How to Make Mason Jar Brownies

I have a confession to make: I’m terrible at making brownies. I’ve tried lots of different recipes, and most of the time, I botch them. I make them too thick so the edges burn and the middle stays gooey. Sometimes, I make them too sweet or too bitter. They never turn out quite the same way.

Except for these mason jar brownies.

Time and time again, these brownies have saved me whenever I need a fast dessert. I just dump the ingredients from the jar into a bowl, and soon I have brownies that stay consistently delicious with minimal cleanup.

how to make mason jar brownies for gifts

Perfect Gifts for the Holidays

When I had my baby, I didn’t have a lot of time or money to shop around for gifts for all my friends and family. I wanted to give a sincere gift that didn’t look like a cop-out or a gag present that would add clutter to their lives.

So I bought a few baking ingredients in bulk, used some leftover mason jars I already had on hand, and gave these little mason jar brownies to everyone I knew. The jars turned out cute, the brownies turned out tasty, and the holidays turned out to be as cozy as I hoped.

Now you can make my favorite mason jar brownies for your friends and family and spread the love. If you’re not a fan of brownies, I also have instructions for almond joy cookie jars.

What You’ll Need

Mason Jar Brownies are easy to assemble, but you will need the following items:

While you can make these jars without any strings attached, I prefer to decorate my jars whenever I give them away to friends and family. If you’re feeling crafty, feel free to use any ribbon, buttons, twine, or tags for extra razzle dazzle.

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how to make mason jar brownies for gifts

Mason Jar Brownies

An easy, affordable gift that you can make for friends and family during the holidays. Or, make these tasty brownies ahead of time for yourself so you can enjoy a dessert with little fuss or stress.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Squares
Calories 84 kcal

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients for Brownie Jar

  • 200 Grams White Granulated Sugar (1 Cup)
  • 60 Grams All-Purpose Flour (1/2 Cup)
  • 33 Grams Cocoa Powder (1/3 Cup)
  • 1.5 Grams Baking Powder (1/4 Teaspoon)
  • 1.5 Grams Salt (1/4 Teaspoon)

Optional

  • 63 Grams Mini Chocolate Chips (1/4 Cup)

Wet Ingredients to Mix in Later

  • 96 Grams Vegetable Oil (1/2 Cup)
  • 4.2 Grams Vanilla Extract (1 Teaspoon)
  • 2 Large Eggs

Instructions
 

To Make the Brownie Jar

  • In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.*
  • Use a funnel to pour the brownie mix into a pint-sized mason jar. Use a spoon or spatula to gently press the mix into the jar.
  • Seal the jar with the lid. Decorate with ribbon, tags, or twine according to personal preference.
  • Spoon the chocolate chips into a separate baggy and then tie to the jar.

To Make the Brownies

  • Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit (176° Celsius). Lightly grease an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan.
  • Remove the chocolate chips and set aside.
  • Pour the dry ingredients from the mason jar into a medium mixing bowl.
  • Add the vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs to the batter and mix until well incorporated.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes**. An inserted toothpick will come away clean if done.

Notes

*Alternatively, you could funnel each of the ingredients individually, layer by layer. Gently press down each layer with a spoon or spatula to create a sand-art effect. This method is more time consuming and can be more difficult to fit in the jar, but the final finished look is often prettier and more impressive.
**If using a glass baking pan instead of metal, bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. I needed about 30 minutes to bake in my glass dish, but oven temperatures may vary. 
Keyword Brownies, Mason Jar Brownies

Printable Instructions

I love making a large batch of these mason jar brownies just to keep in my pantry. Whenever I need a fast dessert, I can pop one open and enjoy. But if you plan to make these brownies as gifts for friends and family, don’t forget to tell them how to bake their brownies!

Of course, you can get creative and make a card that includes the instructions. If you don’t have time, however, you can simplify your life (and theirs) by sending them a link to this post. Or, you can tap on the print button for easy, straightforward instructions.

Have Fun!

Mason jar desserts make the holiday season loads of fun for you and for your family and friends. I love how easy they are to decorate and customize to match your personality. You are totally free to keep these jars simple or jazz them up with buttons and ribbons to feel especially festive.

Of course, I’m not particularly crafty in this area. If you have suggestions for decorating your jar, tell me all about your ideas in the comment section below. And don’t forget to leave a star rating if you enjoyed these brownies. Your feedback ensures other people will see and enjoy these mason jar brownies.

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