Chocolate Cherries Cookies Mix in a Jar

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups dried cherries
1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Other Supplies:
1 wide mouth quart size canning jar per child
Rings and flat lids
Colorful print fabric to cut in 6-inch circles
Dry measuring cups
Paper, pencils, color markers to make labels
Tape or yarn to attach labels

1. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and baking soda.

2. In a wide mouth quart jar, layer ingredients in order listed. Press after each layer before adding next ingredient.

3. Prepare the label instructions

Tips for Packing Mix Jars

-Use dry measuring cups and measure accurately
-Do not assume a pasta sauce or mayonnaise jar is a quart.
-Blend the flour, baking powder, soda and salt with a wire whisk
-Pack layers tightly in the order they are listed so all the ingredients will fit and won't get mixed up
-If you want to keep two layers separate, cut a circle of wax paper and lay between.
-If baking cocoa is in the middle, wipe down the inside of the jar with
paper towel to prevent streaking.
-Place lid on to pack tightly the last layer.
-Lay fabric ring over lid and screw on the ring portion of the lid.
Attach ingredient list and directions with tape or punch a hole and tie
it on with yarn or ribbon.

Attach the following recipe on a gift label:

Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Makes 3 dozen

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Empty jar of cookie mix into a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly blend the mix ingredients. Add 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened, 1 large egg, slightly beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until completely blended—it will be a very stiff mix and may require hand mixing.

Grease or line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Shape dough in to balls the size of walnuts. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on a baking sheet. Remove to racks to finish cooling.

Recipe ingredients: Dried cherries, enriched wheat flour, chocolate chips, butter, granulated and brown sugars, whole egg, cocoa, baking powder, vanilla extract, and baking soda

Nutrition Facts: One of 36 cookies (1.1 ounces each) provides approximately: 131 calories, 1 g protein, 20 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 5 g total fat (2 g saturated), 6 mg cholesterol, 10 mcg folate, 1 g iron, 72 mg sodium

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of the Wheat Foods Council