Holiday Overnight Oats DIY Mason Jar Gifts

Holiday Mason Jar Overnight Oats Perfect for Gifting! 

These festive holiday mason jar overnight oats make the easiest, most thoughtful DIY gift. They’re festive, practical, and actually useful, which is something everyone can appreciate during the busy holiday season. Each jar is filled with shelf-stable, wholesome ingredients, making them easy to prep ahead, transport, and gift without stress. They remind me of the cookie mixes my mom used to gift during the holidays!

I love that these jars feel thoughtful without requiring hours in the kitchen or being outrageously expensive. Plus, you can customize flavors, dress them up with ribbon and cute labels, and give a gift that turns into a fun breakfast instead of clutter. They’re perfect for teachers, neighbors, friends, family, or anyone who could use a grab-and-go morning win during the holidays. Although I’d be lying if I said that I don’t always make a few extra jars to keep for myself. They’re SO yummy!

RELATED: Oatmeal Cookie Overnight Oats

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Perfect for gifting – These overnight oats make a thoughtful, homemade holiday gift that’s easy to assemble and even easier to enjoy.
• Festive flavors – From peanut butter chocolate chip to cranberry white chocolate, each jar brings fun holiday-inspired flavors to the kitchen along with a little indulgence! 
• Fun to decorate – Add ribbons, stickers, anything you want!
• Simple ingredients – Everything is made with pantry staples you can find at most grocery stores.
• Healthy and filling – With oats and chia seeds in the base, these overnight oats are hearty, satisfying, and great for busy mornings, keeping you full until lunch.

You’ll Also Love: Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

Ingredients

All three flavors start with the same base. Then, I just mix and match the different add-ins to switch it up! 

Oat Base

• Rolled Oats – Old-fashioned oats are the base of this recipe, regardless of the flavor. Do NOT substitute quick oats or steel-cut oats, or the texture won’t be the same! 
• Chia Seeds – A good source of fiber and good-for-you fats, chia seeds expand once combined with liquid and act as a “glue,” creating a pudding-like texture and holding the mixture together. 
• Brown Sugar – This sweetens the oats, adding a molasses taste that I love in holiday recipes. Light or dark brown sugar is totally fine, depending on how strong you prefer the molasses taste. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip 

• Powdered Peanut Butter – I use PB2, but any powdered peanut butter or powdered nut butter is totally fine. I find it works better than regular peanut butter, if using the entire jar, with a nutty taste, rather than just getting clumps of peanut butter.
• Dark Chocolate Chips – Substitute milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or even white chocolate, if preferred. Look for dairy-free chocolate, if needed! 

Cinnamon Roll

• Cinnamon – Add more or less to taste. 
• Walnuts – Pecans also taste great. 
• White Chocolate Chips – Use any chocolate chips you like best. I prefer mini chips so that every bite has a bit of chocolate.

Cranberry White Chocolate

• Dried Orange Zest – I can typically find dried orange zest or candied orange at my local store, but dried orange zest is also easy to find online. Substitute ground cinnamon if you don’t have orange zest or want a slightly warmer flavor. 
• Dried Cranberries – Raisins also work! 
• Mini White Chocolate Chips

How to Make Mason Jar Overnight Oats for Gifting

Who said holiday gifting had to be complicated, expensive, or take hours? These mason jar gifts come together in minutes. All you need are mason jars, ribbon or twine, and labels. Here’s how to make these homemade Christmas gifts: 

1. Prepare the base – Add the oats, chia seeds, and brown sugar to mason jars. Then, choose your flavor, and add the remaining ingredients as listed in the recipe card below. 
2. Wrap – Seal the jars with an airtight lid, and wrap them with a festive ribbon or twine. Bonus points if you add a gift tag, too! 
3. Label – Write the recipe title on one side of a label and the instructions on the backside. Tie the label onto the jar. Or, stick it onto the side, and it’s ready to gift! 

How to Write the Instructions for the Label

Name your oat jars whatever you want! I typically stick with mason jar overnight oats or holiday overnight oats, but feel free to get creative. Then, add the assembly instructions on the back of your label: 

1. Mix or shake everything together. 
2. Divide into two jars or bowls, then add 1/2 cup of milk and 1/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt per jar. 
3. Mix, store covered overnight, and enjoy in the morning!

Tips

• Use wide-mouth mason jars. This makes it easy to add all the ingredients and mix them up when ready to eat. It also keeps the sides of the jars clean, making for a prettier presentation. 
• Layer according to the ingredient list. Start with the oats and chia seeds, then add sugar and spices, finishing with chocolate chips or dried fruit so the toppings are visible on top.
• Stick to fully dry ingredients if gifting. Avoid anything moist so the jars stay fresh and shelf-stable.
• Customize the sweetness. Swap brown sugar for coconut sugar. Or, leave it out, and add a note that the recipient can sweeten to taste.

RELATED: Gingerbread Cookie Overnight Oats

Variations

• Keep it dairy-free. If gifting to those who don’t tolerate dairy, make a note to use plant-based milk and a dairy-free yogurt when preparing the oats.
• Include extra protein. Stir in a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder. Or, attach a single serving packet to each jar! 
• Make the oats extra festive – Add a pinch of nutmeg, cloves, or ginger to any jar for even more holiday spice.

Mix-Ins and Toppings

These overnight oats are delicious on their own, but mixing things up makes them even better. Stir in or top your oats with any of the following when you’re ready to serve:

• Fresh fruit like sliced bananas, berries, or chopped apples
• Extra nut butter or a drizzle of honey or maple syrup
• Toasted nuts or seeds for added crunch
• Coconut flakes or cacao nibs
• A sprinkle of cinnamon or gingerbread spice

Gifting tip: Add a note to the label suggesting a few favorite toppings to make the gift feel even more thoughtful and personal. Or, I sometimes like to attach little baggies with pre-portioned toppings for a special touch. 

Gifting Ideas

Holiday food gifts are some of my favorites to give and receive! Of course, these jars are super cute as is, but I often like to spruce them up a bit to make them even more special. Some easy ways to do this include: 

• Teacher or neighbor gift – Pair a jar with a handwritten note or recipe card for a simple, heartfelt present.
• Holiday breakfast bundle – Add a carton of milk, a small jar of honey, or a single-serve yogurt for a complete breakfast gift.
• Host or hostess gift – Tie the jar with ribbon and include a wooden spoon or reusable straw for an extra-special touch.
• Meal prep starter – Gift a few different flavors together so the recipient can mix and match all week long.
• Kid-friendly gift – Let kids help assemble the jars and decorate them with stickers or wrapped tags for a fun, personalized gift.

Or, wrap your jars with a few extra treats, like my gluten-free Christmas sugar cookies, healthier gingerbread cookies, or a gingerbread loaf! 

More Edible Gift Ideas

• Birthday Cake in a Jar
• Superfood Chocolate Bites
• Birthday Cake Protein Bites
• Homemade Protein Bar
• Almond Joy Chocolate Covered Dates
• Snickers Protein Bites

More Overnight Oats Recipes

• Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
• Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Overnight Oats
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
• Mocha Latte Overnight Oats
• Overnight Oats with Peanut Butter