it's like a virus

I started with an e-mail containing this link. From eggplant, where many new obsessions start and are shared. Cupcakes in a jar. Huh? I saw the link and didn't really think about it again. . . but then it crept into my brain. Slowly at first. Before I realized it, I knew I had to try and make something baked in a jar. It became an obsession. The potential for gift giving seemed endless. They are perfect. Small, portable, weird, dessert-y and mildly trashy, yet have the ability to be quite cute and elegant. A cupcake in a jar google search didn't turn up much info, but a cake in a jar search was a goldmine. There is a ton of info out there about baking in jars. What a wonderful world it is.
 

These are 1/2 pint jars of pumpkin spice cake (the recipe is from from mailorder last year.) I called eggplant the next day—she had been researching it too and we both had this bug real bad. About 5 calls and several e-mails later I told Grammie and like some sort of crafting angel she busts out with a case of these jars, brand new, she happened to have on hand and gave me 8. Awesome. I filled them in the next 12 hours. If you want to frost them you have to fill them less then I did, which was about 3/4 full. I just pressed the lid on and squished the cake down before they cooled. The result was a tender cake, almost like a pudding, because it steamed a bit. Heavenly.

If you get a jar with straight sides and don't frost it, the cakes will slide out whole. No kidding. Just oil the jars first. I didn't flour mine and they still came out fine, but eating them out of the jar with a little spoon was more fun. The girls totally freaked out, and they don't even eat cake. Well, they do now.

These actually seal when you close them up hot. Some sites say you can keep them, sealed, up to 6 months on a shelf. Of course boil the lids and all that—and no frosting, of course. I am keeping them in the freezer, they can thaw in a day, ready to be given out with holiday fanfare. My mind is racing now. . .cakes on picnics, in the mail (but they are heavy, that shipping would be expensive) and in lunch sacks, or you could keep one in your jacket pocket! And then Mariko and I discussed different jar contents; brownies, pound cakes, gingerbread, oh good lord. I am thinking some sort of pie type thing now, a graham cracker crust layer with fruit on top, or a creme pie. I mean, if I freeze them, I can fill them with whatever, right?

We are both on a crazy cake in a jar train going in different directions. Mariko is going the light cake and frosting route, she dropped off a pint size which was an amazing chocolate cake with an espresso frosting. I am more about the dense cake, without frosting, and exploring packaging potential. We both agree the 1/2 pint size, which is so easy to accidentally overfill, is definitely the way to go for the cute factor.

We both used our normal recipes, watched the baking time, (bake these on a rimmed sheet for easy removal) and then just winged it from there. 1/2 of a cake recipe easily filed 8 1/2 pint jars (about 8 oz) with some left over.

I have calmed down, sort of. But really, there will be more of these. Baking in a jar. . . pure genius.

Comments

[meredith]

not related to the cupcakes in a jar which look AWESOME-but have your book(bend the rules sewing) and want to size up the lap quilt to a twin for one of my full size children.not sure how much more fabric to buy.not clever with math things...I want to make it in flannels for two of my sons Thanks for any guidance or equations you can provide

[Hettie]

Oh boy, I needed to read this like a whole in the head! What a super idea!! :-) As I'm reading it, my brain is bursting with nifty recipe ideas. Thank you for the cool idea. -Hettie

[Rachel]

That is seriously adorable! I am going to have to make some of these for sure!

[Heather]

I know, they are great. I have been doing these for quite some time now. The two recipes I use are apple spice cake and pumpkin spice cake. Heavenly moist.

I got the recipe from my sister. I use pint jars, they are the perfect size to give as gifts to a couple (or someone who really likes cake!) If you want the recipes, I'd gladly share. Just email me.

[Gabreial]

Cake in a jar is genius and weird and crazy all at the same time, but it's catching on like wildfire and I'm just as excited as you! Thanks for making me feel not so bad about the whole idea! I'm off to bake :o)

[Gayla]

I love canning so this is pure genius!

[heather]

i've seen cake in a jar for sale on etsy! great idea - you should be super excited!

[madelinetosh]

this is a perfect idea. i have seen my grandmother do something like this before but i always assumed it was custard or the like.

ahh, the potential.

[Jamie Z]

I wish I would have known about this for my wedding! A small cutting cake, individual jarred cakes made AHEAD OF TIME to pass out! wow...I can picture it now

[Heather]

Oh my stars, I think my pulse actually increased while reading this post. I can’t think of anything that has so thoroughly tapped into my love of baking and my love of things small and my love of containers! Holy crap this is awesome.

P.S. I can’t remember how I found your blog anymore but it was recent and I spent a totally giggle-ridden hour (not at work! nope!) reading your old posts and thinking that you have got to be the coolest mom in town.

[Tina]

I love it! I've baked breads in tin cans but never canning jars! Vermont Country Store used to sell something similar, but it's always better when you do it yourself. Great idea for a picnic or a birthday party!
Thank you!

[alicia]

You've got to be kidding. That is so amazing and cute and yummy looking. I can not wait to try it.

[Meredith]

This may be the perfect addition to my kitchen craft baskets this Christmas! Thanks for the idea. So cute!!

[Nancy]

oh my gosh. GENIUS!

[Lisa]

Oh,cakes in a jar. Good memories! We did these when my girls (now in their early twenties) were in middle and high school. Great gifts, but more than that wonderful quick company treats! The crystal-style pint jars have wide mouths and straight sides so they cakes do slide right out. We'd slice them into rounds, arrange on a tiny pretty plate, and drizzle with chocolate syrup or dust with confectioners sugar. I still have these jars! Thanks for the reminder.

[Christy]

would baking in a mug work too? although you wouldn't be able to cover and freeze, it would be very cute, would it not?

[jody]

That is the coolest thing ever! Darn you for making me want to do this now!! (Like I don't have enough crafting obsessions already!)

hehe!

[amyehodge]

Stop, you are making me so hungry for cake! And these are SO adorable. Thanks for the idea!

[sarah n.]

no frickin' way!! you and mariko are geniuses!! i love love love this idea. gift potential out the wazoo. AND super awesome for just us who can't really scarf down a whole cake before its bad. this is hot.

[amigurumigirl]

oooooh OOOOOOH brilliant!!! I gotta do it!

[Karen]

I'm in shock as to how brilliant that is. Perfect!

[equisetaceae]

SO MUCH AWESOME FOR SUCH A LITTLE JAR!

You are totally spreading the excitement infection!

[Amy]

What a great idea! I will have to try that.

[julia]

holy crap this is awesome! i will definitely be adding that to my "post-holiday projects" list. i've finally stopped adding things to my holiday projects list, but this will definitely have to be an experiment for early january...

[kate]

wait. I'm still stuck on "my girls don't even eat cake"! What kind of weird kids are you raising over there?? ;D

[Annika]

Oh my goodness, this is brilliant! I have to try it.

[Michele]

Such a fabulous thing...cake in a jar! I've got to try this out.

[Glenda]

Fantastic!!! I'd recently decided I needed to scrap some of the craft-making ideas for Christmas due to lack of time and instead planned to bake some yummies. This totally fits the bill.

Between this post and the small boxes for kids post, you've contributed two very great ideas to my Christmas giving, in place of more time-intensive ideas I had to scrap. Thanks!!

[Victoria E]

That is an awesome idea! I must try it!

[Strikkelise]

Man. What you people come up with. This sounds like a perfect little something for someone who needs a little comfort. With a packet of tea!

[P]

This looks amazing! Does anyone know where can I get half-pint jars for a reasonable price?

[Rachelle Nicolette]

holy moly. thanks for the new obsession, amy! ;)

[Stephanie]

Those rock my socks!

[Lia]

What a great idea! I would never have thought of that !

[Julie]

So cute!

[kirsty]

Lovely idea - i've done a similar thing with ramekins in the past. Happy Christmas!

[Stefanie]

Oh goodness ANOTHER thing for me to try. I swear it is never ending, but in a good way :)

[Nicole]

Brilliant! They are so cute! Did you use stickers or paper and lables for the lids?? I love faux bois!

[Mae]

Feeling your excitement and energy! It is a GREAT idea - good stuff.

[Mae]

Feeling your excitement and energy! It is a GREAT idea - good stuff.

[Nannette Spencer]

What a wonderfully fun thing to try! Also, where did those awesome labels come from? LOVE them!

[Misti]

The military community has been making these for YEARS as a way to send home-baked goods to our loved ones overseas.

My husband, currently in Iraq, loves lemon poppyseed cake for his cake in a jar. :)

[C]

Soooo thank you for this. I saw this on Etsy a while ago and have had to steal myself not to order - postage would be shocking for the UK. However I might have to see if I can bake some now!

[Chole]

Now why did that never occur to me? I make a yeast bread that uses a canning jar (or coffee can) to bake in. Yet I never thought to make the jar *part* of the packaging and gift giving as well. Thanks for the inspiration! ~Chole

[carolyn]

You are an angel for this idea! I have been wracking my brains trying to come up with something inexpensive to give to my parent volunteers (15 of them) and this will be perfect. Thank you!!!

[Rachel]

I have 16oz jars at home that I canned peaches in, but can't figure out what else I want to pack in such large jars. Do you think larger loaves would work, maybe of banana bread or cranberry bread???? I love this idea so much!

[Kelly, Modern June]

I am so doing this! I have a friendly fued going on its 9 year for being the crafty neighbor on the block, My friend and I try to give the entire block the best cookies or the coolest handmade ornaments. (I will get her this year! Insert crafty evil laugh here!)

MY best year was the year each neighbor on the block receive a wall paper cone filled with miniture cookies. I have yet to out do myself on that one yet! My kids were younger and napping then, oh the good ole days!

thanks for the yummy ideas! Happy holiday@

[Lisa]

I am super-excited to have found my original ca. 1997 recipes for cakes in a jar: brownies and ginger spice cake! The brownies were especially good.

[Tabitha]

It look wierd at first, but now I HAVE to try this! Thanks!

[Jennifer]

Just a note about baking in a glass jar at home - canning jar manufacturers do not recommend it due to the possibility of bacterial growth. I've seen the etsy store (Fat Daddy Bake Shop) and also been drooling, but remember that they are a licensed bakery and can use preservatives not available to the home baker.