DIY Simmer Pot Gifts: 14 Cheap Jar Gifts That Make Every Home Smell Like Christmas

DIY simmer pot gifts are the cheapest, coziest present you can make this Christmas, and almost everyone on your list will use one. A jar of dried oranges, cranberries, cinnamon and cloves costs just a few dollars, yet it looks like something from a fancy gift shop. The person just pours it into a pot of water and lets it simmer on the stove while they are home, and the whole house smells like the holidays. Searches for these gifts jumped to Breakout on Google Trends this month, so plenty of people are looking for ideas. Below are fourteen pretty ways to mix, pack and wrap them for neighbors, teachers, coworkers and friends..

Classic Orange and Clove DIY Simmer Pot Gifts

Start with the classic everyone loves. Layer dried orange slices, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise and whole cloves in a mason jar so every color shows through the glass. Top the lid with a circle of plaid fabric, tie it with twine and add a kraft tag. Make five or ten at once and you have gifts for the whole street in one afternoon. Fresh cranberries keep about a week in the fridge, so make these close to when you give them, or swap in dried cranberries to last longer. Who will get the first jar..

You will need: Pint mason jars, dried orange slices, fresh or dried cranberries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves, plaid fabric, twine, kraft tags.

How to make it: 1. Put a layer of orange slices against the glass. 2. Add cranberries, then cloves and star anise. 3. Slide cinnamon sticks down the sides. 4. Top with fabric, tie with twine and add a tag with the simmer directions.

Cranberry Rosemary Jar

Of all the DIY simmer pot gifts here, this blend smells the most fresh and green, like walking into a Christmas tree farm. Fill a tall clasp jar with cranberries, long rosemary sprigs, thin lemon slices and a few bay leaves. The red and green together look so festive that it doubles as kitchen decor before it is used. Tie a red velvet bow around the neck and tuck one more rosemary sprig under the ribbon. Because it has fresh ingredients, tell the person to keep it in the fridge and use it within a week. Would you give this one or keep it for yourself?

You will need: Tall glass jars with clasp lids, fresh cranberries, fresh rosemary, lemons, bay leaves, red velvet ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Slice the lemons thin. 2. Layer cranberries, lemon slices and bay leaves in the jar. 3. Push rosemary sprigs down the sides. 4. Close the lid and tie on a velvet bow with a rosemary sprig.

Apple Pie DIY Simmer Pot Gifts in Bags

If someone on your list loves fall baking, this apple pie blend is for them. Dried apple rings, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, a few cloves and a strip of dried orange peel go into clear cellophane bags. Everything is dry, so these keep for months and are easy to mail. Tie each one with red and white baker’s twine and a little tag, then pack them in a wooden crate for a stack of ready gifts. They make great stocking stuffers and teacher gifts. How many bags could you fill from one bag of dried apples?

You will need: Clear cellophane treat bags, dried apple rings, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, whole cloves, dried orange peel, baker’s twine, kraft tags.

How to make it: 1. Put two or three apple rings in each bag. 2. Add a cinnamon stick, a pinch of allspice and cloves. 3. Add a strip of orange peel. 4. Twist the top, tie with twine and add a tag.

Lemon and Pine Christmas Tree Blend

This blend is bright and clean instead of spicy. Lemon slices, pine and cedar sprigs, a few juniper berries and a vanilla bean make the kitchen smell like a snowy forest. Use clippings from your own tree or the free trimmings many tree lots will give you. A wide jar with a green bow and a sprig of pine on the lid looks simple and fresh. Like the cranberry blend, it has fresh ingredients, so it should be kept cold and used within a few days. Do you prefer citrus or spice?

You will need: A wide glass jar, fresh lemons, pine and cedar clippings, juniper berries, a vanilla bean, green ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Slice the lemons into rounds. 2. Rinse the pine and cedar and pat them dry. 3. Layer lemons, greens and juniper in the jar and add the vanilla bean. 4. Close and tie with ribbon and a pine sprig.

Gingerbread DIY Simmer Pot Gifts With Star Anise

For a warm gingerbread blend, start with a bundle of cinnamon sticks tied with twine and add star anise, a few slices of dried ginger, whole cloves and a little nutmeg. Tying the cinnamon in a bundle makes it look like a little present inside the jar or bag. Everything here is dry, so it keeps for months and is perfect for mailing to family far away. Add a cookie cutter on the ribbon for an extra cute touch. Who on your list always bakes gingerbread?

You will need: Cinnamon sticks, twine, star anise, dried ginger slices, whole cloves, whole nutmeg, a jar or bag, a cookie cutter (optional).

How to make it: 1. Tie four or five cinnamon sticks together with twine. 2. Put the bundle in a jar or bag. 3. Add star anise, ginger, cloves and a nutmeg. 4. Close and tie a cookie cutter to the ribbon.

Vanilla Bean and Orange Peel Jar

Among DIY simmer pot gifts, this one is sweet and cozy, a little like a sugar cookie. Dried orange peel curls, split vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks and whole nutmegs fill a short jar topped with cream linen and a gold ribbon. It looks soft and elegant, perfect for a hostess or a friend with a neutral style. Save peels from the oranges you eat all week, then dry them on a rack until crisp. That makes this gift almost free. Have you ever saved your orange peels before?

You will need: A short glass jar, dried orange peel, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg, cream linen fabric, gold ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Dry orange peel on a rack until crisp. 2. Fill the jar with peel curls. 3. Tuck in split vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg. 4. Cover with linen and tie with gold ribbon.

Muslin Bag DIY Simmer Pot Gifts Sampler

A sampler box lets someone try a different scent every week of December. Fill small muslin drawstring bags with four or five different blends, then line them up in a kraft box with crinkle paper. The bags can go right into the pot, so there is nothing to scoop out later. This is a great gift for a coworker or a teacher because it feels generous but costs very little. Add a card listing which blend is in each bag. Which scent would you put first?

You will need: Small muslin drawstring bags, a shallow kraft gift box, crinkle paper, four or five dry simmer blends, a small card.

How to make it: 1. Mix each blend in a bowl. 2. Spoon each into a muslin bag and pull the strings tight. 3. Line the box with crinkle paper. 4. Set the bags in a row and add a card.

Cellophane Cone Gifts

Cone shaped cellophane bags make DIY simmer pot gifts look like a fancy candy treat. Pour cranberries in first, then stack a few orange slices, then add cinnamon sticks and star anise so they poke out the top. Tie each cone with green velvet ribbon. Stand them in a tall glass for a pretty display at a party, then let guests take one home. Use dried cranberries if they will sit out for a while. It is such an easy party favor. Would your guests love taking one home?

You will need: Cellophane cone bags, dried or fresh cranberries, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, green velvet ribbon, tall glasses.

How to make it: 1. Open a cone bag and pour in the cranberries. 2. Slide in two orange slices. 3. Add cinnamon sticks and star anise on top. 4. Gather the top and tie with velvet ribbon.

Three Jar DIY Simmer Pot Gifts Crate

When you want a bigger gift, put three blends together in a small wooden crate. Orange and cinnamon, cranberry and rosemary, and apple with star anise make a nice trio. Nestle the jars in wood shavings or crinkle paper, tie a plaid ribbon around the crate and add a pine sprig. It looks like a boutique gift set and works great for a family, a boss or grandparents. Thrift stores often have small crates for a dollar or two. Who on your list deserves the big one?

You will need: A small wooden crate, three jars, three simmer blends, wood excelsior or crinkle paper, plaid ribbon, a pine sprig.

How to make it: 1. Fill each jar with a different blend. 2. Line the crate with excelsior. 3. Set the jars in a row. 4. Wrap ribbon around the crate, tie a bow and tuck in pine.

Fresh Cranberry Top Up Jar

Fresh cranberries make simmer pots look so bright, but they do not last long. One sweet idea is to pair a dry spice jar with a small jar of fresh cranberries the person can add on the day they simmer. That way the dry part keeps for months, and the fresh part goes right in the fridge. A little jar of berries spilling over a rustic board looks so pretty in photos too. Tell them to keep it cold and use it within a week. Would you add fresh berries or keep it all dry?

You will need: A small glass jar with a lid, fresh cranberries, a tag, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Rinse and dry fresh cranberries. 2. Fill a small jar. 3. Close the lid and tie on a tag that says keep cold. 4. Give it with a dry spice jar.

Mini DIY Simmer Pot Gifts for Neighbors

Tiny 4 ounce jars are perfect when you need a lot of gifts. One orange slice, a spoonful of dried cranberries and a mini cinnamon stick fit in each one, which is enough for one cozy afternoon. Top them with little gingham squares and twine and line them up on a baking sheet like cookies. Hand them out to neighbors, the mail carrier, bus drivers and the whole office. A dozen can cost less than one store bought candle. How many neighbors are on your street?

You will need: Small 4 ounce jars, dried orange slices, dried cranberries, mini cinnamon sticks, red gingham fabric, twine, a baking sheet for assembly.

How to make it: 1. Cut gingham into small squares. 2. Fill each jar with one orange slice, cranberries and a cinnamon stick. 3. Close the lids and cover with fabric. 4. Tie with twine and add a tiny tag.

Simmer Pot Bar for a Holiday Party

Turn DIY simmer pot gifts into the party itself. Set out wooden trays and bowls of dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and dried apples, plus a stack of empty jars and bags. Guests mix their own blend and take it home as a favor. It is fun for a cookie swap, a girls night or a family craft afternoon. If you want to dry your own fruit ahead of time, our dried orange slices guide shows lots of pretty ways to use them. Who would you invite?

You will need: Wooden trays or bowls, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, dried apples, empty jars or bags, ribbon, tags, scoops.

How to make it: 1. Fill trays and bowls with each ingredient. 2. Set out jars, bags and ribbon. 3. Print a simple tag with the simmer directions. 4. Let guests fill and tie their own.

Wooden Spoon Tied to the Jar

A wooden spoon tied to the side of the jar is a little bonus that turns DIY simmer pot gifts into a full kit. The person can use it to stir the pot and keep it in the kitchen afterward. Use red and white baker’s twine and a kraft tag for a classic look. You can find wooden spoons in packs for very little money. Pair it with a small enamel saucepan for a bigger version of the gift. Is there anything cozier than a gift you can use right away?

You will need: A pint jar of simmer mix, a wooden spoon, baker’s twine, a kraft tag, a small saucepan (optional).

How to make it: 1. Fill and close the jar. 2. Hold the spoon against the side. 3. Wrap twine around the jar and spoon several times and tie a bow. 4. Thread the tag onto the twine.

How to Use DIY Simmer Pot Gifts

Every jar needs clear directions on the tag. Tell the person to pour the mix into a pot, cover it with water and set it on the stove on low. Add more water as it cooks down, and never leave it unattended. Turn it off when leaving the room or the house. Fresh mixes should be used within a week, and dry mixes keep for months in a cool cupboard. With these DIY simmer pot gifts, your friends will have a cozy kitchen all season. Which blend will you make first?

You will need: Kraft tags, a pen or printed labels, string.

How to make it: 1. Write: Pour into a pot and cover with water. 2. Simmer on low on the stove. 3. Add water as needed and never leave it unattended. 4. Turn off the stove when you leave the room.