Baking Cake is just fun and making Cake in a Jar is fantastic especially with a super tasty cake recipe and a homemade frosting with whipped cream and cream cheese. Perfect for Birthday Cake Ideas or even as a fun Gift given for the Holidays. But trust me, a Deconstructed cake is the best in desserts in a jar recipes.

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Tie each mason jar with a ribbon or bow and add a cute tag for your special someone. There are so many Cake Jar Ideas so mix and match to your hearts content. And don't hesitate to add some fun toppings between layers. YUM, I'm ready to dive in.

It goes without saying that these adorable desserts are also portion controlled which is a must when it comes to a dessert that is SO GOOD.
Shopping List for Mason Jar Cake
- Cake Mix
- Sour Cream
- Eggs
- Vegetable Oil
- Water
I'm using a Chocolate Cake but the great thing is that you can choose ANY Cake Mix Flavor you wish. Try Lemon or Strawberry, Spice, or Vanilla it's all fantastic!
Frosting
Part of what makes a good cake is excellent frosting. It needs to be sweet and delicious. But most importantly pair nicely with the other ingredients.
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- Cream Cheese
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract (Optional)
Optional Topping Ideas
- Chocolate chips
- Mini Candy Pieces
- Graham Crackers
- Pie Filling (Apple, Cherry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Mixed Berry)
- Cookie Crumbs (Oreo Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Circus Animal Cookies)
- Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate Sauce
How to make Chocolate Jar Cake
Gather all the ingredients together along with measuring cups. I find it easiest to use a hand mixer when mixing all the ingredients together.
In a large mixing bowl combine Chocolate Cake Mix and create a well in the center for sour cream, eggs, vegetable oil and water. Mix on low speed until all dry ingredients are incorporated together and then increase the speed to high and mix together.
Pour batter into a cookie baking sheet pan lined with parchment paper and sprayed in with cooking spray. This helps to prevent sticking
Bake in a preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and allow to cool

Once cake is fully cooled cut cake into circles that fit the size jars you are using.
I am using a wide mouth ½ pint mason jar and using a mid size biscuit cutter to cut circles from the cooled cake. Feel free to hand cut each circle if you wish. They don't need to be perfect. A little frosting will cover up any imperfections.
These may seem like a small portion but trust me, it's a perfect size dessert.
Place a circle of cake in the bottom of the jar and top with frosting and additional toppings if desired. Then place another circle of cake on top and repeat with frosting. Garnish with cookie crumbs, or even cake crumbs
Making Chocolate Garnish
It's fun to make an optional chocolate garnish. It's easy. On a piece of paper write XOXO, LOVE, or even a heart.

Place a piece of parchment paper on top. Using melted chocolate chips in a piping bag trace over the XOXO, LOVE, and Hearts making sure that each letter touches the neighboring letters to stick together.
Allow chocolate to chill before lifting off parchment paper and place on top in frosting as an adorable Valentines Garnish.
How to make Frosting
This frosting recipe is absolutely delicious. It's rich, creamy and oh so good. Add a little food coloring to celebrate the holidays or enjoy as a white frosting. You really can't go wrong!
In a mixing bowl combine room temperature cream cheese with powdered sugar and optional extract and set aside. In a separate bowl whip heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Don't over whisk but it's important to have stiff peaks.

Then carefully mix whipping cream with cream cheese mixture just until combined.
Add frosting to a piping bag and pipe into jars. You can also use a zip-loc bag and snip the corner.
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Mason Jar Dessert Recipes
There are so many delicious favor combinations when it comes to Cake in a Jar but let me share with you a few of our favorites.
- Lemon Cake with fresh raspberries or strawberries and frosting
- Spice Cake with Apple Pie Filling and frosting (
- Chocolate Cake with Cherry Pie Filling and Frosting (Mini Black Forest Cake in a Jar)
- White Cake with Cookie Crumbs and Frosting (Cookies and Cream Cake in a Jar)
- Funfetti Cake and frosting with Circus Animal Cookie Crumbs (Circus Animal Cake in a Jar Dessert)
And let's not forget all these Mason Jar Cake Desserts can be served with Ice Cream too.

How to Store Cake in a Jar
I prefer to store in refrigerator and keep chilled. But they could be stored at room temperature
What size Mason Jars are best to use?
I used the wide mouth ½ pint mason jars. You could also use the jam or jelly jars which are also half pint jars.
More Chocolate Recipes
- Cake in a Jar from Devour Dinner
- Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts from Blogghetti
- Chocolate Chip Brownies from That Recipe
- Chocolate Chip Pecan Shortbread Cookies from Shockingly Delicious
- Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls from Jolene's Recipe Journal
- Chocolate Funnel Cakes from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Chocolate Pomegranate Crostini from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Ferrero Rocher Ice Cream from The Fresh Cooky
- No Bake S'mores Pudding Pie from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Peanut Butter Cup Brownies from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- White Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries from The Redhead Baker
- White Chocolate Strawberry Bombs from Magical Ingredients
- White Chocolate Strawberry Muddy Buddies from An Affair from the Heart
Cake in a Jar Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cake Mix - Chocolate, Vanilla, Lemon, Strawberry, Spice
- ½ Cup Sour Cream
- 4 Eggs
- ⅓ Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup Water
Frosting
- 1 ½ Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 4 oz Cream Cheese - softened
- ¼ Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract - Optional
Garnish/Additional Toppings (optional)
- Cookie Crumbs - Oreo, Chocolate Chip, Circus Animal
- Chocolate Chips - Mini
- Candy Pieces - M&M, Mini Chopped Candy Bars
- Graham Crackers
- Pie Fillings - Apple, Cheery, Blueberry, Raspberry
- Caramel Sauce
- Chocolate Sauce
Instructions
Cake
- In a large mixing bowl combine Chocolate Cake Mix and create a well in the center for sour cream, eggs, vegetable oil and water.
- Mix on low speed until all dry ingredients are incorporated together and then increase the speed to high and mix together.
- Pour batter into a cookie baking sheet pan lined with parchment paper and sprayed in with cooking spray. This helps to prevent sticking
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and allow to cool. About 17-20 minutes
- Once cake is fully cooled cut cake into circles that fit the size jars you are using.
Frosting
- In a mixing bowl combine room temperature cream cheese with powdered sugar and optional extract and set aside.
- n a separate bowl whip heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Don’t over whisk but it’s important to have stiff peaks.
- Then carefully mix whipping cream with cream cheese mixture just until combined.
- Add frosting to a piping bag and pipe into jars. You can also use a zip-loc bag and snip the corner.
Chocolate Topper Garnish (optional)
- On a piece of paper write XOXO, LOVE, or even a heart. Place a piece of parchment paper on top.
- Using melted chocolate chips in a piping bag trace over the XOXO, LOVE, and Hearts making sure that each letter touches the neighboring letters to stick together.
- Allow chocolate to chill before lifting off parchment paper and place on top in frosting as an adorable Valentines Garnish.
Notes
Mason Jar Dessert Recipes
There are so many delicious favor combinations when it comes to Cake in a Jar but let me share with you a few of our favorites.- Lemon Cake with fresh raspberries or strawberries and frosting
- Spice Cake with Apple Pie Filling and frosting (
- Chocolate Cake with Cherry Pie Filling and Frosting (Mini Black Forest Cake in a Jar)
- White Cake with Cookie Crumbs and Frosting (Cookies and Cream Cake in a Jar)
- Funfetti Cake and frosting with Circus Animal Cookie Crumbs (Circus Animal Cake in a Jar Dessert)
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Christie
What a fun dessert! I can see getting the kids involved in this one. And perfect for a party, too!
Radha
This SO YUM! I am huge fan of mason jar food ideas. Love the cute words on top!
Devour Dinner
Thanks Radha, it's fun writing in chocolate and using as a garnish. So fun!
Kathleen Pope
How perfect, I'm hosting a baby shower and these are going on our menu! Love them! And brilliant putting parchment paper over the hand writings.
Devour Dinner
I love this! The baby shower will be so fun with a great dessert too!
Lisa Kerhin
These cakes in a jar are so adorable and delicious sounding.
Sally
Great idea! Need to find a good deal on some jars now.
Devour Dinner
The jars are so fun, but there are so many options too
Hezzi-D
These are so cute! I love that they are customizable too.
Jolene
Oh my gosh, the presentation on these is so great! Love the chocolate words!
Dorothy Reinhold
What an adorable idea! Looks and tasty great! Perfection!
Karen
These are so adorable! Chocolate and pink together for Valentines day is just perfect.
Devour Dinner
Thanks Karen, they are so fun to make and enjoy
Wendy Klik
This is a fun recipe and for a party you could put each guests name onto the cake using the method you described. Thanks.