Best Homemade Granola in a Jar Gift: Baked With Love (+2 Free Tags!)
Homemade granola in a jar is the perfect blend of cozy and delicious!
If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift that’s easy, affordable, and heartwarming, this is it! Whether you make a big batch to share with neighbors, teachers, or friends, this homemade treat feels special without being complicated.
Place it in a mason jar, tie on a festive ribbon, and add one of the cute free printable tags below. There’s a tag for Christmas another for any time of year.
You’ll have a gift that’s as lovely to look at as it is to eat.
This easy granola in a jar gift proves you don’t need to spend much to share something special.
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Why This Gift Is So Amazing
This is honestly one of my favorite things to make for my family AND give to others as gifts. It makes an excellent gift for:
- Christmas
- Birthdays
- Teacher appreciation
- Welcoming baby
And more! Here’s what makes it so special:
It’s Healthy
Sweets are everywhere, especially during the holidays. But I love knowing that this baked granola is hearty and filling.
- It’s healthier than most breakfast cereals (and store-bought granolas).
- The recipe calls for honey instead of processed sugar.
- And it can be paired with yogurt (probiotics) and berries (antioxidants).
It’s Delicious
And even though it’s a healthier option, it’s so stinking delicious. I ALWAYS double the recipe for my family of five. And it’s still gone within a week.
It doesn’t Add to Your Clutter
Most of us don’t need another thing to figure out where to put in our homes. This is one gift idea that isn’t going to add to the burden.
It’s Easy
While it takes a while to bake in the oven, it only takes a few minutes to actually make this granola. You’ll throw it together and move on quickly. Oh, and it’s going to make your home smell amazing while baking too.
It’s Beautiful
For a gift, I always add berries for color (and because it tastes amazing in the granola)
It’s Budget-Friendly
One of my favorite things about this granola is that it’s so versatile. I’ve made it at least 50 times and done something different almost every time. I’ll put variations down below, but the point is that you can use things you have on hand and it’s still going to turn out delicious.
Granola in a Jar Gift on a Budget
Granola Ingredients (With Nuts)
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups mixed chopped nuts of your choice (in the pictures, I used chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, and slivered almonds)
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (flakes work too)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (if you use salted nuts or seeds, it doesn’t need the extra salt. If you use raw nuts, add it in)
- 6 tablespoons butter (3/4 stick) or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Granola in a Jar Ingredients Without Nuts
If you know that your recipient can’t do nuts, here’s a nut free version that’s just as tasty:
- 5 cups rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (if you use salted nuts or seeds, it doesn’t need the extra salt. If you use raw nuts, add it in)
- 6 tablespoons butter (3/4 stick) or coconut oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
How to Make This Granola in a Jar
(The directions are the same whether you use the recipe with or without nuts.)
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Farenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together all of your dry ingredients: rolled oats, nuts, seeds, shredded coconut, spices, and salt until well combined.
- In a small pot over medium heat, melt together your butter (or oil) and honey. Once melted, add your vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix together well.
- Use a rubber spatula to spread your granola mixture onto your prepared baking sheet. Make sure it’s evenly distributed and bake for 75 minutes.
- Let cool, then crumble it into cereal. Store in an airtight container.
- Eat it with yogurt or milk and berries.
This granola will store well in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, but I seriously doubt it will last that long. You can also put extra in a ziplock and freeze it for later.
Smart Granola in a Jar Money-Saving Tips
- Start with what you have. You likely already have the spices, some nuts, and some oats. Start there and then only buy what you need.
- Go without the nuts. It’s quite a bit cheaper if you cut down on the nuts or take them out. I often stretch the recipe with more rolled oats to save money. (Just keep your total amount the same. For example, if you take out 1/2 cup of nuts, add 1/2 cup of oats)
- Buy whole nuts and chop them yourself. Or stick them in your food processor. It takes a little longer, but it is cheaper than buying nuts already chopped.
- Look for sales on fruit. The berries are another ingredient that’s more expensive. But if you can find a sale (especially if you’re making multiple gifts at Christmas), you can save big.
- Leave the berries out. I love adding the berries to the gift, but you don’t have to. The granola in a jar gift is a thoughtful gift idea whether you have berries on the side or not.
- Use store brands. Generic oats, seeds, and nuts taste the same at half the price.
- Buy in bulk: Warehouse clubs and bulk bins stretch your dollar when making large batches. My oats, coconut oil, and some of the nuts came from Costco.
More Variations to This Recipe
As I said, I’ve made this recipe dozens of ways. Here are a few great ways to switch things up to save money or accomodate your food preferences.
- Run out of coconut oil or butter? I’ve substituted peanut butter for some of it before. It’s still yummy.
- I buy gluten free oats to make this recipe gluten free for my husband. (Oats are supposed to be naturally gluten free, but some are still made in facilities with wheat so they can’t be labeled as such)
- If you don’t have (or like) pumpkin seeds, you can swap for sunflower seeds. Or take the seeds out and add more oats and nuts.
- Over time, I’ve found that slivered almonds are easier for kids to eat than chopped. We also love cashews in this recipe for some of the nuts.
- This is an incredibly easy recipe to make large batches. I double it every time and have even quadrupled it before.
Grab The Free Gift Tag Printable
Now, these free printable tags for granola in a jar have the ingredients listed. With so many people dealing with food allergies these days, this is nice for people to have.
In order to gift this to neighbors, friends, or family:
- Fill mason jars or bags with your granola
- Sign up to download and print the free printable tag you want below. I recommend printing on cardstock so it’s sturdier.
- Use a hole punch to punch a hole in it.
- Tie your jar and printable tag with ribbon.
That’s it! Now download the tags below. The file is large, so I’ll email it straight to you.
More Affordable Holiday Ideas
- Homemade Food Gifts Everyone Will Love
- Easy Christmas Appetizers (Easy On Your Budget Too!)
- Cheap Christmas Activities Everyone Will Enjoy
What’s Next?
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