PRIME TIME WITH KIDS: Make ‘Brownie Mix in a Jar’ for a holiday gift

By Donna Erickson

It’s a handmade and homemade kind of holiday season this year.

If there are still some people on your gift list you wish to remember with a little something, or you need some grab-and-go hostess gifts on hand for parties and get-togethers, create this “from your kitchen” gift idea in an afternoon this week.

Be sure to get your kids involved in making this creative go-to stash of gift jars filled with the dried ingredients for making super chocolaty, chewy and moist brownies. A throwback kitchen craft, this updated version is fun to assemble with even your preschooler. What 4-year-old doesn’t like to scoop and pour? That’s what building the layers of brownie ingredients in a jar is all about as they work to create an artful gift of yummy ingredients.

Here’s how to make a “Brownie Mix in a Jar”:

1. Assembly-line fashion, set out the ingredients, including clean, wide-mouth quart-size jars and lids, on the kitchen counter or a large table. Place a measuring spoon or measuring cup by each ingredient, along with a card stating the name of the ingredient and the correct quantity to scoop into each jar.

2. Layer the following ingredients, in the following order, for one recipe. Pack firmly before adding the next layer. (Use a narrow drinking glass to tamp down ingredients.)

  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa powder
  • 2/3 cup white granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white or dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 1/2 cup small, unwrapped candy, such as M&M’s (optional)

3. Secure lid, add a gift tag and a card with these baking instructions:

CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Makes 6 large brownies

Heat oven to 350 F.

Grease or line the bottom of an 8-inch pan with parchment paper.

Pour contents of the jar into a large mixing bowl, and add:

  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Stir lightly until blended, then pour into pan and bake for 25 minutes.

Cool in pan, cut into squares and serve.

******

Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit www.donnasday.com and link to the NEW Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.”

© 2018 Donna Erickson

Distributed by King Features Syndicate

 

 

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS: Make ‘Brownie Mix in a Jar’ for a holiday gift–