Cupcake in a Jar Recipe has delicious layers of cupcakes, frosting and sprinkles. These mason jar cupcakes are perfect for parties and special occasions.
Turn regular-sized cupcakes into a cupcake in a jar. It’s a cute way to transform your basic cupcake recipe. They are so easy to make and look adorable!
We used a chocolate cake mix but you can use anything you love. Peanut Butter Cupcakes would also be delicious!
Table of Contents
What is cupcake in a jar?
They are individual desserts layered in a mason jar. These glass jar cupcakes in a jar have layers of cupcakes, frosting and lots of sprinkles. It is much easier than eating a traditional cupcake and looks gorgeous in the glass jar.
You can use an assortment of cupcake and frosting flavors to make these for any occasion. This cupcake recipe can easily be adapted to holidays with red white and blue layers for Independence Day or red and green for Christmas. The ideas are endless for cute cupcakes in a jar.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- Chocolate Cake Mix
For the Frosting
- Solid Vegetable Shortening
- Butter, softened at Room Temperature
- Sifted Powdered Sugar
To Assemble
- Pint Sized Mason Jars
- Rainbow Sprinkles (Jimmies)
Find the complete ingredient list at the bottom of the post.
Variations and Substitutions
- Cake flavor options. Instead of chocolate cupcakes, try vanilla, red velvet, strawberry and more.
- Frosting. Try cream cheese frosting, chocolate, peanut butter, Cool Whip Cream Cheese Frosting or vanilla.
- Whipped cream. Top each jar with whipped cream.
- Toppings. Chocolate Chips, crushed candy and salted caramel make great options.
How to make cupcakes in a jar recipe
- Step 1. Preheat the oven and prepare the pans. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with cupcake liners.
Step 2. Next, prepare the chocolate cake mix based on the box instructions. Pour into the muffin tins. Bake and allow to cool.
Step 3. While the cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting. Cream the butter and shortening with a stand mixer or a handheld mixer. Gradually add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until combined. Then stir in the vanilla and milk.
Step 4. Add the frosting to the piping bag with a star tip.
Step 5. Lastly, cut each of the cupcakes in half. Simply cut off the tops.
Step 6. Then place the bottom of the cupcakes into a mason jar.
Step 7. Next, pipe a layer of frosting on top of each cupcake bottom in the mason jars. Then top with sprinkles.
Step 8. Add the cupcake tops into each mason jar on top of the frosting layer.
Step 9. Finally, add another layer of frosting. Garnish with sprinkles.
How long do cupcakes in a jar last?
Place the lid on any leftovers and refrigerate for up to 1 week. However, I find that the cupcakes are the best within 3-4 days of baking.
Recipe tips
- Allow to cool completely. The cake should be completely cool before layering the cake in a jar.
- Add the lid. It’s important to add the lid for storage to keep the cupcakes fresh.
More fun cupcake recipes
- Confetti Cupcakes
- Thin Mint Cupcakes Recipe
- Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes Recipe
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
- S’mores Cupcakes recipe
You are going to love this recipe so go ahead and try it. Please come back and leave a comment once you do.
Cupcake in a Jar
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 box Chocolate Cake Mix
- The Ingredients needed to make Cupcakes based on the Cake Mix
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup Solid Vegetable Shortening
- ½ cup Butter softened at Room Temperature
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 4 cups Sifted Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Milk
To Assemble:
- 24 Pint Sized Mason Jars
- Rainbow Sprinkles Jimmies
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with cupcake liners.
- Prepare the chocolate cake mix based on the box instructions. Then fill each cupcake liner with the batter until they are about 2/3 of the way full.
- Bake the cupcakes for 14-15 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cupcakes comes out clean. Then cool the cupcakes completely on a wire rack.
- While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting.
- In a large bowl cream butter and vegetable shortening until smooth with a stand up mixer or a hand held mixer.
- Beat in powdered sugar (one cup at a time) on low speed until well combined.
- Stir in vanilla and milk until thoroughly mixed and fluffy on a medium-high setting.
- Pour the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
- Cut each of the cupcakes in half by cutting off the tops and place the bottom of the cupcakes into a mason jar.
- Pipe a layer of frosting on top of each cupcake bottom in the mason jars. Then top with sprinkles.
- Add the cupcake tops into each mason jar on top of the frosting layer.
- Then pipe 1 more layer of frosting on top of the 2nd layer of cupcake in the mason jar.
- Top with more sprinkles.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Then enjoy!
