Homemade Cake Mix in a Jar is a practical and convenient gift option for the Christmas season. It consists of pre-measured dry ingredients layered neatly in a glass jar, allowing the recipient to prepare a cake quickly and with minimal effort.
This gift is suitable for friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family members, and offers a simple way to share a homemade dessert without requiring extensive preparation. Add a bow, a handwritten tag, and you’ve got a holiday gift that beats socks every time.
What Is Cake Mix in a Jar?
This is a homemade, ready-to-bake dessert kit layered beautifully inside a glass jar. Each ingredient is added in its dry form, flour, cocoa, sugars, baking powder, and chocolate chips, creating decorative stripes and a ready-to-use baking mix.
The recipient simply pours the contents into a bowl, adds basic wet ingredients, such as egg, milk, and melted butter, mixes, bakes, and creates a fresh cake with minimal effort. These mixes became trendy because they’re affordable to make, charming to gift, and visually stunning.
Pro Tips for the Best Cake Mix in a Jar
- Lightly compact each layer with the back of a spoon so the ingredients settle neatly, but don’t pack them too tightly or the mix won’t pour easily later.
- Use a wide-mouth jar. This makes layering easier and prevents ingredients from smudging the sides.
- Cocoa tends to clump; sifting keeps the layers smooth and even.
- Contrast colors intentionally. Alternate light layers with dark layers for a striking striped look.
- Attach a small card explaining how to bake the cake so your recipient feels guided and confident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of jar?
Yes! Any airtight glass jar works, but wide-mouth jars give the cleanest layered look and make it easier to pour out the mix later.
How long does the mix stay fresh?
If stored in a cool, dry place, the mix stays fresh for up to 3 months. Just ensure the jar is tightly sealed.
Can I swap the chocolate chips and walnuts?
Yes, try white chocolate chips, pecans, cranberries, or festive sprinkles for a holiday twist.
Can the baked cake be made in a different pan?
You can bake it in an 8-inch round pan, muffin cups, or even a loaf pan. All you need to do is adjust the baking time accordingly.
How to Store the Baked Cake
Store your baked cake at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate it to keep the chocolate chips from melting into the crumb. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months.
Ingredients
How to Make Cake Mix in a Jar
;Resize,width=712;)
Start with a clean, wide-mouth glass jar. Add the flour first, followed by the baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder, vanilla sugar, white sugar, brown sugar, and chocolate chips.
Start with a clean, wide-mouth glass jar. Add the flour first, followed by the baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder, vanilla sugar, white sugar, brown sugar, and chocolate chips.
;Resize,width=712;)
Place the remaining chocolate chips and walnuts in cling film and position this bundle right on top of the layered ingredients inside the jar.
Place the remaining chocolate chips and walnuts in cling film and position this bundle right on top of the layered ingredients inside the jar.
;Resize,width=712;)
Close the jar tightly and jazz it up with a festive ribbon, tag, or holiday charm. At this point, the mix is ready to gift.
Close the jar tightly and jazz it up with a festive ribbon, tag, or holiday charm. At this point, the mix is ready to gift.
To Bake the Cake
;Resize,width=712;)
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and melted butter.
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and melted butter.
;Resize,width=712;)
Pour in all the dry ingredients from the jar, except the reserved chocolate chips and walnuts, and mix.
Pour in all the dry ingredients from the jar, except the reserved chocolate chips and walnuts, and mix.
;Resize,width=712;)
Bake at 180°C/360°F for 35 minutes.
Transfer the batter to a greased 20×20 cm baking pan. Scatter the reserved chocolate chips and walnuts over the top.
;Resize,width=712;)
Cut the cake into squares and enjoy warm.
Bake at 180°C/360°F for 35 minutes.
;Resize,width=712;)
Cut the cake into squares and enjoy warm.
;Resize,width=767;)
