Fall into Delicious: Pumpkin Cake in a Jar Recipe for Serious Eats

If you really want to see something horrifying this Halloween season, try shipping a cupcake. Trust me, it's not pretty.

However, if you want to share some sweetness with friends and family who may be far away, there is a solution: bake your cakes in jars. Yup, that's right: bake up some delicious pumpkin cake directly in jars for contained, easy-to-ship parcels which can be topped with whipped cream or frosting when they've reached their destination, making for a sweet and thoughtful treat.

Note: You can choose your own adventure when it comes to the size of your jars. I tried a variety, including 8-ounce, pint-sized, and even baby food jars (smaller jars will require less baking time). The key is to choose jars with a fairly wide mouth, so that the cake will be easy to scoop out with a spoon when it's time to eat.

When it comes to frosting or whipped cream topping, I don't suggest topping the cakes before shipping, but you can frost or top them and then put the lids on for short-term transit (for instance, if they're packed in a lunch).

For the full entry and recipe, visit Serious Eats!

Comments

[Meister @ Eat This Neighborhood]

Oh, mercy! Look at those perfect little Mason-jar pies! I can't wait to check this out in its entirety on S.E. -- I love your posts there so much.

[Meister @ Eat This Neighborhood]

Cakes*, obviously. Not pies*. That was just a pumpkin-related brain burp -- sorry!

[Rachel @ The Avid Appetite]

Love this! Inspiring lots of ideas over here, especially as the holidays approach!

[Cassidy]

That's such a clever idea!

[BigFatBaker]

OMG. This is the best idea ever.

[Patty]

I just love this idea and can't wait to make them...

[Lynn]

This is a great idea for sending cake to soldiers stationed overseas (without icing). We do it all the time at Operation Stars and Stripes. Remember, grease the jar VERY WELL with Criso. If the jars are wide-mouth and straight, the cake will slide right out. Otherwise, they can eat the cake with a spoon; which they love too. If you use canning jars, heat the lids and rings in hot water and put them on the jars as soon as you remove them from the oven, thee cakes can be stored in the jars for up to 6 months. I have made cocolate and banana nut breat to send overseas. Works great. Thanks for the reminder!