cookies whenever they want them.
Pro tip: always tie on the baking directions, including what to add, like butter and eggs.
17. Christmas Cookies in a Jar
Sally layers two cookie mixes, Christmas M&M and chocolate peppermint bark, and shares free printable tags with the baking directions. Her recipes are so reliable, which is exactly what you want when someone else is doing the baking.
18. Holiday M&M Cookie Mix in a Jar
Amy layers flour, two sugars, red and green M&M’s and chocolate chips in a jar, then ties on a printable tag with the baking directions. Her post has photos of the layering, so it’s easy to get those neat stripes.
19. Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Mix
Amber shares two jar recipes, chocolate peppermint and double chocolate toffee, with free printable tags and recipe cards. She taps each layer flat as she goes so the stripes stay neat.
20. Peppermint Bark Cookie Mix
Chelsea’s mix starts with brownie mix and instant pudding, then gets chopped peppermint bark and chocolate chips layered on top. Whoever gets the jar just adds cream cheese, butter and an egg yolk. There’s a free printable recipe, too.
21. Gingerbread Cookie Mix in a Jar
Jennifer layers flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and dark brown sugar for a gingerbread cookie mix. She includes a printable instruction tag and a jar-top label. Tie a cookie cutter to the jar and you’re set.
22. Brownie Mix in a Jar
Somewhat Simple layers a homemade brownie mix in pint mason jars, ties them with baker’s twine, and shares a printable gift tag plus a recipe card. Brownie people are cookie people’s best friends.
23. Brownies in a Jar with Walnuts
Lucy layers milk and white chocolate chips and walnuts over the dry ingredients, and shares a free printable gift tag. She blogs from Australia, so double check the measurements against your measuring cups.
24. Four Easy Gifts in a Jar
MotherThyme makes four gifts in a jar in one video: a holiday simmer pot, beer bread mix, homemade pancake mix and chocolate chip cookies in a jar. The measurements are in the video description, and her blog has free printable tags.
25. Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar
Something savory for your list! Maison ZiZou layers a friendship soup mix in a mason jar in just a few minutes. A nice change from all the sweets.
Hot Cocoa and Sweet Treat Jars
Hot cocoa mixes, s’mores, candy jars and a jar of hot fudge. These are the gifts that disappear first.
If you’re on a peppermint kick like me, my candy cane crafts roundup has more sweet ideas.
26. Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Liz makes her hot chocolate mix with powdered milk, creamer, powdered sugar and cocoa, then layers it in a pint jar with chocolate chips and candy canes. She has two free printable tags.
27. Mini Mason Jar Hot Cocoa Gift
Sarah packs hot cocoa mix into 8-ounce mini mason jars and tops it with marshmallows and chips. She shares seven flavor variations and a free printable tag, no sign-up needed. Love that.
28. Peppermint Hot Cocoa Layered Mix
Bev’s peppermint hot cocoa mix has five layers with crushed candy canes on top, so it looks so pretty through the glass. She includes a printable jar label and a non-layered option, too.
29. S’mores Mason Jar Gifts
Kimberly mixes Golden Grahams, holiday M&M’s and mini marshmallows, fills mason jars and ties on a printable tag with baker’s twine. No baking at all, and kids could totally help assemble these.
30. Reindeer Nose Gift Jars
Jamie fills mason jars with Whoppers and cherry sours as reindeer noses, then adds twig antlers, googly eyes and ribbon. The free tag needs an email sign-up, but you could easily write your own.
31. White Christmas Oreo Treat Jar
Lolly Jane stacks white-dipped Oreos in a wide-mouth pint mason jar and ties on a printable tag with baker’s twine. A no-bake gift you can pull together in an afternoon.
32. Salted Hot Fudge Sauce
Ann makes her salted hot fudge with unsweetened chocolate, butter, evaporated milk and sugar, then pours it into mason jars for gifting. Pair it with a pint of ice cream and you’re everyone’s favorite.
33. Candied Almonds
Chloe coats almonds in egg white and brown and white sugar, then bakes them. One batch fills about five 8-ounce mason jars, and she has a free printable label. Easy to make in bulk for neighbors.
Pampering and Simmer Pot Gifts in a Jar
For the friend who needs a break! Sugar scrubs, a full spa day in a jar, and simmer pots that make the whole house smell like Christmas.
34. Peppermint Pampering Gift Jar
Tonia packs a whole spa day into one jar: homemade peppermint body butter, sugar scrub and foot soak with printable labels, plus mint chocolate, a cocoa packet and a manicure set. This one’s a showstopper.
35. Easy Peppermint Sugar Scrub
Crissy mixes sugar, melted coconut oil and peppermint essential oil, with an optional red swirl for a candy cane look. She has free printable labels and step photos.
36. Peppermint Sugar Scrub with Free Label
Ashley’s peppermint sugar scrub makes enough to fill 16-ounce mason jars, with an optional red swirl and a free label and gift tag. Every step has a photo.
37. Rosemary Mint Sugar Scrub
Not everyone loves straight peppermint! Katie’s scrub mixes sugar and salt with a carrier oil plus rosemary and peppermint essential oils for a fresher, herby scent.
38. Cranberry Orange Stovetop Potpourri
Deanna packs fresh cranberries, rosemary, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg into a mason jar, then tops it with burlap and a tag. Your friend just adds water and simmers, and the whole house smells like Christmas.
39. Simmer Pot Jars
Alexia packs simmer pot ingredients into jars for a quick holiday gift. It’s a short video, so you’ll get the idea in under a minute.
40. Five Pampering Gifts in Dollar Tree Jars
Melanie makes five gifts using Dollar Tree jars: a simmer pot jar, a brown sugar lip scrub, body butter, a lavender Epsom salt soak and a pearl sand candle. The recipes are right in the video description.
Tips for Making Mason Jar Christmas Gifts
A few tips I picked up from the creators in this roundup:
- Tap each layer flat. Amber at Crazy Little Projects taps her cookie mix layers flat as she goes, so the stripes stay neat.
- Always tie on the directions. Most of the mixes here come with a printable tag or recipe card that tells your friend what else to add.
- Hold candle wicks straight with a pencil. That’s how Crystal at A Pumpkin and A Princess keeps the wicks centered in her peppermint candles while the wax sets.
- Use tape as a paint resist. Jane and Sonja at Sustain My Craft Habit tape on the eyes and buttons for their painted snowman jar, paint over them, then peel for crisp circles.
- Go mini. Sarah at Ruffles and Rain Boots uses 8-ounce mini jars for her hot cocoa gifts, which is perfect when you need a bunch for neighbors.
- Check Dollar Tree for jars. Katie at Little House of Four started her Santa belt jar with a $1 Dollar Tree jar, and Melanie uses Dollar Tree jars for all five of her pampering gifts.
Ways to Make Them Your Own
There’s no real wrong way to fill a jar. A few ideas:
- Swap the chips or candy in any cookie mix for whatever your family loves.
- Turn a painted character jar into a cookie jar, a candy jar or a utensil holder.
- Pair the jar with a little extra, like a mug with the hot cocoa or a wooden spoon with a cookie mix.
- Change up the colors for other holidays. Pastel painted jars are sweet for Easter, and red and pink works for Valentine’s Day.
Mason Jar Christmas Gifts FAQs
What can you put in a mason jar for a Christmas gift?
Almost anything! Layered cookie or brownie mixes, hot cocoa mix, candy, candied nuts, hot fudge, sugar scrubs, simmer pot ingredients or a homemade candle all fit right in a mason jar.
How do you layer a cookie mix in a jar?
Add the flour mixture first, then each sugar, then the chips or candy on top, tapping each layer flat as you go. Most of the mixes in this list come with a printable tag or recipe card for the baking directions.
Where can you buy cheap mason jars?
Dollar Tree carries mason-style jars. Little House of Four used a $1 Dollar Tree jar for the Santa belt jar, and Melanie Ferguson used Dollar Tree jars for her pampering gifts.
What are good mason jar gifts for neighbors or teachers?
Quick, inexpensive ones you can make in a batch: mini hot cocoa jars, candied almonds, reindeer candy jars or a peppermint sugar scrub.
Pin These Mason Jar Christmas Gifts for Later
Which One Would You Try?
Okay, I need to know. Are you team cookie mix, team painted snowman or team sugar scrub? Tell me in the comments which one you’re making first!
A huge thank you to all the creators featured here for sharing such great ideas. And if you make one, come back and tell me how it turned out!
More Christmas Roundups You’ll Love
- Candy Cane Crafts: wreaths, ornaments and treats with a candy cane twist.
- Sentimental Homemade Christmas Gifts from Kids: sweet handmade gifts the kids can make.
- 16 Creative Christmas Rice Krispie Treats: festive no-bake treats for parties and gifting.
- The Best Mason Jar Crafts: mason jar ideas for every season.
- Jar Lid Christmas Ornaments: a fun way to use up the extra lids.
Raisin (my crafty pup) and I thank you for stopping by. Happy making, friends!