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Most of the time, I give jars of jam as an entire gift or part of a gift basket of some kind. Nothing too fancy but always lovely and heartfelt. But every so often I like to bake it into something instead, turning a spoonful of summer into cookies, bars, or a loaf of bread worth giving on its own or alongside the jar. Whether you need ideas for gifting whole jars or using up extra jam, this should help.
Bake it into something
These are great ways to simply use up a bit of leftover jam sitting in the fridge as well, whether you want to keep them or give them away is completely up to you.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Thumbprint Cookies: These started as a way to use up the ends of a jam jar and turned into one of my most requested cookies. The thumbprint shape makes them feel a little special without any extra work.
Apple Butter Cookies: Soft, lightly spiced, and the kind of cookie that freezes well if you want to bake ahead for gift giving season. Apple butter works here in place of jam for a deeper, less sweet flavor. These are great keepers, ideal for shipping in care packages.
Apple Butter Bars: Frosted bar cookies that are moist and sweet. Great for dropping off locally to cheer someone’s day.
Jam Swirled Bread: This one calls for a thick jam, so it’s a good way to use whatever you have plenty of on hand. I’ve made it with apple butter and with raspberry, and both work well. A simple loaf and kind note can be a gift all on its own.
Give it alongside something simple
Sometimes the jar itself is the gift. There’s nothing wrong with dressing up the jar slightly and presenting it to someone for a birthday, holiday, housewarming, etc.
You could also create more elaborate gift baskets and care packages by packaging the jam with baked goods, boxes of tea, books, coffee mugs, and other simple items the recipient might enjoy.
- For a housewarming gift consider giving a jar of jam, some baked goods, and small items like dish towels, wooden spoons, candles, etc.
- For the holidays a large basket or small box mailed with cookies, a well wrapped jar of jam, and a book or two is an easy and welcome gift.
- For birthdays a jar of jam with some crackers or bread and tea is an easy way to make someone feel special and celebrated after the party is over.
However you give it, a jar of jam rarely shows up alone for long. Whether it ends up baked into something or handed over just as it is, it’s one of the simplest ways I know to share the season with someone.
Every year I make my mom’s cookie recipe–it’s labelled ‘jelly diagonals’ but who knows if that’s what they were originally called. In our family we just call them ‘jelly cookies.’ Anyway, I always buy a jar of raspberry jam to make them with, because that’s what we’ve always made them with. It’s the only time I buy jam. But reading this post, it occurs to me that I could use any of the varieties of jam I put up during the rest of the year, and while they won’t be ‘the way they’ve always been’ they will still be delicious. Not sure why it took me so long to realize this, but thank you for the inspiration!