Nothing shows your love better than a hug and the gift of something homemade. Here are some great holiday gift ideas that you can pack in a mason jar, including this delicious ruby red quince jam.
Since November is here, I think I can officially think about what the heck I’m going to give to friends and family for the holidays. If you are more organized than me, you might have all of your gifts figured out!
One of my favorite gifts I give every year to friends, neighbors, teachers or family are homemade gifts – especially food gifts. And today, I am going to share with you some great fall recipes and ideas, all wrapped up in a beautiful canning jar.
Jams and Jellies
As you know, I love jam. It’s a hug in a jar! And some of you have already canned your summer harvest to give away as gifts. From strawberry balsamic, plum, peach, kumquat or blueberry, summer jams bring a smile to faces that are shivering in the winter months.
Didn’t can anything during the summer? No problem! Fall fruits make wonderful jams, too! You can make jams with figs, pomegranate and my personal favorite, quince. You can also use your autumn apples and make apple butter or apple sauce. Look out for an apple recipe perfect for canning next week!
Intimidated with canning? Check out my step-by-step instructions on hot water canning here!
Cookies and Sweets
Need a unique way of gifting your holiday cookies? Make mini-sized treats and pack them in a mason jar. They are adorable, practical and downright unique. This works great for toffees, fudge and candies, as well.
Of course, you don’t have to bake. You can always layer the dry ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe in a mason jar and attach the recipe to it. Here’s the recipe for Dark Chocolate Roll-Out Cookies featured above.
Ah, nuts!
Got a health nut on your hands? I love roasting nuts and sprinkling them with my favorite spices and herbs. From cashews to walnuts, almonds to pecans, make them spicy or sweet. Anything goes! You can find the recipe here for Rosemary Roasted Cashews.
Other great uses for mason jars? I ended up with a boat-load of herbs this past summer, so I dried them and packed them away in mason jars. Make a spice collection using your home-dried herbs and give them away as gifts.
You can also bake in mason jars and make mini cakes or brownies. Once cooled, you screw on the top and presto! Your gift is ready to giveaway!
Making infused sugars is also a great gift! I love adding orange zest to sugar to make orange sugar. It adds so much flavor when you sprinkle over scones, muffins or cookies. Try it with lemon zest and vanilla bean, too!
The recipe I am sharing today is for one of my favorite jams, quince jam. It is an unusual jam, but if you are of middle eastern decent. Quince, as a fruit, looks like a cross between an apple and a pear. It is also hard as a rock and very bitter if you eat it raw. Don’t eat it raw.
When you cook quince, it remains soft, but firm. It has tremendous aroma that makes it quite unique. And to get this ruby red color, you have to cook it in a stainless or copper pot. It does not turn red in a nonstick pot. I am speaking from experience!
The transformation of your quince when making jam is quite fun and beautiful. Just like pears and apples, the quince can quickly brown when cut from oxidation. Otherwise, the fruit is pale white.
After simmering a bit in the sugar water, the color transforms from pale fruit and clear liquid, to a soft orangey pink concoction. Again, this color change only happens when you cook your jam in a stainless or copper pot.
Your jam is done when it is fork tender and the color is a deep crimson color, like this:
You can cut your quince fruit into any size chunks you like. My mom likes to eat a bite of jammed quince at a time, so she likes them in big chunks like this. But you can easily cut them into smaller pieces and mash it up once it is done cooking.
Quince jam makes a very stunning and unique gift. And since quince is fall-winter fruit, it is perfect for gift giving during the holidays!
Quince Jam
Homemade jam is easy to make. Although quince is typically hard and not edible raw, it softens during the cooking process and turns ruby red.
Ingredients:
- 2 lb quince
- 1 cup water
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 TBS lemon juice
Directions:
- Wash, core and cut into chunks:
- 2 lb quince
- In a stainless or copper pot whisk together:
- 1 cup water
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 TBS lemon juice
- Stir in the chopped quince.
- Place pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
- Cover the lid of the pot with a towel (to catch the steam), reduce heat to low and simmer until quince changes to a dark, ruby red color, approximately 2-3 hours.
- Stir quince every 30 minutes to keep from burning. If low on water, stir in more as needed.
- When jam is fork tender and ruby red in color, remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or, if you are canning your jam, click here for canning instructions.
Notes:
You can also add a stick of cinnamon, 4 cardamon pods or a star of anise for added flavor. Just remove after quince jam is done cooking.
The key to your quince jam to changing into a ruby red color is to use a stainless or copper pot. The towel around the lid of the pot is also crucial.
Prep Time:
Yield: fills 2 8-oz jars
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Giveaway!
And speaking of giveaways, do I have a gift for you! Freund Container and Supply is kind enough to get you started on your fall canning projects with a $100 gift certificate for any of the products you find here on their website. Now if that doesn’t get you motivated, I don’t know what else will!
And you don’t have to wait to win to get started your holiday projects. Freund Container and Supply is also offering a 10% discount off orders of $100 or more. Just enter in the code WOW10OFF when you check out.
Rules of the Contest:
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. There are several ways you can enter to win this $100 gift certificate:
Leave a comment below on your favorite canning recipe, craft project or your favorite way to use a mason jar.Like Freund Container and Supply on Facebook and leave a comment below that you did so.Follow Freund Container and Supply on Twitter and leave a comment below that you did so.Tweet about the giveaway: Win $100 gift certificate from @freundcontainer & ideas for homemade holiday gifts in a jar from @familyspice http://su.pr/2nci96
Only U.S. and Canadian residents can enter. Must enter by November 12, 2012. The winner of this contest was Andy from Isabel and Andy Cook.
Disclosure: Freund Container and Supply sent me a box of Legacy Mason Jars to review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. All opinions are completely and totally mine!
CJ at Food Stories says
I love to use mason jars to store all my dry beans, rice and grains in the pantry.
CJ at Food Stories says
“liked” on FB 🙂
CJ at Food Stories says
“follow” on Twitter 🙂
CJ at Food Stories says
“tweeted” the contest 🙂
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
What a great post – so full of lots of great ideas! I love canning salsa for gifts, and to just have in the pantry all winter long!
Jenne says
Cool gift ideas! I like making salsa, jams, and using them for fudge for gifts. Cupcake liners make a great decoration to go between lid and insert.
Jenne says
I followed Legacy on Facebook via Jenne Kopalek
Jenne says
I followed Legacy on Twitter via @MooshuJenne
Jenne says
I tweeted about the giveaway on twitter and here is the details https://twitter.com/MooshuJenne/status/265825814250131457
Robin Chesser says
I use canning jars to give people a part of my sourdough starter.
LiztheChef says
Great ideas – I’d better get going…I make a lot of toffee, but no cookies.
Shana says
I love mason jars for my smoothie add ins…ground oatmeal, raisins, chia seeds.
Nicole says
I love this gift idea! I was considering giving food gifts this year as well, and maybe I will use the jars! My favorite way to use mason jars is just for storage, like a glass tupperware when I make sauces or jams. Also to store grains, like quinoa.
Nicole says
Followed you on twitter! I am @tsiporahblog
Nicole says
I liked you on Facebook! I’m Nicole Small
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) says
I love using mason jars for gifts! My current favorite way of using a mason jar is mini pies in a jar in the 4oz size.
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) says
I liked Legacy Jars on Facebook
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) says
I followed Legacy Jars on Twitter
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) says
I tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/HomeCookMemory/status/265887114481258497
Jennifer Greenstein says
I love to put dry ingredients for cookies or treats in a jar and give them away as gifts!
Jennifer Greenstein says
I liked Legacy Jars on FB
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
What an awesome giveaway! I am OBSESSED with mason jars! I just can’t imagine how many I could buy with this gift certificate! 🙂
My favorite way to use a mason jar is packing up a salad for work.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Tweeted the giveaway! https://twitter.com/damn_delicious/status/265921529685090306
Terri says
My favorite thing to can is spaghetti sauce!
Trixie Rowe says
I love the versatility of mason jars! A very good friend of mine and I used some on a class project for our 5th graders to create snow globes 🙂 I love how old fashioned they look with a bouquet of fresh flowers in them. My daughter loves to use them to store her pretty hair ties and organize her small toys. Occasionally, I like to fill it with a pretty colored drink on a hot summer day (ie Sangria with the girlfriends!).
Sara C says
My favorite canning recipe for fall is smoked pickled garlic. When you pickle garlic, it loses some of the astringency and gives it a little sweet flavor. GREAT for fall projects!
Sara C says
Liked on Facebook!
Annabell says
Mason jars are great for canning and just this year I canned loquat jam, which was very tasty! My tree is producing some nice fruit right now so that is what I will be working with in the next couple of months.
Madeline says
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/266242597998170112
Madeline says
I like Freund Container and Supply on Facebook (FB name: Madeline Brubaker).
Madeline says
I follow Freund Container and Supply on Twitter (@shala_darkstone).
Zan says
I canned pasta sauce!
Tony says
I always remember canning pickles with my grandmother. Those were the most delicious pickles in the world.
Tony says
Liked Freund Container and Supply on the Book of Face.
Tony says
Followed Freund Container and Supply on The Twitter.
Tony says
Tweeted about the contest: https://twitter.com/tokarrai/status/266274930650386432
Ann Marie says
Following you and Freund on Twitter and tweeted the message. Just found you through Pinterest. So glad i did! I can’t wait to make your Rosemary Roasted Cashews.
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I haven’t had a chance (or courage?) to work with mason jars yet. I know I know… I should. Parts of me being lazy is causing this! It’s nice to be exposed to some new gift ideas. I always feel like no one wants my homemade stuff but I actually love getting homemade stuff. I’m not sure about just my gift… haha.
Marnely Rodriguez-Murray says
I love keeping kosher salt in a jar and then scraping a vanilla bean in it to make vanilla salt! The jar is the perfect vessel for my vanilla baking salt!
Gina says
I liked Freund Container and Supply on Facebook!
Melissa H. says
Liked on Facebook!
Melissa H. says
I’m a follower on twitter, too! @melissahiatt
Melissa H. says
I tweeted about the giveaway!
https://twitter.com/melissahiatt/status/266590309784367104
Melissa H. says
I like to use the jars to store my home made chocolate sauce, turn them into votive holders, flower vases, and I’ve even canned some guava jelly with them. They’re so versatile!
Lysa says
Followed on twitter and Facebook! Tweeted also! I love Freund Containers! I used some bottles from them for a baby shower I helped host! I’d love to give sole Christmas goodies using Freund Containers! http://www.garciamemories.com/2012/08/my-sis-in-law-had-great-theme-idea-for.html
cookingrookie says
I made jams, but not real canning – I always managed to finish the jam within a couple of weeks :-). I have not used mason jars yet, but I have seen so many amazing pie-in-a-jar recipes, and I would love to try one of them. And using them for gifts, like in your post, also sounds like a great idea!
cookingrookie says
I liked Freund on Facebook
Michelle says
I LOVE making my own jelly putting it in mason jars for gifts!!
cookingrookie says
I followed Freund on Twitter
cookingrookie says
And I tweeted about the giveaway – fingers crossed 🙂
Melissa B says
I don’t have a favorite recipe….yet! This will be my first Holiday season making/canning gifts for everyone. I’m so nervous, but SO excited! Thanks for the great recipe ideas in your post!
Melissa B says
*liked* on FB
Melissa B says
followed on twitter!
Melissa B says
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/MelissaBadour/statuses/266601181571325954 Can you tell I’m excited for this?!?! lol
Asmita says
I love mason jars and use them all the time. Your gift ideas are superb! Love them.
Jen says
My kids love helping to layer the dry ingredients in the cookie-mix-in-a-jar gifts.
Jen says
I tweeted about it: https://twitter.com/LifeWithKids_/status/266610300449611776
Becky says
Okay, now you’ve got me wanting to do soup in a jar. Put the dry ingredients, spices & pasta in, attach the recipe. Or cookies! I always like that idea, too.
Julie says
As a new herbalist, I love putting all of the dried herbs that I harvested in to the mason jars and have started making salves and tea blends for friends and family so I love to use all sizes!
Kristen M. says
Yes, I’m one of those intimidated folks but I want to learn! My favorite use of canning jars is to pack them as drinking glass on camping trips. My husband and I like to bring along a bottle of wine to share beneath the starts. Packing a fancy wine glass, or drinking out of a water bottle just won’t do! The bonus is that we can pack small items inside the lidded canning jar for extra storage to and from the campsite.
Kristen M. says
I liked Freund on FB.
Stephanie T. says
I love pickles. I love their simplicity and I love their versatility. My other favorite is cran-apple jam. It’s a perfect jam for fall/winter and everyone in my family loves it!
Stephanie T. says
I liked Freund on facebook.
Stephanie T. says
I follow Freund on Twitter via @StephLovesToCan
Julie says
I just made some vanilla sugar! 🙂
Jana H says
I follow Freund on Twitter (@CandleLynnCC)
Jana H says
I liked Freund on Facebook (Jana H)
Jana H says
I love to make candles in mason jars! I have been doing it for years. Of course, I use them for food storage, etc also. 🙂
jacquie says
i use mason jar for storage of beans, homemade granola, rice etc. the jars keep the products fresh and bugs out.
TERESA says
I use them for all kinds of storage, even use for drinking to go glasses. Following on Twitter ! Thanks for the give a way 😉
Marie says
I use jars for pickling cucumbers and beets. I also use them to store nuts, popcorn kernels and chocolate chips. I loveee mason jars!
I also used them as flower vases for my wedding.
I have liked Freund on FB & Follow on twitter.
Jessica / Green Skies and Sugar Trips says
I love to make pickles!!! And Jams, and Jellies.
Honestly I love it all!!!!!
I love being able to provide good food for my family all year long!
shannon oconnor says
Liked on facebook
Jessica / Green Skies and Sugar Trips says
I liked Freund on facebook!!
Jessica / Green Skies and Sugar Trips says
I just followed you on twitter! I’m @bellacake
Jessica / Green Skies and Sugar Trips says
I tweeted about the giveaway! https://twitter.com/bellacake/status/268116296892309505
Andy Tanner says
Isabel brought home a book from the library called Glass Jar Art and has decided to make a Wacky Monster for her brother and the picture paperweight for her grandmother for Christmas gifts. I will be canning cranberries!
Jenny says
I love canning – all kinds – – something about food in a jar. Love it.
Andy Tanner says
I “liked” Freund Container on Facebook
Jenny says
I tweeted the giveaway @icywit
Jenny says
I liked Freund on Facebook.
Andy Tanner says
I tweeted about the giveaway!
Andy Tanner says
I’m following Freund Container on Twitter! Thanks
Debbie Hansen says
I use them for Manhattan Clam Chowder; a family tradition.
Debbie Hansen says
Liked on FB
Debbie Hansen says
Following on Twitter