Make A Cake In A Jar For Year Round Gifts; Send Them To The Armed Forces: Step By Step Instructions With Photos
By mary615
Making A Cake In A Jar Is A Nice Project To Do, And To Send To Our Troops Overseas
Making a cake in a jar is a project that we do any time of the year. These make wonderful hostess gifts, and to remember your nice neighbors and friends. We also make these cakes to send to the troops overseas. It means so much to them to be remembered for all they do for us. The cake is sealed in a Mason jar and arrives fresh. Remember to send along a plastic fork so the guys can dig right in. You can send the frosting along, too. (Make sure it's still sealed before sending so it doesn't spoil while shipping.) It’s better not to frost the cakes in the jar.
If you give the Cake in A Jar to friends, it would be nice to include a small package (Ziplock) or small cute container of Frosting, either store bought or made. Then they can just spread it on the cake. If the cake goes to the Troops, they just dig in and don't really care that much about the frosting, although it's nice in include ready to use frosting that won't spoil.
Supplies You Will Need To Make The Cakes
You will need:
½ pint Mason Jars. These can be found at supermarkets. They usually come 12 to a case. (Pints or quarts work also, but I find the cake cooks more evenly in the 1/2 pint size.)
1 box prepared cake mix. We used Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix. You can make homemade cake if you’d rather. 1 box of cake mix made 6 Mason Jars of cake.
A large pan to boil the Mason Jars in to sterilize them.
Tongs to get the hot jars out of the water.
A funnel with a large opening to pour the batter into the jars.
Supplies To Make A Cake In A Jar
Sterilize The Jars
Boil the Jars and lids in a large pot of water for at least 10 minutes.
Boiling The Jars and Lids
Mixing The Cake Batter
Make the cake as directed: For this Duncan Hines prepared cake mix we used;
3 eggs
1 1/4 Cup Water
1/3 Cup Oil
Beat Well
Mixing The Cake Batter
Take The Jars Out Of The Boiling Water
After the Jars have been in the boiling water for 10 minutes, remove them with the tongs, and allow to dry. An oven mitt will come in handy at this point!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Removing The Jars From The Water To Dry
Pour The Cake Batter Into The Jars
After the Jars have dried, use the funnel to pour the cake batter into the Jars. Fill each Jar three quarters of the way full.
If you want, you may spray the inside of the jars with your desired cooking spray. But because the cake will be eaten directly out of the jar, you don't have to.
The cake will rise in the Jar, so don't overfill!
Fill Each Jar 3/4 Full
Place Filled Jars Onto Cookie Sheet
Place filled jars onto cookie sheet. Bake as directed by your recipe, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Filled Jars Are Ready To Go Into The Oven
Placing The Lids On The Cooked Cake
As soon as Cake is done, remove the jars from the oven one by one, and place a lid on the jar right away. It's good to have someone help you at this point. Remember to use an oven mitt too because the Jars will be hot! Screw the lids on very tight. You will hear a "pop" that will indicate the lid is sealed properly (this sometimes takes a few minutes before the air in the jar creates an airtight seal).
Lids Are Placed On The Jars Of Cooked Cake
The Finished Cake In A Jar
This method can be used to send homemade meat loaf, stews, almost anything. Because the food is sealed in airtight jars, the food will remain fresh for a long time. Can you imagine how thrilled someone in the Armed Forces would be to get a home cooked meal??
Don't forget to pack plastic forks so they can dig in.
Pack the jars in bubble wrap for shipping, and if you want your man (or woman) in the Armed Forces to get these for Christmas, get them shipped before December 1st.
The Gift Is Ready To Ship
These Are Instructions on How To Preserve Pecans In A Mason Jar
- How To Preserve Pecans And Other Nuts In Mason Canning Jars
Pecans (and almost any food) can be preserved in Mason Canning Jars. This method frees up your freezer space, and there is NO freezer burn.
A Good Hub On Making Christmas Gifts In A Jar
- Homemade Christmas GIfts in a Jar
Whether you need a gift for a teacher or to send to friends in another part of the country, homemade Christmas gifts in a jar are the perfect solution. They are generally inexpensive, and yet can be done in...
|
BLUE BALL PERFECT MASON CANNING FRUIT QUART JAR ZINC LIDS (106 Available)
Current Bid: $8.00
|
|
Norpro 8.75" Inch Canning Jar Lifter - Easily Remove Jars from Boiling Water
Current Bid: $5.59
|
|
Plastic Storage Caps For Regular Mouth Canning Jars
Current Bid: $7.83
|
Nice Gifts From Amazon For Our Troops
 | Amazon Price: $29.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $1.44 List Price: $16.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $15.99 |
Comments
What an amazing and unique hub mary,I am bookmarking this one into 'My best recipe' slots.
Take care and I wish you a wonderful day.
Eddy.
Excellent presentation Mary! Hope this goes viral and accomplish its purpose...another thing that I expect from this well done Hub is to be considered the Hub of the day...and I know it will. Yeah Simone! you will take the hard work into consideration. I was wondering if we can cheat with the colors and add some green icing. Santa would be proud for the red and green style. Thanks Mary! Voting this up and Happy Thanksgiving surrounded by your family!
LORD
Bravo! What a great idea, and you did a wonderful job with this tutorial. Thanks so much!
Voted up and bookmarked.
If you have no objection, I would like to link this hub to mine on saying thank you to our military.
Wow this is something that I have never seen before! What an ingenious idea! I am voting you up and awesome! =)
Wow! That's a great idea and I love your step by step directions and photos. This is such a thoughtful gift for the soldiers and also to give to friends and family that live far away for the holidays. Voted up and bookmarked.
Good Morning SunnieDay, so glad you like this idea. I'm happy your son in law is returning safe and sound.
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Hi Eddy, hope you are well this Thanksgiving Day! Glad you are going to save this one. See you soon...
Hello, Lord, boy I'd sure be honored to be a "Hub of the Day", never been one of those! My daughter from Georgia just sent me some pecans, and I'll can them this way and they will keep for a long time. I hope your day will a wonderful one. I'm expecting a big crowd for dinner.
Talloni, hi there! I would be honored to have you link this ito yours. I'll run right over and read yours. Thanks for the vote! We have sent meatloaf, stews, all kinds of things to the troops overseas: they love it! Hope you have a wonderful day.
Good morning, Charlotte, good to see you today! Glad you like this idea. Thanks so much for the votes. See you again soon, I hope.
Hi HBN, hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! Glad you like this idea. It really works! You can send all kinds of homemade goodies as long as they are properly "canned".
Sounds like a wonderful idea for anyone with family or friends in the service.
Super idea! This is a perfect gift for the troops but also for family and friends living near or far. I plan to try this. Thanks for sharing.
I had to share this with followers. It's a great idea!
Excellent! I'll bet you get an H of the D on this one.It deserves it!
Hi rjsadowski, thanks for reading! It's a good way to send anyone on your Christmas list a homemade goodie, too. Hope you'll try it. Bye for now..
a great hub i think it would be one day a hub of the day.in this hub you touch a unique theme.keep it up!
Hello,icbenefield, you're right...it's a great way to remember anyone with something homemade. Thanks for reading.
Love your little dog!
Hi Patti, thanks for sharing this with your followers. We have done this method for a long time, not only for the troops, but for friends, too. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi there, rebeccamealey, It would be nice to be Hub of the Day! Thanks for reading, and I'm so glad you like this idea. Bye for now.....
This is an amazing idea. Thank you for the tips and the useful photographs. I can't wait to try this! Voted up and bookmarked!
TOO cool!!! Voted Up!
Hello asmatikhar, so glad you like my idea! It is something a little different; most people never heard of this method. Have a wonderful day...
Hi stacydmd, Thanks for the votes! I do hope you'll try this; not only for cake, for meats, fresh vegs, etc. I have sent stews, meatloaf and they all stay nice and fresh. Have a great Thanksgiving Day.
Good Morning, Isadora thanks for reading, I'm glad you like this idea. Thanks for the vote! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.
Mary, Can I say in a word? OUT-OF-SIGHT!!! What an incredible, and creative gift idea for troops, and for loved one who we want to send gifts to who are out of state. Hats off to you. Voted up, and awesome!!!!
p.s. going to tweet to my followers.
Wow, what an excellent idea! It's such a thoughtful gift.
Mary, you sure are an inspiration to all of us.
Voted up and pushed all the right buttons.
I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
Really clever! Thanks for the illustrative photos too. Vote up!
Hi there, adriene2, you are TOO kind. Thanks for the votes, I appreciate them. I thank you, too, for the Tweet! You left me such a nice compliment, thanks. Have a wonderful day.
I agree with what some of the other commenters have said:this would make a great Hub of the Day!
SanneL, thanks for the very nice compliment! I appreciate the votes, too. I hope your day will be wonderful too. I'm cooking for 35 today! What fun....
Hello again, the Dirt Farmer! Thanks for the vote and the nice compliment..always good to see you here. Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Hi again HBN, gee, don't get my hopes up!!! I am so happy to have so many nice compliment on this one. I have to get in my kitchen and get busy. You know how it is once you log on, it's hard to get off. Thanks for being such a wonderful Hub friend.
What a neat idea, I have never done anything like this Mary. Thanks so much for sharing. :)
What a great idea! I didn't know you could bake anything inside a jar. This would make great gifts family and friends too! Love it!!
Hello oceansnsunsets, try this method sometimes. You'll enjoy it. You can use the method for all sorts of food. I had a wonderful day; I hope you and yours did too! Regards, Mary
Hi Tina Truelove, yep you sure can! I couldn't believe it either when I first learned of this method, now we make all sorts of food this way and ship it. It really is amazing. Thanks for reading. Goodnight.
What a great idea for any gift. Sending these to the military men and women is an awesome idea. I love this times a thousand.
So glad you like my idea, Hyphenbird! The troops always appreciate those of us back home for remembering them. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Nice idea, like to try this coming Christmas. very useful hub...
Thanks for this great idea, like to try on this Sunday, and thanks for using nice because its very helpful to understand how make a cake in a jar. I am very glad to read your hub.
This is an excellent idea! Thanks for sharing :)
Great Ideas.
Hi, uniquearticlesbuz, I do hope you will try this. It is so easy to do, thanks for reading. Regards, Mary
Hello, Just_Rodney, thanks so much for coming by to read my method of making cake in a jar. Have a wonderful day.
What a neat idea. A very unusual and memorable gift! I'll be bookmarking this one! Thanks for sharing it.
Good Morning, Kris, thanks for reading, and I do hope you will try this method.
I look forward to following you! Regards, Mary
What a good idea! Voted up!
Hi plinka, thanks for reading, and for the vote up! Hope you will try this. Bye for now...
What a wonderful idea Mary and a great step to guide, thank you and voting up.
Hi MM, thanks for reading and for the vote! Today, I'm using this method to preserve some pecans I received from Georiga. I'm working on a Hub about that method. It's a method that can be used in many ways. Regards, Mary
Hi, what a fantastic idea! I would never have thought of it, and the photos were just right it helps to see how you do it, fantastic! rated up! cheers nell
Me, too, Nell Rose..when I first heard of this, I thought it was crazy until I did it! It really does work. Good to see you again.
What a super idea! Up and awesome!
Hi, WillStarr, glad you like my idea. Thanks for the votes. Try this method out; you'll like it. Goodnight.
What a brilliant idea! I love it. Rated up and awesome!
Hello, Om Paramapoonya, thanks for reading and for the nice compliment. Hope you'll try this. Thanks, too, for the votes. Goodnight.
LOVE THIS! I'm going to try this right away~ I may add a chocolate sauce & nuts on top (instead of icing) so it doesnt need to cool before lid is sealed.
Great idea and super hub. Will have to pass this along on a Latvian social site cause we Latvians have some troops out there too. I don't know what kind but cake mix has hit the store shelves.
Hi steffsings, I'm so glad you like my idea. I've never put anything on the top of the cake, but as long as the jar is still hot when you place the lid on, it should be fine. Let me know how that works for you. Regards, Mary
Good Morning, Gypsy Rose Lee, always so good to see you! I just did fruit cake to send to the troops in Iraq. I'm so glad you will do this!
Hey, this is really cool, I could possibly even do it, thanks for the great instructions.
Hi, KwaneG, I'm sure you can do this! It's SO easy. Let me know how you do, OK?
Hi Mary,
What an amazing idea.
I have bookmarked this one.
Have a good evening.
Good evening, Sueswan! Do hope you'll try this. Let me know how it turns out, OK?
What a great idea. I love your tutorial and photos. I am going to try this. Great hub
Hi, mljdguley354, thanks for reading. So glad you like this and I do hope you will try to do this. Thanks for the nice compliment.
great idea how long will it keep
Hi, Bonnie, thanks for reading this. We have had such good feedback from troops overseas. The cake might take two weeks or more to get to them, but they love it. Since the cake is sealed in sterized jars, it can't dry out or spoil. Do hope you will try my Cake in a Jar!
I have made 'cakes in a cup' one at a time, but this is better. It's been years since I've canned food for storage, my jars now just store dry ingredience, from almonds and walnuts, oatmeal, dried beans, and even my flour is save from pesty panty moths. (we are surrounded by woods and have an enless parade of critters around us, sometimes in the garage and house.) If they can't smell the sugar, etc., that is in the jars, hopefully they won't get to the pantry. Must try the cakes as soon as possible, thought they won't last very long around here.
Thanks, Joyce in PA. So glad you read this, and I hope you can use the information. I'm not familiar with how to make cakes in a cup. I'm curious about that! Try to make these cakes in a jar sometimes.
Mary,
I made cakes in jars this week. They turned out great! I'm giving them as gifts and everyone loves them! Thanks so much for sharing this great idea!!!
I am going to share my experience on my blog and include a link to your article for instructions. :)
Hi Tina Truelove, I just commented but it disappeared so hope you don't get two! Thanks so much for getting back to me to let me know how your cake in a jar worked for you. I just edited the Hub to include: if you give the cake to friends it's nice to include a ready to eat Frosting, either in a Ziplock or a cute container. We send so many of these to the Armed Forces: they don't really care about the frosing, they just want to get at the cake! Thanks so much for sharing on your blog, I really appreciate that. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Mary, what a wonderful idea. This year I started working with preserves. I canned pickles this August. I never thought of a cake in a jar! Great gift for shipping for a far a way loved one.
God bless for thinking of our troops who miss home.
Hi Agnes Penn, thanks for reading my Hub on how to make a cake in a jar! We did another batch to send out about two weeks ago to the Marines. They do so appreciate being remembered. Just remember if you do bake a cake in a jar, send along some frosting in a separate container. Merry Christmas, friend.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful idea. We love baked cakes. God Bless You Dear Heart.
Good Morning, stars439. So nice to see you today! Thanks for reading my Hub on how to make a cake in a jar. I do hope you will try to make this cake. It's easy and it last for a long time in the Mason jar. Hope you have a blessed day.
Oh, this is a great idea. I can't wait to try this!
Good Morning , lj gonya. Thanks for reading and commenting on my Hub about making a cake in a jar. I'm so glad you like this idea and you will try it. It's really easy and such a nice thing to do for anyone. I hope you have a wonderful day.
This is a wonderful idea! A cake in a jar! It never occurred to me -- thanks for the idea and the great directions. I also like the idea of making meatloaf or chili in a jar! Thanks mary615.
Hi Maralexa, thanks for reading my Hub about making a cake in a jar. Anyone who receives one of these will never forget you for doing this for them. We do like to do Chilli cause the guys love that so much.
This is such a fantastic idea! I never would have thought of anything like this. My brother is in the Navy and I wish I had known about this when he was in Iraq...
I love to cook and bake. I see some tasty gift making in my future!
Hi Dana Teresa, I'm so glad you like my idea of making a cake in a jar. If your brother is still in the Navy, you could send him home cooked Chilli or Meat Loaf. Bet he'd love that. You know how men love home cooking! See you again, soon....
I am a new Huber please share your also comment.thanks
Good morning, recipes for a bbq. Thanks for reading about making a cake in a jar. Please email me if you have any questions about this. Many thanks.
I love this idea! And, I learned something. I had no idea you could back in a mason jar. This was such a thoughtful hub. Thank you.
Good Morning, ytsenoh. I'm so glad you like the idea of making a cake in a jar. Thanks for the nice compliment on my Hub. Yes, it is amazing the things you can cook and preserve in a Mason Ball jar. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Sunnie Day 6 months ago
What a fantastic idea Mary..My son in law will be home in ten days from overseas... I wish I had known this but will be good for the future..THank you so much..Great idea!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Love,
Sunnie