Dreamsicle Cookie Mix

1/2 cup Tang instant breakfast drink powder
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups vanilla chips
1-3/4 cups flour mixed with 1/2 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Layer ingredients in jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient.

Recipe to attach to jar:
Empty cookie mix in a large mixing bowl; stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg slightly beaten and 1 tsp. vanilla; mix until completely blended. Roll heaping tablespoonfuls into balls. Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake at 375º for 12 to 14 minutes or until tops are very lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: 2½ dozen.

Gift Giving Orange Cookie Mix

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 Tbsp. dried grated orange rind
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 teaspoons baking powder
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Combine flour, baking powder and orange rind - stir well. Place flour mixture in a clean mason jar. Pack down tight so everything will fit in the jar. (Use a spoon or a mallet.) Add other ingredients, one item at a time, packing each layer down. Put the lid on the jar and tie a ribbon around the lid. You can add a personalized label, if you wish. As an added touch, tie a wooden spoon to the lid with a piece of ribbon.

ADD THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS ON A GIFT CARD AND ATTACH TO JAR:

To make Orange Cookies:
Whip 1 cup of butter or shortening until light and fluffy. Add 2 eggs, 1/2 cup sour cream and 1 tsp. vanilla and beat until mixed. Stir in the ingredients from this jar until well combined. Drop teaspoons of dough on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees F. You can ice these with a thin icing made of 1 cup icing sugar and enough orange juice to make the icing spreadable.

Gingerbread Cookies in a Jar

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice

Mix 2 cups of the flour with the baking soda and baking powder. Mix the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour with the spices. In a one-quart, wide-mouth canning jar layer the ingredients starting with the flour baking powder mixture then the brown sugar and finally the flour and spice mixture.

Attach a card to the jar with the following directions:
Gingerbread Cookies

Empty contents of jar into a large mixing bowl. Blend together well.

Add 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine, 3/4 cup molasses and 1 slightly beaten egg. Mix until completely blended. Dough will be very stiff so you may need to use your hands. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Place cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes. Decorate as desired.

Makes 18 cookies.

Gourmet Cookie Mix in a Jar

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c chopped nuts, your choice
1-1/4 c rolled oats
1/2 c chocolate chips
1 (5.5 ounce) milk chocolate bar

With wire whisk, mix flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Pour into jar and pack down level with heavy object. Mix oatmeal in a blender.

Grate chocolate bar and mix into the oatmeal. Pack on top of flour in jar. Add white sugar and pack down. Add brown sugar and pack down.

Layer chopped nuts on top of brown sugar. Finish layering jar with chocolate chips until even with the top. Use scissors to cut a nine-inch-diameter circle from the fabric of your choice. Center fabric circle over lid and secure with a rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band.

Attach a card with the following directions:

Gourmet Cookies

Preheat oven to 375. Spoon chocolate chips and nuts into small bowl, set aside. Spoon brown and white sugar into mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup margarine or butter, cream well. Add 1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, mix well. Pour oatmeal and flour mixture from jar into bowl, mix thoroughly. Roll into walnut-sized balls, place on slightly greased cookie sheet two inches apart.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Yield: 3 dozen

Gumdrop Cookie Mix in a Jar

1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups (10 ounces) spiced gum drops, cut into pieces

Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda, and add to the jar. Add the brown sugar, and press down gently to form a layer.

Combine the granulated sugar and the gum drops to coat the cut pieces of the candy with sugar, to prevent the candy from clumping together. Add them to the jar.

Seal the jar, and store in a cool, dry place, away from a heat source.

Attach the following instructions to a gift tag:

Gumdrop Cookies

1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Contents of jar

Remove gum drops from the jar, and set aside. Empty remaining cookie mix into a large mixing bowl, and stir to combine. Add butter or margarine, egg and vanilla extract. Mix until completely blended. Add the gum drops, and mix gently. Shape into walnut-size balls, and place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 12 to 14 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.

Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet, then remove cookies, and put on baking racks to finish cooling.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.