Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Mix in a Jar (Easy Homemade Gift)

Brownie mix in a jar is one of my favorite kinds of homemade Christmas gifts: pretty enough to give, easy to assemble, and delicious when baked. This fudgy chocolate brownie mix has lovely layers of cocoa, brown sugar, white sugar, and chocolate chips, all tucked into a quart-size mason jar. Add a printable baking tag and a little twine, and your gift is ready to go!

Of course, I couldn’t give away a brownie mix without testing it first. I assembled a jar, baked the brownies, and recruited my husband, Terry, my resident brownie connoisseur, as chief taste tester. He approved-and he’s particular about his brownies! Mine were wonderfully fudgy, not dry, after just 30 minutes in a 9-inch round cake pan.

Ingredient Notes

• You’ll need all-purpose flour and salt for the base, unsweetened cocoa powder for deep chocolate flavor, packed light brown sugar and granulated sugar for sweetness, and semisweet chocolate chips to finish the jar.
• For gifting, gather a clean, completely dry 32-ounce wide-mouth mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, a disposable piping bag (or a funnel with a wide opening), decorative twine or ribbon, and a gift tag with the baking directions. Look for jars and supplies online or at craft and hobby stores.
• Variations: For a more intense chocolate flavor, mix one teaspoon of instant espresso powder into the flour-and-salt layer. You can also swap the semisweet chips for white chocolate or butterscotch chips. These are options from the original recipe; my kitchen test used the standard mix.

How to Make Fudgy Brownie Mix in a Jar

1. Stir together 1 cup all-purpose flour and ½ teaspoon salt. Use a piping bag to direct the mixture into the bottom of a clean, dry, wide-mouth quart jar, then tap gently to level it.

2. Sift or whisk ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder to remove lumps. Add it carefully and gently level the layer.

3. Add ¾ cup packed light brown sugar, pressing it down firmly to make room for the remaining ingredients.

4. Add 1 cup of granulated sugar in an even layer. Top with 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips.

5. Secure the lid and tie on the baking-instruction gift tag.

For neat layers: Use a wide-mouth quart jar, not a regular-mouth canning jar. I tried both, and the narrower opening made it hard to level or tamp down the layers. A piping bag lets you aim the ingredients exactly where you want them; my funnel’s opening was too small and made the job take forever. Level each layer before adding the next, and pack the brown sugar well.

How to Bake the Brownies

The recipient will need 1 cup unsalted butter, melted; 3 large eggs; and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan or line it with parchment paper. Here’s an old-fashioned trick: save the wrappers from the two sticks of butter and use their buttery sides to grease the pan instead of reaching for baking spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.
3. Pour in the entire jar of dry mix and stir with a spatula just until combined.
4. Spread the batter evenly in the pan. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, checking for moist crumbs on a toothpick inserted into the center. Cool before cutting.

Tested in my kitchen: I baked these in a 9-inch round cake pan for 30 minutes and they were fudgy, not dry. The purchased recipe also suggests a 9-inch square pan, but I haven’t personally tested the baking time in that shape, so begin checking around 30 minutes and adjust as needed.

Sharon’s Tips for the Prettiest Gift Jars

• Choose a wide-mouth quart jar. I tried a regular-mouth canning jar and couldn’t get the layers even or tamp them down properly.
• Reach for a piping bag. My funnel had such a small opening that filling the jar was taking forever. A piping bag lets you direct the dry ingredients right where you want them.
• Make sure the jar and piping bag are completely dry before filling.
• Use a spoon to tidy any stray cocoa powder along the inside of the glass as you work.
• Press the brown sugar down firmly so everything fits.
• Attach a legible baking tag that includes the wet ingredients, pan size, temperature, and baking time.
• If you’re making several gifts, measure and arrange all the ingredients before starting your assembly line.

Sharon’s Kitchen Wisdom: Remember how our mothers and grandmothers saved butter wrappers to grease baking pans? Since these brownies call for two sticks of butter, save the wrappers and rub their buttery sides over your pan. It’s an easy, old-fashioned trick that still works!

Serving and Gift-Giving Ideas

These jars make lovely Christmas gifts for neighbors, teachers, friends, and holiday hosts. Add a handwritten note, tuck the jar into a small gift bag, or tie on a festive ribbon. For an extra thoughtful touch, pair it with a spatula or a potholder.

Once baked and cooled, cut the brownies into nine pieces. They are rich and chocolatey enough to serve on their own, though a scoop of my Pecan Praline Ice Cream or Bourbon Ice Cream wouldn’t hurt a thing!

Brownie Mix in a Jar FAQs