Give the gift of baking by attractively assembling all of the dry ingredients needed for cookies, breads or brownies in tall glass jars. Use pretty ribbons to tie on the recipe, along with a wooden spoon or cookie cutter for an extra special touch. Don’t forget to print out and attach the recipe cards to the jar mixes! Here are a few tasty suggestions to get you started.

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups Coconut flour
• 2 tsp. Ground ginger
• 1 tsp. Ground cloves
• 1 tsp. Ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Ground allspice
• 1 tsp. Baking powder
• 1 cup Brown sugar
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Solid coconut oil, melted
• 2 Eggs

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, melted coconut oil, brown sugar spices and vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, fold in coconut flour.
3. Scoop cookie batter onto prepared baking sheet using a small ice cream scoop or 2 teaspoons. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until golden. Cool completely before removing from the pan.

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White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups Brown sugar
• 3 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1 Egg
• 1 1/2 cups Flour
• 1 tsp. Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 1 cup Dried cranberries
• 1 cup White chocolate morsels

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a medium pan with parchment paper.
2. Soak cranberries in bowl with hot water for 3 minutes. Drain water from cranberries.
3. Cream butter, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the butter-sugar mixture with a wooden spoon or large rubber spatula. Carefully mix in cranberries and white chocolate morsels.
4. Press mixture evenly into pan and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!

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Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 2/3 cups Flour
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 tsp. Baking soda
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. Ground cloves
• 2 Eggs
• 1 cup Sprouts Canned Pumpkin
• 1/2 cup Water
• 1/2 cup Chocolate chips, optional

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, spices and baking powder. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin and water. Stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips if desired.
2. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for 55–65 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing.

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Peppermint Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Sugar
• 2/3 cup Cocoa powder
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Crushed peppermint sticks
• 1 1/4 cups Flour
• 1 pinch of Salt
• 1 cup Butter
• 1/4 cup Boiling water
• 2 tsp. Vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing excess paper to overlap the edges.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and sugar; set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, add the cocoa powder and salt. Add the boiling water and stir with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is paste-like. Add sugar, vanilla and butter, mix using an electric mixer until smooth. Using a wooden spoon, slowly stir in the flour mixture, and mix until combined.
4. Spoon the brownie batter into the prepared baking dish, batter consistency will be thick. Smooth top with a rubber spatula. Bake for 35 minutes or until the brownies are cooked through. Cool in the pan or a wire rack for 1 hour.

 

Go ahead, wear your heart on your sleeve and embrace the sentimental feelings in the air. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to share a bit of your heart with others. The best news? You don’t have to stick with the standard gifts that may come to mind. With these easy-to-make and thoughtful DIY ideas, you can brighten the day of a special someone, friend, family member or colleague.

Peppermint Infusion Hearts

What You’ll Need:

• Crushed peppermint
• Coffee filters
• Baker’s thread
• Construction paper
• Hot chocolate

Directions:

Using a folded coffee filter, cut out a heart shape. After you have two heart shapes, stitch together around the edges until only a small opening remains. Place peppermint candies in a plastic bag and crush until the pieces are broken down. Put about a spoonful of crushed peppermint inside the small opening of the coffee filter and finish stitching until it’s closed. Attach a medium-length piece of baker’s thread to your peppermint-filled heart. Cut a small heart out of paper and add it at the other end of the thread to make a little “tag” like the ones that tea bags have. Present the gift with hot cocoa for a refreshing peppermint twist on a classic chocolatey treat.    

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Homemade Lotion Bars

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup Beeswax
• 1 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup Shea butter
• Silicon heart-shaped mold
• 25 drops Lavender essential oil
• At least 2 hours for refrigeration

Directions:

Start by warming beeswax in a double boiler until it becomes smooth. Add coconut oil and melt the two ingredients. Stir until smooth and add lavender essential oils. Let cool and place in silicon molds and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.              

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“Simply Nuts for You” Mason Jar“

What You’ll Need:

• Chalkboard spray paint
• Painter’s tape
• Chalk
• Trail mix
• Gift tag
• Twine or ribbon

Directions:

Create a heart shape on the mason jar with painter’s tape. Using an open area, cover the mason jar with the chalkboard spray paint. Once it’s dry, carefully peel off the tape. Add a personalized touch by making a design with white chalk. Cut out a gift tag and create a small hole at the top. Thread twine through and loop around twice at the top of the mason jar. Pour in your special someone’s favorite trail mix.

Say thank you to all the doting dads and handsome heroes this Father’s day. After all, where would we be without dad jokes, practical advice and bear hugs?If the standard gifts are feeling a little tired, we have a few ideas to “tie” this Father’s Day together. Check out these fun gifts that he’s sure to love, including one by blogger, Julie, from Fort Worth Moms Blog! Julie shares her process in creating a one-of-a-kind gift for Dad. Keep reading to learn how to make your own unforgettable gift: I considered a basket of grilling items. After all, it is summer, and summer is grilling season. Sprouts has a huge selection of fresh produce, meats, spices for DIY dry rubs and craft beers, microbrews, etc. But goodness, y’all! I am weeks away from delivering our second baby. Everyone here needs to stay ready-to-jump-behind-the-wheel-at-any-moment sober (so no alcohol), and I refuse to step outside into the heat for any reason (so no outside cooking for us). I had to rethink my plan. Because a trip to Labor & Delivery is in our near future, I decided he needed a “We’re Having a Baby, Baby” basket. Read more of Julie’s full story!    

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Rosemary and Peppermint Shaving Balm

Your dad will feel pampered and refreshed after using this rosemary mint shaving balm—and will love knowing that it was made with love, by yours truly!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Shea butter • 1/4 cup Virgin coconut oil • 1/4 cup Jojoba or sweet almond oil • 10 drops Rosemary essential oil • 3-5 drops Peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

1. Place a small saucepan over low heat and mix shea butter and coconut oil, stirring until melted. Transfer mixture to a heat-resistant bowl and add in jojoba oil (or almond oil), then the essential oils and stir. 2. Chill mixture in the refrigerator until solid. Once solid, remove from refrigerator and whip mixture using a beater. Mix until light and fluffy. Store in an airtight container for up to one month. Note: This shaving lotion is soap-free and will not create a lather, but rather, a protective barrier between the razor and skin. Swish razor in water between strokes and enjoy!

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Dad’s Day BBQ Rub

Here’s a super easy and thoughtful gift that you can gather from our Bulk Department! Let your inner artist out by layering spices to create a colorful complement to your summer barbecues.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Chile powder • 1 tsp. Black pepper • 1 1/2 tsp. Onion powder • 1 Tbsp. Thyme • 2 Tbsp. Sea salt • 1 tsp. Garlic salt

Instructions:

Layer spices multiple times into a small mason jar and seal. Decorate with a ribbon or twine.