These mini cake jars are the perfect treat for dessert lovers who love making cute sweets! These single-serving showstoppers are as versatile as they are delicious. They are so easy to make allergy-friendly and can be made gluten free, dairy free and vegan. These cake jars are perfect for customizing for any event, from birthday parties and baby showers to romantic picnics and cozy date nights. Portable, playful and bursting with flavor possibilities, they can be layered with your favorite frosting and sprinkles for a fancy presentation! They are basically a mini layer cake in a single-serve jar! They are super kid-friendly as well! Plus, their cute size and endless customization options make them perfect for gifting - ideal for weddings, teacher appreciation gifts or a sweet pick-me-up for a friend. These cake jars make look complicated to make, but trust me they are a breeze!
Why You'll Love These Cake Jars
They are so cute and delicious!
These cake jars are a great way to celebrate any event!
You need minimal ingredients to make them.
They are super impressive and make the perfect gift.
The flavor options are endless.
They are easy to customize for food allergies and dietary preferences.
These cake jars are super kid-friendly and are a fun activity to do with your child!
Equipment Needed
All you need to make these mini cake jars is a baking dish and mini cake jars. I used these cake jars from Amazon.
Ingredients Needed
Cake Mix: I used vanilla cake mix because it is my favorite flavor! You can use any flavor cake mix you love. You will also need any ingredients that the box calls for. I used Simple Mills Vanilla Cake Mix.
Frosting: Feel free to choose any flavor frosting you love! The options are endless.
Sprinkles: I love topping my cake jars with sprinkles!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Gather your ingredients.
Step 2: Make your cake according to the instructions on the box. For thinner layers, it is best to bake the cake in a larger pan than recommended on the box. This will impact the baking time, so make sure to set a timer to check the cake because it will likely bake faster.
Step 3: Let cake cool to room temperature. Cut circles of cake with the top of the jars or a cookie cutter that is similar in size.
Step 4: Layer the jars with frosting and cake until they are full. Add frosting and sprinkles on top!
How to Cut Cake into Circles
There are a few different ways to cut the cake into circles.
The first way is using a round cookie cutter that is about the same size as your jar (no bigger). Place the cookie cutter on the cooled cake and press down firmly to cut out a circle. Repeat this process until you have enough cake circles to fill your jars.
The second option is to use the mouth of the jar to cut the cake. Press down firmly and then wiggle the cake out of the jar.
Another option is to cut the cake circles free hand. Place the jar opening on the cooled cake and trace around it with a knife. Carefully cut out the circle using a sawing motion.
Glass Jars
Individual serving jars: These are typically 4-8 oz and perfect for single-serving desserts. I used 4 oz jars to make these mini cake jars and I love how they turned out.
Sharing jars: These are 12-16 oz and good for sharing a dessert between 2-3 people.
Large jars: These are larger than 16 oz and can hold an entire cake or a large dessert to be shared by a group.
Other factors to consider:
Lid options: Some lids come with airtight seals which can help to extend the shelf life of your cake jars. Other lids may be more decorative, but not ideal for long-term storage.
Decorative options: You can find jars with colored glass or etched designs. You can also decorate plain jars with ribbons, twine or labels.
Storage
Store these cake jars in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. They can be stored right in the jars- just screw on the lid!
Variations
Cake: The options for these jars are endless. Try using chocolate, peanut butter, strawberry, banana, or even ice cream cake! Carrot cake is also a great seasonal option!
Frosting: There are so many different flavors of frosting to choose from as well! Try out chocolate, mint, peanut butter, strawberry, dulce de leche, cream cheese, lemon, coffee, caramel or raspberry!
Mix Ins: Try adding mix ins like chocolate chips, chopped candies, fruit, spices, shredded coconut, mini marshmallows or candied ginger!
Toppings: I like to top my cake jars with sprinkles but you can also top them with chopped nuts, shredded coconut, crushed candy or chocolate chips! Get creative with it!
How to Serve
Serve these mini cake jars at a birthday party, baby shower, wedding, bridal shower, bachelorette party, anniversary or on date night!
They also make great birthday gifts, Valentine's Day gifts, teacher gifts or pick-me-up gifts!
Recipe FAQ
What is a cake in a jar?
Also called cake jars, these are mini individual cakes in a jar. They are similar to cupcakes. You can think of them as a single-serve cake!
How long does cake in a jar last?
Store your cake jars in the refrigerator and they will last 4-5 days.
Can I bake a cake in a canning jar?
No, this is not safe to do.
How do you keep cake jars fresh?
Store your cake jars in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them fresh!
Is it safe to bake in Mason jars?
No, ball jars are not meant to be baked in!
How do you package a cake in a jar?
For these cake jars, I tried two different methods. The first was starting with frosting on the bottom, adding the cake cut out and then adding more frosting on top. The second was cutting out the cake with the jar and pressing the cake down and putting frosting on top. It just depends how many layers you want and what look you're going for!
Is it hard to make cake jars?
These cake jars look really fancy, but they are actually surprisingly easy to make!
Can you make these cake jars ahead of time?
Yes, these are perfect to make ahead of time!
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If you make these cake jars and love them, I would really appreciate a 5 star review! I also love seeing your creations so please tag me on Instagram or TikTok.
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Cake Jars
Equipment
- 10 4 oz jars (or you can use fewer larger jars)
- 1 cake pan
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix (and ingredients needed to make cake)
- 2 containers vanilla frosting
- 1 jar sprinkles
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients.
- Make your cake according to the instructions on the box. For thinner layers, it is best to bake the cake in a larger pan than recommended on the box. This will impact the baking time, so make sure to set a timer to check the cake because it will likely bake faster.
- Let cake cool to room temperature. Cut circles of cake with the top of the jars or a cookie cutter that is similar in size.
- Layer the jars with frosting and cake until they are full. Add frosting and sprinkles on top!
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