This week, the enormous project that I’ve been working on for the past few months finally launched. It was an awesome day, and everything went incredibly smoothly. I attribute that to the awesome team that I’ve been working with.
There were about a dozen people that I wanted to specially thank with baked goods, which served two needs. One, baking for people is my m.o. at Dyn. Two, I needed something to take my mind off the launch the night before. Having seen this idea on I Am Mommy’s blog just a week or so earlier, I realized that I could bake individual cakes knowing what the different individuals’ tastes were!
I ended up doubling the original recipe (below) and made 12 jars plus used the leftovers to make about a dozen miniature cupcakes.
White Cake
(from I Am Mommy, for 6 mason jars)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup milk
4 egg whites
2 cups cake flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
Combine sugar and shortening until well blended. In separate bowl, beat egg whites until light and frothy. (about 3 minutes) Sift baking powder into flour. Add flour to sugar mixture alternating with the milk. Add extract. Gently add egg whites and fold in until just combined.
Add 1/2 cup cake batter to well greased jar and bake at 325 for 35-45 minutes. The goal is to make sure the center is not raw, hence the longer cooking time. Start watching your jar at 30 minutes to make sure you don’t over-bake.
I loved the original recipe’s take on individual cakes, but I wanted to use the ingredients I had available, and to change the chocolate ones in particular to use Nutella, which I knew my coworkers love.
It was so easy to bring them back to work in the original box I purchased them in. Since some overflowed (I may have used a too-small ball jar, 8 oz – or maybe the fruit didn’t weigh the batter down enough on those ones) I decided to forgo the tops this time.
I’m eager to hear what other recipes you come up with for your mason jars, too!
Hey Lara,
Don’t know if you remember me, but I was awfully surprised to see a baking blog from you! it looks awesome and I can’t wait to try out these mason jar cakes. Except i might just try them in my cupcake tray. =)
What a unique idea, I love the little dollop in the middle of them all. I really love this as a gift and how you took the time to specially thank everyone.
Curious. Do they slide out of the jars or do you just dig into them?
[...] https://semisweetie.com/cake-recipe/bake-unique-cakes-in-mason-jars/ [...]
I am a military wife and have been searching for recipes to send overseas. The mason jar cakes are the easiest to package and send! If you boil the lids while you’re baking the cakes, it works best. Remove the mason jars from the oven, you can let it cool for 5-10 minutes. Remove the lids from the boiling water, tap on a towel to remove excess water, then seal the cake while it’s still hot. As it cools, the jar seals itself and you’ll hear the lid “pop.” They stay moist and fresh for MONTHS this way. If your package doesn’t arrive for 2 months, no worries! The cakes are still as good as ever.
But you can’t put fruit or frosting in the sealed mason jar to send over seas right? or can you?
University of Georgia studies indicate that botulism can grow in cakes that are “sealed” (the “pop” of the lid) in mason jars. It sounds like immediate consumption is okay, but don’t try to keep them for long periods.
I am doing the cake in a jar idea for my sisters birthday. ( not everyone eats or finishes their cakes soo..)Since it is in December I am going to make it look like a cup of hot chocolate. (Mason Jar Mugs) Use devil food cake mix, for the bottom and for the “whip cream” I am using a simple marshmallow frosting. (use a pastry bag to make dollops of cream..) put peppermint sprinkles on the frosting before it gets hard. and insert a candy can. After assembled put in refrigerator for 30 min to set the frosting. Great holiday treat idea..
Hi! My husband will be deploying and this recipe is PERFECT for me to send him! I was just wondering, since I will be sending it to him while he is deployed, should I not put any frosting on it??