Try This: Jar Cakes! What Are Those You Ask?

What Jars to Use?

Finished Confetti Cake Jars with sprinkles on top.

Recipe

For this recipe you’ll need:

6 pint-sized (16 oz) glass jars with lids and rings
1 package cake mix of your choice, along with any ingredients needed for the mix
Grease or cooking spray to grease the jars
Cookie sheet to set jars on

Directions:

1. In pint sized jars, put about 1 cup of batter in each greased jar. Fill them up half way. Make sure to keep the rims of the jars
   clean. Put in preheated oven 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place jars on
   a cookie sheet to keep from tipping over while baking.
2. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean.
3. While they are baking, have your jar lids boiling in a pan of water. When the cake is done, take one
   jar out at a time and add the hot lid and screw on your jar ring and let
   set and cool.
4. It will seal as it cools. Place the jars on the counter and listen for them to 'ping' as they seal. If you
   miss the 'ping', wait until they are completely cool and press on the top
   of the lid. If it doesn't move at all, it's sealed.
5. After it cools it will pull away from the jar and when you are ready to eat, pop open the lid and
   enjoy.
6. Unsealed jars should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within 2 weeks. Sealed jars may be stored in
   a freezer.

This recipe is from AllRecipes.com, and for the full article go to: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/cake-in-a-jar/Detail.aspx

Chocolate cake mix batter with different sprinkles on top!

Tips for Baking

I’ve found that one box of cake mix can make about 6 pint-sized cakes. I just recently sent out 12 jar cakes and used exactly two boxes of cake mix. You can also bake these cakes in the larger mason jars, although I found that they do not bake as evenly and the bottoms and tops can get harder than intended. For every two large sized mason jars you use, you will use an entire box of cake mix. So it’s better and more affordable to stick to the pint-sized jars!

Homemade Recipes

Looking to make a more personalized, homemade recipe? Look no further. Practically any homemade cake recipe you can think of can be used. For some ideas, check out these links:

Carmel Nut Cake - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Caramel-Nut-Cake-in-a-Jar/Detail.aspx

Apple Cake - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Cake-in-a-Jar/Detail.aspx

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake, Carrot Cake and Spice Cake recipes can be found on this page: http://www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/SubPages/BakedJar.htm

Not a Fan of Cake?

If your military member is not a cake fan, no worries! There are other great recipes you can make using jars. Try this recipe from AllRecipes.com:

Banana Nut Bread - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Nut-Bread-Baked-in-a-Jar/Detail.aspx

Carrot-Raisin Bread, Gingerbread, & Zucchini Bread recipes can all be found on this page:
http://www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/SubPages/BakedJar.htm

Decorating Your Jars

Whether it is for a birthday or holiday, or just because, jar cakes are the perfect addition to any care package and are a favorite among the troops. If you’re feeling more creative, try making lid decorations, adding ribbon or stickers, or buy a jar decorating kit from a craft or grocery store (the kits I use are from Ball and are called Jar Art, only $1 for a kit!) These decorating ideas are great for holidays and birthdays. Here’s a link to some ideas for decorating your jars:

http://www.freshpreserving.com/pages/crafts/217.php?season=Winter&pageNum=1&catID=

Jar Art kits by Ball

Here's an example of the birthday jar decorating kit I used.

Don’t Forget the Frosting!

Just remember to send forks, napkins and plates along, as well as a tub or two of frosting. If you’re sending a lot of cakes at one time and you know all the guys will eat them up fast, it is fine to send a regular tub of frosting since it will get used up right away. However, it’s also a good idea to send a spray can of frosting along (not the
decorating kind), since the spray cans do not have to be refrigerated, therefore your loved one can enjoy cakes for several days in a row and not worry about the frosting going bad after opening it.

Here’s a link to the one I sent in my fiancé’s care package:

http://www.pillsburybaking.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?brandid=12&groupid=90&catid=328&flavorid=771&prodid=922

They come in great flavors and are easy to use and store!

Recipe Book

If you’re really becoming a fan of all the delicious recipes you can bake in a jar, this website allows you to download their e-recipe book called “Pint Sized Cakes” for only $5. Just a few of the additional recipes they include are: Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Chip Cake, Applesauce Cake, Almond-Cherry Bread, Pumpkin Bread, Raisin Bran Bread and Brown Sugar Bread. Definitely worth a look! Here's the link:

http://www.realfood4realpeople.com/jars.html

Send Your Love

I hope you can find use for this awesome recipe idea. My fiancé and the guys he’s deployed with can’t get enough of them. Sending something homemade and original like jar cakes are an easy and fun way to put a smile on your loved one’s face. So try different recipes and send the troops a mixed package of different breads or cakes. It will surely be appreciated and requested for months to come!

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to you all! :)

Heather

Right out of the oven!

Here's an example on how to decorate the lids. In this case, mine says "Happy 24th Birthday, Nic!"

All packed up and ready to send! :)