The need can be anything from a new baby to a hospital stay to the loss of a loved one.
The desire on our part is the same, to make life easier for the recipient. To give them a gift of a warm, comforting, homemade meal.
When my church reached out and asked if I could bring a meal to a family that just had their first child I said yes before she could finish talking. Having just have had a baby myself, I know how wonderful a small kind gesture can be!
So in addition to the main grub, I decided to bring them a fun dessert.
I made the six different cakes in jars! They are roughly a single serving each, or if you are like me, they are half a single serving.
Each jar is different and each has its own distinctive frosting.
But here is the fun part.
I made them all from ONE cake recipe.
White Cake
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup milk
4 egg whites
2 cups cake flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
Combine sugar and shortening until well blended. In separate bowl, beat egg whites until light and frothy. (about 3 minutes) Sift baking powder into flour. Add flour to sugar mixture alternating with the milk. Add extract. Gently add egg whites and fold in until just combined.
Pour batter into prepared pans and bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes depending on your stove.
Baking tip specifically for jars:
Add 1/2 cup cake batter to well greased jar and bake at 325 for 35-45 minutes. The goal is to make sure the center is not raw, hence the longer cooking time. Start watching your jar at 30 minutes to make sure you don't over-bake.
Here is how I made six different cakes with one batter!
In every recipe I added the suggested ingredients to 1/2 cup of the plain white cake batter.
(I used this buttercream recipe and Cool Whip for my whipped topping)
Doh! That should totally say PEACH, not peace. Sorry!
This was a fun and easy way to make sure everyone gets something they would like!
I also tied a tag onto each jar describing the contents. I sorta had this vision of the new mom sitting at her kitchen table at 2:00am feeding her baby with every jar open in front of her and shes sampling a little from each one.
Maybe that was less of a vision and more of a fantasy. Cause like, I am still feeding my three month old at 2:00am.
I also added little words of encouragement on the top of each jar... a Bible saying on a couple, "Congrats", "Blessings", easy sayings like that.
This whole project with definitely a labor of love and I felt so privileged that I was able to offer up a small gift!
If you try it, be sure to leave a comment and let me stop by and gush over your Dessert for Someone Deserving!
Wow, you don't ever do anything the easy way do you? =) These look and sound awesome!! So many different flavors! I'm sure the family felt very blessed and loved with such a special treat!
Posted by: Glory/ Glorious Treats | Jul 17, 2011 at 08:40 PM
Leaves me inspired.....as usual...thanks!
Posted by: trisha | Jul 17, 2011 at 09:22 PM
I am not at all surprised that you would be this thoughtful and sweet! I love the idea of transforming one cake batter into all of these delicious treats- you are quite resourceful!
And I sure do love a cake in a jar - I am inspired :)
Posted by: HeatherChristo | Jul 17, 2011 at 11:15 PM
you are such a special lady! I wish I was having a baby so you could bring me food, and more importantly dessert. i am so doing these for eli's bar mitzvah. do you think I can do these the day before? put the top on and put in the fridge??? these would be so impressive and photo worthy! xx
Posted by: the urban baker | Jul 18, 2011 at 12:41 AM
These are so great! I kinda want to have a baby so you will make these for me...well, maybe not, but if I go buy a doll and pretend can you make them?
Posted by: shelly (cookies and cups) | Jul 18, 2011 at 07:18 AM
So charming and quaint. I love mason jars and these sound scrumptious!
Posted by: Renee (kudos kitchen) | Jul 18, 2011 at 08:13 AM
You are amazing! Love all of them!
Posted by: Maria | Jul 18, 2011 at 09:30 AM
Such wonderful treats!
Posted by: Esi | Jul 18, 2011 at 09:33 AM
You are the best - and this idea is the best. That is all.... : )
Posted by: Jennifer @ The Hudson Cakery | Jul 18, 2011 at 10:05 AM
This is SOOOOOOOO fun! What a cool idea, you could do anything with this...I'm liking it with your homemade funfetti!
Posted by: sweetsugarbelle | Jul 18, 2011 at 10:15 AM
This is the cutest thing I have seen in a LONG time! Also, it solves the problem of everyone having completely different taste in cake!
Posted by: Vertigo B | Jul 18, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Great idea Amanda! Always a pleasure reading and checking your amazing blog. Blessings
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | Jul 18, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Wow, this is such a magical and inspiring idea. I really, truly want to try my hand at this one day.
Posted by: Georgia Pellegrini | Jul 18, 2011 at 02:14 PM
You are brilliant. I definitely need to play around with these fun little cakes in a jar!
Posted by: Julie @SavvyEats | Jul 18, 2011 at 08:44 PM
Oh my goodness, I love these! All those flavors look great and the idea is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing!
Posted by: Heidi @ Food Doodles | Jul 18, 2011 at 09:21 PM
I LOVE this idea!
Posted by: Shannon Marie | Jul 18, 2011 at 10:21 PM
What a FUN FUN idea!!!! I would LOVE to make these as a "just because" gift for a few people I know!!! Hope all is well with you and your little ones!!!
Posted by: amalia | Jul 18, 2011 at 10:47 PM
Amanda this is such a sweet gesture - before I realized they were all from one cake recipe I wondered....HOW on Earth with your busy life could you do this? You are a rockstar. I am sure this family LOVES you!! xxoo
Posted by: Marla@familyfreshcooking.com | Jul 18, 2011 at 11:07 PM
What a great idea! I used your idea to make no-bake cheesecakes-in-jars for the 4th of July. They were great! Thank you for the inspirations!!
http://wellhellosunshine.blogspot.com
Posted by: Kerrin | Jul 19, 2011 at 02:04 AM
very clever--I shall make and bring these to my knitting group!
Posted by: Lisa McBrayer | Jul 19, 2011 at 08:20 AM
I love cake in a jar. Great gift idea!
Chef Laura at Home
http://laurajanelli.posterous.com
www.facebook.com/cheflauraathome
Posted by: Laura Janelli | Jul 19, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Wow these are great! When my sister-in-law has her baby I think I may just have to whip some of these babies up!
Posted by: Erin @ what the fork | Jul 19, 2011 at 10:32 AM
such a great idea. thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Stefanie | Jul 19, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Beautiful! I'm sure they really appreciated it! "It's the thought that counts," well....sometimes it's the CAKE that counts. But in this case, you pulled off both!
:)
~Cookin' Cowgirl
Posted by: Steph @ Cookin' Cowgirl | Jul 19, 2011 at 03:13 PM
What a wonderful idea!My Mom always does those extra special little things for neighbors and friends in needs. I am sure this mother was delighted beyond words to have a treat like this show up at her door. What a lovely idea and a nice way to spoil someone!
Posted by: Jenny Wren | Jul 20, 2011 at 05:56 AM
SUCH a beautiful idea! and they look perfect! thank you for sharing x
Posted by: emily | Jul 20, 2011 at 08:05 AM
Such a great idea! My neighbors are expecting twins and I have some old (vintage!) jars that I think would love to hold pretty, little cakes. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Barbara | Jul 20, 2011 at 09:42 AM
That is a CUTE idea. I just saw this same idea for quick breads. I would so be tasting all of them. If it makes you feel better, Bree was nursing at 3 in the morning last week. *sigh*
Posted by: Bethany | Jul 20, 2011 at 01:35 PM
what a great idea--the possibilities are literally endless! you're a thoughtful gal, amanda. :)
Posted by: grace | Jul 20, 2011 at 04:33 PM
What a fabulous idea. And so easy-thank you for sharing!!!
Posted by: Regina | Jul 21, 2011 at 11:53 AM
What a wonderful idea! They look fantastic, especially all together.
Posted by: Dawn @ Kitchen Lore | Jul 21, 2011 at 05:33 PM
My best friend just broke up with her long term boyfriend and I want to make these for her SOOO badly, luckily I still have one more mason jar, I just recycled like five of them!!! I should have saved them! These are fabulous!
Posted by: Madeleine | Jul 22, 2011 at 12:09 PM
This is so amazing! I think I'll try making these with my daughter as gifts to her camp counselors as a thank you for a great summer! (Can't believe camp is ending already, btw.) But the jars freak me out - is there anything else I need to know about the jars to make sure they don't crack in the oven? Or do you think standard jelly jars will do?
Thanks for another great idea!!
Posted by: Katie | Jul 25, 2011 at 01:53 PM
That has got to be the sweetest thing I have seen or read in a long time. :) Blessings to you. I bet that new mommy just cried when she saw how much she was loved. You are amazing!
Posted by: Katrina | Jul 25, 2011 at 10:34 PM
nice. just goes to show how creative one can get with the smallest changes or additions!
Posted by: Lucy Bird | Jul 26, 2011 at 09:00 AM
These are so adorable! What a thoughtful and unique treat!
Posted by: Amanda | Jul 30, 2011 at 01:12 AM
How delightful is this! Cake in a jar!I have to ask where did you find these cute jars?
Posted by: Rose Sterling | Aug 01, 2011 at 08:33 AM
What would be the longest that you would keep the cakes in jars? How long do you think they'll last?
Posted by: Beth | Aug 01, 2011 at 04:20 PM
This is so cute. Love the idea of putting it on a container. I think I can make that as a debut treat for my sister's debut next month. Thanks for that awesome idea.
Posted by: Tabby Big | Aug 02, 2011 at 03:02 AM
Ich entschuldige mich, aber meiner Meinung nach irren Sie sich. Schreiben Sie mir in PM.
Posted by: balbaidge | Aug 02, 2011 at 03:27 AM
What a brilliant idea! This looks gorgeous and perfect for all occasions. I will surely suggest this for my sister's wedding reception.
Posted by: Spinet Grand | Aug 03, 2011 at 09:03 PM
Thank you so much for posting this amazing idea! I recreated your cakes at my Mom's surprise 50th birthday and they were a huge hit!! It's all people could talk about. Your recipe made the party. Thanks again!!
Your newest follower,
Sarah M.
www.diyordont.blogspot.com
Posted by: Sarah M. | Aug 08, 2011 at 06:30 AM
Love the idea of the cakes, have to see if I can find tose jars near where I live. Thanks for sharing
Posted by: Naoko | Aug 14, 2011 at 07:11 AM
Love this idea! looks so yummy! I am new to this baking technique, how did you cook the batter in the jar in the oven? did you put the jars straight in the oven??
Thanks!
Posted by: Fatima | Aug 19, 2011 at 10:45 PM
This is so awesome! I can't wait to try it out! Thanks for sharing : )
dahlingkadie.blogspot.com
Posted by: Kadie | Aug 24, 2011 at 12:27 PM
I am curious about storing these. Like can you make some ahead without the toppings, and have the lids seal in the oven while they bake? That way you can have some on hand when needed? Have you ever tried this?
Wonderful article! I just love it! Keep posting your awesome ideas!
Posted by: April | Aug 26, 2011 at 05:51 PM
I do this every summer. I make brownies in a jar, with just a simple brownie box recipe, but I add chocolate chips to make it richer. And then I make a pineapple upside down cakes with the brown sugar and pineapple at the bottoms. My hubby prefers the pineapple, I prefer the brownies. I always make in the summer because my friends come to visit then, and I actually put the tops on when they come out of the oven, and once they are cooled, I decorate the tops with ribbon. I put a tray in the guest room they will be staying in with a few and a couple of spoons so they can have a late night snack. They love it!
Posted by: BAHAR STUDDARD | Aug 29, 2011 at 06:18 AM
This is such a lovely idea!
Posted by: Keepsmeoutofmischief.wordpress.com | Aug 29, 2011 at 07:23 AM
I like this, Amanda!! It's really fabulous idea have seen in a long time! Thank you so much for sharing this very creative idea about desserts.
Posted by: איפור ערב | Sep 19, 2011 at 02:28 PM
Such a nice gesture.... and a lovely blog you have...
Posted by: Sum | Sep 23, 2011 at 12:42 AM