Description
Enjoy a delightful and portable dessert with this Cake in a Jar recipe. Perfect for gifts, parties, or portion control, these single-serve cakes bake directly in heat-safe mason jars and can be customized with various flavors and toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (for chocolate version)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
Optional Mix-ins and Toppings
- Optional mix-ins like chocolate chips or sprinkles
- Frosting of choice for topping (e.g., buttercream or cream cheese frosting)
- Optional toppings such as fruit, nuts, or crushed cookies
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) ensuring it reaches the correct temperature before baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder if using, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to create a uniform dry mixture.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, egg, vanilla extract, and sour cream or Greek yogurt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Add Mix-ins: Fold in any optional mix-ins such as chocolate chips or sprinkles if desired, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Prepare Jars: Lightly grease 4 to 6 wide-mouth mason jars to prevent sticking, then fill each jar halfway with the batter, allowing room for rising during baking.
- Bake: Place the filled jars on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Remove the jars from the oven and allow the cakes to cool completely inside the jars.
- Decorate: Once cooled, top each jar with your choice of frosting and any optional toppings like fruit, nuts, or crushed cookies.
- Store or Gift: Secure the lids on the jars if storing the cakes or preparing them as gifts.
Notes
- You can create vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, or funfetti versions by adjusting mix-ins accordingly.
- Use only heat-safe, ovenproof jars to prevent breakage during baking.
- This dessert is perfect for gifts, parties, or portion control indulgences.
- Avoid overfilling jars to allow room for cake rise and prevent overflow.
