Well, first off I used the tiny 4 oz mason jelly jars to make my Cupcakes-In-A-Jar. You can buy them at many places from Walmart, Target, Hobby Lobby, and even online. They tend to be lower on the shelves than the more popular sizes but I have seen (and bought) them in all those places one time or another.
I baked my cupcakes directly in the jars. I saw in some places where people would bake the cake (or bought the cake) and then used some type of biscuit or cookie cutter to cut out a circular piece of cake to fill the jar. Nope, that was just too much work for me. Did you know you could bake with mason jars? You totally can…and I did. It was so much easier and took out the middleman.
To answer the recipe question…I used a store bought mix! I love making cake from scratch but to be honest ‘cake in box’ was just easier this time. My time isn’t really my time these days since I’m nursing on demand as the little man sees fit so I never know if any given day is going to be one long nursing session where getting other things done around the house, mind you party prep, is going to happen.
I used a simple yellow cake mix, followed the directions on the box and filled each mason jar only 1/3 of the way full with batter. This way there would be room for lots of frosting and sprinkles after the cake baked up. I baked the cupcakes according to the ‘cupcake baking time’ but checked them early in case they baked faster in glass, and they did. So watch out for that!
My frosting…store bought as well! I decided to buy these aerosol spray cans of frosting and let me just tell you they were soooo good! Who knew? I used both cans to complete emptiness to decorate 24 cupcakes.
Half vanilla frosted and half chocolate frosted…Yum! And some were half black and half white…I love me some frosting choices!
The girls picked out the sprinkles and we went to town prettying the cupcakes up. I highly recommend decorating with sprinkles…so happy looking!
See how nice using 1/3 full batter bakes up! There’s plenty of room for lots of swirly frosting that won’t get ruined when you put the lid on!
To make the decorative tops I just bought some cute scrapbook paper and used a paper punch, super easy and quick. Aaand a 2.5″ paper punch fits perfectly onto mason jar lids, sweet!
Thanks for sharing Maggie. Those are so cute and so easy:)
Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in Creative Busy Bee Craft Inspirations, under the Page 4 post on Aug. 29, 2012. Thanks again.
So cute. I’ve made cheesecakes in these mason jars but I’m excited to do cupcakes. What a cute treat for a little to take to his/her teacher. Yum!
the frosting in a can simultaneously makes me giggle (nobody would guess that such a homey cozy treat was not completely make from scratch while sporting a big smear of flour on your cheek!) and fills me with wonder. I am pretty sure we don’t have that north of the border, and what a shame. Icing in an aerosol can puts all other aerosol can foods to shame!
I use box mix all.the.time and nobody can tell. Box mix in two 9″ pans, cut the ‘hump’ off, make homemade icing…. people ask for the recipe and it’s like ‘well, one box mix, follow directions for fatty fat fat cake…’ 😉
these look so amazing – and you made this all look so easy and doable! Can’t wait to woo guests at my next shindig with these!
Thanks for the tutorial 🙂 These are such a cute and easy idea for a party, gift, or just for fun!!! And I love the little jars, perfect size for a sweet treat. Thanks again!
These are really cute! My sister and I made a banana bread one and sent it to her husband when he was stationed overseas. 🙂
Love this!
Want to swap stuff while having fun? These lovely hats are surely something!
Found the some lovely recipe books in a site where you could exchange stuff, uhmmm, like the ones lurking in your closet or your garage. You don’t have to spend a penny! You just have to exchange, share and have fun!
This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! I can just see those little cuties with their little wooden spoons eating these up!
I can’t wait to try it!
Did you spray Pam in the jar first?
Yes, I did!
Adorable! Sometimes I wish I had kids so I would have excuses to make cute things like this all the time, or go to Disney World…
I am making these for a wedding..how far in advance do u think I can make them??
thanks
gram122@comcast.net
I would think a couple days ahead if you use a box cake mix.
I want to make these for my bosses at work! if I make them Sunday night and bring them on Monday morning will they still be just as good and moist?
Sorry this is a bit of a late reply! But they should be perfectly fine for a few days after baking!! Enjoy!
I luv the idea. Just saw this on shark tank t.v. Show. My only thing is as a grama I always worry about germs. I wld rather have my spoon wrapped up. But the idea for presents is great.
How can i seal the jars tight to send the cupcakes to my husband that is deployed to Korea for his birthday? I want to make sure the cupcakes stay nice and fresh. Please help thank you
I think that would work to keep them fresh. Mason jars get a really nice tight seal!
What a great gift idea, by the way! He will be so excited!!!
xo,
Maggie
Do I have to be careful about the jars breaking and do you put them on a coookie sheet to bake
I placed all jars on a cookie sheet for ease of baking and removal. The jars should not break under the heat of the oven.
These are soooo cute!!! Going to do a “trail bake” this weekend with the kids and thinking about doing this for halloween and birthday parties coming up 🙂 Looks super easy so hopefully I won’t screw it up! Thanks for posting!!!!!! I think im more excited then my kids lol
You got this!! They are much easier than you think! Have fun too, that sounds like a blast!
Do you have a recipe for baking brownies for shipment to APO address overseas? In a jar, of course.
Thanks ET
You could use any recipe really, even a box recipe!! Just reduce the time for baking cupcakes vs a pan of brownies!
How long did they bake?
I just followed the cupcake part of the directions from the back of the cake mix box! 🙂