If you need an easy holiday food gift that still turns into a real dessert, these White Christmas Cherry Bars in a Jar get the job done nicely. The layered jar holds the dry ingredients for a chewy bar packed with white chips, pecans, and sweet dried cherries or cranberries, then the tag finishes the job with the baking directions.
It also happens to be a practical pantry mix. You can make the jar ahead, stash it in a cool dry cupboard, and bake the bars when you want a quick 8×8 pan without dragging half the pantry onto the counter. According to the USDA dry goods storage guidance, airtight dry mixes keep best in a cool, dry place away from moisture and heat, which is exactly what this one wants.
Ingredients for White Christmas Cherry Bars in a Jar
For the jar mix, layer these ingredients in a large jar or vacuum-seal bag:
- 1/4 cup white chocolate or vanilla milk chips
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup sweetened dried cherries or cranberries
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk biscuit baking mix
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk biscuit baking mix
When you’re ready to bake the bars, add:
- 1 jar mix
- 1/2 cup margarine, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
If you like gifting layered mixes, you might also want to try White Chocolate Cherry Cookie Mix in a Jar or Christmas Biscotti Mix in a Jar for the same festive pantry-friendly idea.
How to Make White Christmas Cherry Bars in a Jar
These bars are simple enough for a weeknight bake and gift-worthy enough for the holidays. No mixer required, which saves dishes and patience.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
- Pour the entire jar mix into a mixing bowl.
- Add the melted margarine, egg, and vanilla extract.
- Blend until the mixture is evenly combined and no dry pockets remain.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
- Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until the bars are set and lightly golden around the edges.
- Cool in the pan before cutting into bars.
Helpful Tips for Better Bar Mixes
- Pack the brown sugar lightly but firmly enough to break up lumps first. Hard sugar clods in the jar do nobody any favors.
- Use a large jar. A too-small jar turns a pretty layered gift into an edible construction problem.
- Spread the batter all the way into the corners. Bar batter loves to mound in the center and leave thin edges if you rush it.
- Do not overbake. Pull the pan when the center looks set. The bars continue to firm as they cool.
- Let them cool before slicing. Warm bars cut like a toddler did the job.
Easy Variations
- Use dried cranberries instead of cherries for a slightly tarter bite and easier grocery-store availability.
- Swap vanilla chips for white chocolate chips if that’s what you have on hand.
- Try walnuts instead of pecans if you want a sharper, more classic cookie-bar crunch.
- Add a simple drizzle after baking with powdered sugar and a little milk if you want them to look extra festive.
- Cut them smaller for gifting. Sixteen little squares look far more generous on a cookie tray than eight giant slabs.
Storage and Shelf Life
Dry mix: Store the sealed jar or bag in a cool, dry place for up to 4 months for best quality. That’s a practical estimate based on the shortest-lived ingredients in the mix, especially the chopped pecans and dried fruit, which lose freshness faster than the sugar and baking mix.
Baked bars: Once baked and fully cooled, keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to 1 week.
Freezer: Wrap the cooled bars well and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Prepared batter: If you mix the jar with the wet ingredients and need to delay baking, cover and refrigerate the batter for up to 2 days, then bake as directed.
Serving Suggestions
These bars fit right in on a cookie tray, but they also work well as an easy dessert cut into squares and served with coffee or tea. For a holiday spread, pair them with Cherry Pie Bars if you want another cherry-forward option that leans a little more dessert and a little less gift mix.
- Serve plain for a simple cookie-bar style treat.
- Dust lightly with powdered sugar after cooling.
- Cut into small bite-size squares for party platters.
- Pack individually for bake-sale or gift-box treats.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: White Christmas Cherry Bars in a Jar
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
White chocolate or vanilla milk chips |
$2.68 |
1/4 C. |
$0.33 |
|
Chopped pecans |
$4.48 |
1/2 C. |
$1.09 |
|
Sweetened dried cherries or cranberries |
$4.48 |
1/2 C. |
$2.21 |
|
Light brown sugar |
$2.24 |
1/2 C. |
$0.27 |
|
Buttermilk biscuit baking mix |
$2.46 |
1 C. |
$0.26 |
|
Brown sugar |
$2.24 |
1/2 C. |
$0.27 |
|
Buttermilk biscuit baking mix |
$2.46 |
1 C. |
$0.26 |
|
Margarine |
$1.98 |
1/2 C. |
$0.50 |
|
Large egg |
$1.47 |
1 |
$0.12 |
|
Vanilla extract |
$5.94 |
1 t. |
$0.50 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$5.81 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.36 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- White Baking Chips, 11 oz
- Chopped Pecans, 8 oz
- Sweetened Dried Cherries, 5 oz
- Light Brown Sugar, 2 lb
- Buttermilk Biscuit Baking Mix, 40 oz
- Brown Sugar, 2 lb
- Buttermilk Biscuit Baking Mix, 40 oz
- Mason Jar, 1 each
- Margarine Sticks, 16 oz
- Large White Eggs, 12 count
- Vanilla Extract, 2 fl oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about White Christmas Cherry Bars in a Jar
Absolutely. Use the same 1/2 cup amount and swap them straight across. Cranberries are usually a little tarter than sweetened dried cherries, so the bars taste slightly less candy-sweet, which is not exactly a tragedy.
A 1-quart jar usually works best for this amount of layered dry mix. If your chips, pecans, or fruit are chunky, pack the layers neatly and tap the jar gently on the counter so everything settles without crushing it into a brick.
Yes, you can swap in 1/2 cup melted butter in the same amount. Butter gives a richer flavor, while margarine keeps closer to the original formula, so use whichever one is already in your fridge and save yourself a special trip.
Pull them at 20 to 22 minutes when the edges look lightly golden and the center is set. If the middle still looks glossy and loose, give it another minute or two, but don’t bake until the whole top looks dry or you’ll lose that soft chewy texture.
You can, and a 9×13-inch pan is the easiest way to bake a doubled batch. Start checking near the 22-minute mark and expect it may need a few extra minutes since thicker bar batter does not care about your schedule.
That usually happens when the ingredients are poured in too quickly or the brown sugar has lumps. Add each layer slowly over the back of a spoon or through a canning funnel, and break up the sugar first so you get clean stripes instead of a festive landslide.
Yes. Leave the pecans out for a nut-free version, or replace them with the same amount of extra dried fruit or white chips if you still want the jar to look full. The texture will be a little softer and less crunchy, but the bars still bake just fine.
Let the pan cool completely first, then use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts. If you want especially tidy edges for gifting, chill the bars for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing so the chips and fruit stay put instead of dragging.
Yes, these freeze well for up to 2 months when wrapped tightly or packed in an airtight container. Freeze them in a single layer first or separate stacked bars with parchment so you can grab one or two without chiseling through the whole batch.
They’re great with coffee, hot tea, or a simple glass of milk because the bars are sweet and rich enough to carry the dessert table on their own. For holiday trays, cut them small and pair them with crisp cookies so you get some texture contrast instead of a platter full of soft squares.
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Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment and tell us how your bars turned out, or what little tweak you used to make the jar your own.
🖨️ Print-Friendly White Christmas Cherry Bars in a Jar
White Christmas Cherry Bars in a Jar
Ingredients
- ¼ cup white chocolate or vanilla milk chips
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup sweetened dried cherries or cranberries
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk biscuit baking mix
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk biscuit baking mix
- ½ cup margarine melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment
Instructions
- Layer the white chips, pecans, dried cherries or cranberries, light brown sugar, 1 cup biscuit baking mix, brown sugar, and remaining 1 cup biscuit baking mix in a 1-quart jar or vacuum-seal bag.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan.
- Empty the jar mix into a mixing bowl.
- Add the melted margarine, egg, and vanilla extract.
- Blend until evenly combined.
- Spread the batter in the prepared pan.
- Bake for 20 to 22 minutes.
- Cool completely, then cut into 16 bars.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Estimated shelf life for the dry mix is up to 4 months in an airtight jar or sealed bag stored in a cool, dry place.
Store baked bars in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days, refrigerate up to 1 week, or freeze up to 2 months.
If mixed with wet ingredients before baking, refrigerate the batter and use within 2 days.
Prep time is an estimate based on layering the mix, combining the batter, and spreading it in the pan.
