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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Cake

    Cupcakes in a Jar Gift Idea (Video)

    May 23, 2020 By Brandy 25 Comments

    ↓ Jump to Instructions
    Deliver cupcakes in a jar to a friend on their birthday! Such a cute and easy-to-customize gift! Make whatever cupcake flavor you'd like, layer in a jar, add a lid and deliver!
    Sending a gift to a friend? Try our Birthday In a Box gift idea!

    Watch Our Step By Step Video!

    We first made cupcakes in a jar in 2009, and sent them to school with Dallin to give to his teachers. They were a hit! A sweet treat in a reusable jar. We made more this year and gave them out at the drive by birthay parties that we were invited to.  How many drive-by parties have you been to during Covid?
    2 jars with cupcakes inside and white lids

    Cupcakes In a Jar Flavor Combinations

    The flavor combinations are endless. Here are some of our favorites!
    • German Chocolate with Coconut Frosting
    • Red Velvet With Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Lemon With Vanilla Frosting
    • Funfetti With Vanilla Frosting
    • Carrot With Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Chocolate With Chocolate Frosting

    open jar with cupcakes and frosting inside

    More Easy Gift Ideas

    Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies
    EOS Lip Balm Printables
    Dessert In a Mug Printable Tags
    One Smart Cookie Teacher Gift Idea
    jar of cupcakes layered with frosting and sprinkles

    Cupcake Baking Tips

    99% of the time I make my cakes and cupcakes from boxed mixes. I really don't notice a difference, and there are a couple of tricks to making ANY cake mix taste incredible. You don't need to do all of these--- just pick one! My go-to is tip #1. This really creates a moist cupcake.
    1. Add 1 cup of sour cream to the batter. Just stir it right in.
    2. Use whole milk instead of water.
    3. Substitute melted butter for the oil and double the amount.
    4. Add an extra egg for a richer cupcake.
    You can bake the cupcakes in a greased cupcake pan without cupcake liners, but I like using liners and peeling them off after the cupcakes have cooled. It makes for a softer cupcake without a crust.

    Freezing Extra Cupcakes

    One package of cupcakes usually makes 24 cupcakes. Extra cupcakes can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. So make a batch, and save the rest to make these quick gifts another day!

    Packaging Tips

    • Tuck a plastic fork under the ribbon if or tape one on with washi tape.
    • Send one in the mail! If you are already mailing out a package, slip one of these into the priority flat rate box.
    • Only using 1 cupcake? Use a small jelly canning jar.

    How To Assemble Cupcakes In A Jar

    2 jars with cupcakes inside and white lids
    Print
    5 from 3 votes

    Cupcakes In a Jar Gift Idea

    Deliver cupcakes in a jar to a friend on their birthday! Such a cute and easy-to-customize gift! Make whatever cupcake flavor you'd like, layer in a jar, add a lid and deliver!
    Prep Time40 minutes mins
    Active Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time45 minutes mins
    Yield: 1 Jar
    Cost: $2

    Equipment

    • half pint jars with lids
    • ribbon
    • plastic forks

    Materials

    • cupcakes baked and cooled
    • frosting
    • frosting bag with tip
    • sprinkles

    Instructions

    • Place one cupcake in the bottom of a half pint sized jar.
    • Pipe frosting over cupcake. If you don't have a frosting bag, use a ziploc plastic bag and cut the corner off.
    • Add sprinkles.
    • Repeat with second cupcake.
    • Add a lid, and tie with ribbon.

    Video

    Notes

    You can freeze extra cupcakes for up to 6 months.

     

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    About Brandy

    Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

    Comments

    1. Dianne says

      May 26, 2020 at 3:45 pm

      Oops! Guess I have one more question...or I'd like the answer to Carol's question about a plastic alternative. At my house, if something CAN be broken, it WILL be broken. I'm not a big fan of plastic use, but in this case it would certainly be handy and wise too.

      Reply
    2. Dianne says

      May 26, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      I love the idea but have a question for you. You mention (in the ingredients list) a 1/2 pint jar. Then in the instructions, you mention a pint-size jar. Will two cupcakes fit into the half-pint? Or do you need the full pint size for two cupcakes and icing to fit into?

      Reply
      • Brandy says

        May 26, 2020 at 6:33 pm

        It’s should say half-pint. I’ll go in and change it! Two cupcakes will fit into a half pint (8 oz) jar. Thanks!!

        Reply
    3. Chris says

      January 07, 2011 at 9:20 pm

      What a fun gift idea! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    4. Carol says

      September 14, 2010 at 2:27 am

      Such a cute idea! Has anyone thought of a plastic alternative? It would be cheaper to ship and if little ones dropped it no breakage...

      Reply
    5. Keep Calm and Decorate says

      September 13, 2010 at 11:40 pm

      I absolutely love this idea!

      Reply
    6. Shayna @ Texas Monkey says

      September 13, 2010 at 1:28 pm

      Just wanted to let you know I featured these today on our link up so feel free to come by and grab a button and link up this week to while you're there.
      http://texasmonkey.blogspot.com/2010/09/all-about-you-monday-fall-decorations.html

      Reply
    7. Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming says

      September 13, 2010 at 6:23 am

      Super cute and fun idea! Love these. I'll be featuring this tomorrow - Stop by and grab a featured button if you like. Thanks for linking up to the Sunday Showcase. I greatly appreciate it. Hope you have a fabulous week. Stephanie Lynn

      Reply
    8. LambAround says

      September 12, 2010 at 9:25 pm

      What a fun idea! This would be a great way to get cupcakes to a picnic. If you have a free moment, I have a new weekly (I hope!) Linky on my blog called Not “Baaad” Sundays with LambAround. I’d love for you to post this 🙂

      Reply
    9. Creative Flair says

      September 12, 2010 at 2:44 am

      Such a great idea. I wanted to just take a few friends to the museum for my son's birthday. Now I can just send home dessert. Yeah!!

      Reply
    10. southerninspirationsblog says

      September 09, 2010 at 9:14 pm

      I love this idea!! An unexpected and easy way to share cupcakes!! I can even see this idea used at a party. thanks for the sweet inspiration!

      Jennifer

      Reply
    11. Sassy Sites! says

      September 09, 2010 at 8:13 pm

      I would love to have you join me tomorrow over at our Sassy Sites blog party! It's our Feature YOU Friday! Come by and check it out! xoxo

      Marni
      @ Sassy Sites!

      Reply
    12. Moogie says

      September 09, 2010 at 6:36 pm

      I'm your newest follower. http://moogieland.blogspot.com/

      Reply
    13. Lisa F says

      September 09, 2010 at 5:08 pm

      Very cute! And yes, I would enjoy one of these in the mail (:

      Reply
    14. Beth says

      September 08, 2010 at 8:30 pm

      So cute. I can't wait to try making these.

      Reply
    15. Jerri says

      September 08, 2010 at 8:13 pm

      These are adorable! Fantastic idea!

      I would love for you to come by this week and link up at my Friday Favorites party!

      Reply
    16. Erin says

      September 08, 2010 at 5:32 pm

      What a great gift and you're right, perfect packaging!

      http://www.makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com

      Reply
    17. Sharyn says

      September 08, 2010 at 4:58 pm

      Fabulous and cute at the same time! Not to mention yummy!

      Reply
    18. Katie says

      September 08, 2010 at 4:34 pm

      I was so happy to wake up this morning and see this! Great idea for our halloween invites to the neighbor and cute!

      Reply
    19. Heather says

      September 08, 2010 at 4:26 pm

      Oh, I think I'm going to do this at Christmastime. Great tip!

      Reply
    20. the momma (aka Shannon) says

      September 07, 2010 at 11:13 pm

      awesome idea! definitely filing this one away in the brain! :o)

      Reply
    21. Marie {Make and Takes} says

      September 07, 2010 at 8:06 pm

      I love these. Hopefully a lot easier on the mess when it's in a jar!! Cute.

      Reply
    22. Charlotte says

      September 07, 2010 at 6:48 pm

      Brilliant, as usual. As a teacher I would be ALL ABOUT cupcakes at the end of the day 🙂

      Reply
    23. Wonder Mom says

      September 07, 2010 at 6:02 pm

      GREAT idea- I believe some of my kiddos teachers will be receiving these too...

      Reply
    24. Shayna @ Texas Monkey says

      September 07, 2010 at 5:48 pm

      Oh these are adorable and so creative! I'd love for you to link them up with us today!

      http://texasmonkey.blogspot.com/2010/09/dr-seuss-cat-in-hat-themed-party-all.html

      Reply
    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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