The Story & Intro
Hi, I’m Inaya, and I’m so excited to share one of my favorite fall traditions — making Pumpkin Bread Gift Jars! 🍂 Growing up on the island of Crete, I didn’t have canned pumpkin around, but we always had fresh squash from my grandmother’s garden. When I first moved abroad, I discovered how much people loved pumpkin spice everything and it reminded me of the warmth and sweetness of home.
One chilly November, I wanted to send a little love to my friends, so I layered all the dry ingredients for my pumpkin bread into glass jars, tied them with ribbons, and added handwritten notes. The joy on their faces made me realize food really is a love language. These Pumpkin Bread Gift Jars (Dry Mix) are now one of my favorite ways to share coziness during the holidays.
They’re budget-friendly, easy to make in batches, and so pretty! You can customize them for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or even as hostess gifts. Plus, who doesn’t love homemade bread that fills the house with cinnamon and nutmeg? 😍
Let’s dive in you’ll love how simple and heartfelt this idea is.
Keyword focus: Pumpkin Bread Gift Jars, Pumpkin Bread Mix in a Jar, Homemade Pumpkin Bread Dry Mix
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Bread Gift Jar
- It’s the perfect homemade gift simple, thoughtful, and beautiful.
- It’s budget-friendly most ingredients come from your pantry.
- It’s deliciously spiced think cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of cloves.
- It’s long-lasting can be stored for weeks before baking.
- It’s customizable add chocolate chips, nuts, or dried cranberries.
Ingredients You’ll Need for the Jar
Here’s what goes into one 1-quart (32 oz) jar enough for one loaf of pumpkin bread.
Dry Mix (to layer in jar):
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar (brown sugar adds extra flavor)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
For the label (wet ingredients to add later):
- 1 cup canned pumpkin purée
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup water
How to Assemble the Pumpkin Bread Gift Jars
👩🍳 Step 1: Choose Your Jar
Select a clean, dry 1-quart glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Mason jars work best.
🎃 Step 2: Layer the Dry Ingredients
Start with the flour at the bottom. Then add sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Use a spoon to gently layer ingredients so the colors and textures show through the glass.
Tip: Use a wide-mouth funnel or folded parchment paper to keep layers neat.
🎁 Step 3: Add Optional Mix-ins
Add a layer of nuts or chocolate chips for an extra treat.
🧵 Step 4: Seal and Decorate
Close the lid tightly. Wrap the rim with twine, ribbon, or burlap. You can even add a cinnamon stick for a festive touch.
🖊 Step 5: Attach a Label or Tag
Write these instructions on a pretty label:
“To bake your Pumpkin Bread:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large bowl, combine the contents of this jar with 1 cup pumpkin purée, ½ cup oil, 2 eggs, and ⅓ cup water. Mix until smooth. Pour into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Bake for 50–60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool before slicing. Enjoy!”
Baking the Pumpkin Bread (When You Receive the Jar!)
When your lucky friend (or you!) opens the jar, the hard part is already done.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Empty the dry mix into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients: pumpkin purée, oil, eggs, and water.
- Stir gently until everything’s combined don’t overmix.
- Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool, slice, and enjoy the soft, moist, spiced perfection!
Tips for Perfect Pumpkin Bread Gift Jars
💡 Keep ingredients dry: Make sure there’s no moisture in the jar to avoid clumping.
💡 Add color: Layer brown sugar and white sugar for a striped effect.
💡 Make it festive: Tie on small cookie cutters, cinnamon sticks, or a handwritten tag.
💡 Batch it: These make great teacher or neighbor gifts double or triple the recipe!
💡 Shelf life: Store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months.
Serving Ideas
- Serve warm with a dollop of cream cheese or butter.
- Pair with your morning coffee or chai tea.
- Toast slices lightly for a sweet breakfast treat.
- Wrap a few slices in parchment and add to lunchboxes.
Inaya’s Kitchen Story (Short 100-word version)
Hi, I’m Inaya from Crete! Growing up, I watched my grandmother turn simple ingredients into love-filled meals. Now, I share that same joy through cozy gifts like Pumpkin Bread Gift Jars. One fall, I layered all the dry ingredients into glass jars for friends they looked so beautiful! Each jar carried the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg, a little reminder of home. These mixes are easy to make, easy to gift, and they bake into the softest, spiced pumpkin bread. Because food isn’t just about flavor it’s about sharing warmth, laughter, and memories. 🎃💛
🎁 Recipe Card
🕒 Time:
Prep: 10 minutes
Bake: 55 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
🧂 Ingredients (Dry Mix):
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp cloves
- ½ cup nuts (optional)
- ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions:
- Layer ingredients into a 1-quart jar.
- Seal and decorate.
- Add a label with baking directions.
- Gift with love!
📝 Note:
You can replace nuts with dried cranberries or omit them for nut-free gifts.
🍽 Nutrition (per slice, approx. 12 slices):
Calories: 210
Fat: 10g
Carbs: 28g
Sugar: 15g
Protein: 3g
Conclusion
These Pumpkin Bread Gift Jars are more than just a recipe they’re a way to share warmth, creativity, and love from your kitchen. Whether you’re gifting them to neighbors, teachers, or family, each jar brings a little homemade happiness. The scent of spiced pumpkin bread baking in the oven will fill any home with comfort and that’s what cooking is all about. 💛
So, grab your jars, a little ribbon, and your favorite playlist it’s time to spread some pumpkin joy!
