There is something wonderfully smug about having your own homemade cookie and cake mixes sitting in the pantry, ready to go. It is a bit like being your own little baking fairy godmother, except instead of waving a wand you have already measured the flour, sugar, cocoa, oats, chocolate chips, and all the good bits before anyone starts asking, “Is there anything sweet?”
These easy homemade cookie and cake mixes are perfect if you love the convenience of boxed baking mixes but would rather know exactly what is going into them. No mystery ingredients, no last-minute measuring panic, and no digging through the pantry only to discover you are out of the one thing you need. You simply prepare the dry ingredients in bulk, store them in jars or airtight containers, and when baking day rolls around, all you need to do is add the wet ingredients and bake.
They are also brilliant for homemade gifts. Cookie mixes in a jar, brownie mixes, cake mixes, hot chocolate mixes, and simple baking mixes make lovely budget-friendly gifts for Christmas, teacher gifts, neighbours, new mums, college students, or anyone who could use a little sweet treat without the fuss. Add a handwritten label with the baking instructions and suddenly you have a thoughtful handmade gift that does not look like you threw it together at 10 p.m. the night before. Even if you absolutely did.
If you enjoy practical pantry shortcuts, these homemade baking mixes sit beautifully alongside other easy kitchen ideas like how to make mini cookie cereal, easy boxed cookies three different ways, and sweet homemade gift ideas from CraftBits. They are especially handy for rainy day baking with kids, holiday food gifts, bake sales, or those afternoons when you want something homemade but your energy level is more “cup of tea and slippers” than “full baking production.”
Below you will find 18 easy make-ahead cookie and cake mixes you can prepare in bulk, store in jars, and pull out whenever you need a quick dessert, a last-minute gift, or a simple baking activity that still feels homemade.
Don’t want to buy the boxed cookie mixes
or cake mixes, prefer to know what is going into your cakes but at the same time, you don’t want to measure over and over again? These are so easy to make in bulk too.
These 18 recipe mixes can all be made in advance, all you have to do is add the wet ingredients just like a boxed or packet cake mix, except you get to control the ingredients.
These recipes in a jar are PERFECT for gifting too, They each come with a list of instructions to add to the jar so that the gift recipient can make their own cookies or cake. Perfect for lockdowns or activities for kids in the holiday season. These cookies in a jar are a great hit with my teenage daughter and her friends, it’s so simple to make and perfect rainy day activity you can just store in the cupboard in the mason jar or Quart size jar until you are ready for some baking. Looking for more recipes?
Check out this In a Jar recipe book
Oatmeal & Cinnamon Cookie Recipe
