Spiders in jars. Spider webs made from chocolate. Black and orange everywhere. It must be 'that' time of year!!
(I also made spiders and webs in 2009 on petite fours!)
Its Halloween! Well. In like a month and a half it is.
But its definitely fall... and I adore fall.
What I don't adore about fall is every spider known to man trying to make its way into my house so it will not perish in the bitter winters of Minnesota. We have some big spiders around here.
I digress.
I wanted to do something fun with cake in a jar and also wanted to add a little somethin somethin to the outside. So I found a way to write messages or pictures on the inside of the jar as well as add lots and lots more calories with chocolate on top!
It was a good day in my kitchen.
And it can be a good day in your kitchen too. These are super easy!
To write on the inside of a jar I used a chocolate cake and made a white cake to fill the jars with. If you dont want to make two seperate cakes, simple reserve about 1/4 cup of your white cake and use food coloring to tint brown or black.
One cake recipe made approximately six jars.
After I piped the cake into the jar, I popped it into the microwave for eight seconds. Maybe ten seconds, but no longer. I just wanted the chocolate batter to set in place so it wouldn't fall when I poured thewhite cake batter in.
I added 1/2 cup of white cake to the jar and then baked for about 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
This was tricky... some baked fully in 18 minutes, some took about 25 minutes. It really depended on where it was placed in my oven. So just keep a close eye on them!
And if writing inside your jars isn't enough, I am also gonna show you how to make chocolate spider webs that fit snuggly over the rim of your jar!
You do not NEED to use a wide mouth jar for the chocolate spider web, I just prefer it.
*These are the jars I buy. Also, I used these candy melts. Just popped them in the microwave for 30 second intervals until the chocolate was completely melted.
I grabbed the jar with my left hand, then slowly moved the rubber band from the jar to my wrist.
While the chocolate is sturdy, if it ever broke it was when I was removing the rubber band. So be careful during that process!
Seriously that easy. Less then ten minutes from beginning to end!
I also piped out BOO! and a pumpkin and other fun stuff for the kids.
While the words are fun (you know I am so excited to do jars with red velvet Christmas greetings in them!) I think my kids liked the spiders best.
Ok, ok, so did I.
But if you happen to have arachnophobia, don't ever google "spiders in jars" like I did and slowly torture yourself looking at huge creepy crawly heinous beasts while trying to find a template for your jar design.
But do grab yourself a spoon and tell the kids to 'break' into their jars.
They are as fun to eat as they are to make!
I have added my new eight legged friends to the round up over at Tidymom's place... what are you lovin this week???
*Linked to an Amazon Affiliate page.
wow! they are very creative and definetly something different for halloween decorations!
Posted by: betty | Sep 18, 2011 at 11:16 PM
this is SO cute! would have loved it as a kiddo.
Posted by: Jessica @ How Sweet | Sep 19, 2011 at 05:40 AM
Really cute - especially the spiderweb topper. Isn't it difficult to pipe on the inside of the jar?
Lisa
Posted by: lisa skiles | Sep 19, 2011 at 06:05 AM
I LOOOOVE this Amanda! So original, the kids will love thiese!
Posted by: TidyMom | Sep 19, 2011 at 06:22 AM
I'm horribly arachnophobic. And yet, I LOVE these! Absolutely brilliant. I'll be sure to link on Edible Crafts later today! (And PS, I just made spiders from chocolate melted in a decorating bag, also just posted today, but these are way beyond.)
Posted by: meaghan | Sep 19, 2011 at 06:44 AM
Spooky fun Amanda!
Posted by: Amy | She Wears Many Hats | Sep 19, 2011 at 06:45 AM
That is so cool! I love the results and the piping on the inside is fantastic. I'd love to share this on my Halloween blog if it's ok with you.
Posted by: megacrafty | Sep 19, 2011 at 06:54 AM
How do you think of this stuff? Piping the cake on the inside of the jar is so fun!
Posted by: shelly (cookies and cups) | Sep 19, 2011 at 07:17 AM
My first Grandbaby is due on Halloween, I'm saving this for a future birthday party! I'll have to test it many many times first to perfect it. Ya know, for the kids....:)
Posted by: [email protected]/blog | Sep 19, 2011 at 07:27 AM
That is such a neat idea! I love it!
Posted by: Hey Jen | Sep 19, 2011 at 07:55 AM
So cute and creative!!! Love it, Amanda!
Posted by: Londa | Sep 19, 2011 at 07:58 AM
Very cool idea!! Scary too :) My son would LOVE it.
Posted by: Cookbook Queen | Sep 19, 2011 at 08:19 AM
Sooooo cute! You've done it again!
Posted by: Lori @ RecipeGirl | Sep 19, 2011 at 08:24 AM
How cool are these? I love it!
Posted by: Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray | Sep 19, 2011 at 08:24 AM
You are so creative! Love these!
Posted by: Maria | Sep 19, 2011 at 08:44 AM
Now those are crazy original, girl! I love the spider + spider web ones the best. :)
Posted by: Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies | Sep 19, 2011 at 09:04 AM
These are wonderful! I laughed about the spiders, because I was googling spiders for a craft project last night and I after cringing had bad dreams about spiders all night! But it woudl be worth it for one of these wonderful cakes!
Posted by: HeatherChristo | Sep 19, 2011 at 09:12 AM
These are really fantastic!
http://cookingwithnettie.blogspot.com
Posted by: nettie moore | Sep 19, 2011 at 09:32 AM
As much as I dislike spiders and seeing your realistic cake ones give me hee-bee-jee-bees, I think these are awesome! My boys would love these (not so much my girls, they're worse than I am about spiders). I also like the idea of using this technique for so many other holidays/celebrations! So creative Amanda!
Posted by: AngieN24 | Sep 19, 2011 at 09:49 AM
Wow you are really amazing Amanda this is very creative love it
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | Sep 19, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Freaking love this idea - well... okay, primarily the spiderweb bit because the actual spider kind of freaks me out lol. Not a fan of spiders but the web I can handle ;)
Posted by: Rachel @ Baked by Rachel | Sep 19, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Awesome ideas! I love these. This would be great for a bakesale.
Posted by: Renee | Sep 19, 2011 at 10:23 AM
I love this idea. We do a bake sale at work every year to raise funds to buy Christmas presents for struggling families. Could I do these in advance and freeze them until the sale? I don't think I would have time to make several all in the weekend just before the sale but I think they might sell well as a novelty item.
Posted by: Merri | Sep 19, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Never in a million years would I think to pipe cake on the inside wall of a jar... and think it would turn out as cool as these! Very creative!!
Posted by: Glory/ Glorious Treats | Sep 19, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Thanks for such a great idea!
Posted by: Kathy | Sep 19, 2011 at 12:12 PM
this is a fun twist for Halloween....very unique. I love it.
Posted by: trisha | Sep 19, 2011 at 12:20 PM
I love everything about these!! They might just be Ruby's birthday cake this year!!
Posted by: Lorie | Sep 19, 2011 at 12:20 PM
OK, as cool as all of the individual parts are, I'm most impressed with the fact that you were able to pipe INSIDE the jar! I'd either make a complete mess or get my hand stuck or something. ;)
Posted by: Chris at Hye Thyme Cafe | Sep 19, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Oh my gosh, the spider webs on top of the jar are simply brilliant!
Posted by: Carolyn | Sep 19, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Oh My Gosh! I cannot wait to try these.
Posted by: Ardeliah | Sep 19, 2011 at 12:42 PM
you're my hero. and this is amazing. can I come over and just watch you work your magic?
Posted by: Lisa (With Style and Grace) | Sep 19, 2011 at 12:55 PM
These are so much fun - will definitely try these for halloween - was piping inside the jar crazy difficult?
Posted by: Lucy Lean | Sep 19, 2011 at 01:02 PM
Very fun idea! Great for a party :)
Posted by: Diane {Created by Diane} | Sep 19, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Okay those webs are the most genius thing I hjave seen. Possibly ever. I passed out from cuteness factor!
Posted by: Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen | Sep 19, 2011 at 01:14 PM
So fun for Halloween. I bet kids love this.
Posted by: Esi | Sep 19, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Such a cute idea!!!
Posted by: Naina @ chow bella | Sep 19, 2011 at 02:31 PM
I LOVE this, Amanda!! Very creative!
Posted by: Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles | Sep 19, 2011 at 02:36 PM
love this. i am giving it a try. thanks for the inspiration.:)
Posted by: kiki comin | Sep 19, 2011 at 02:46 PM
Oh wow, these as usual are GREAT!
I've been a 'lurker' on your blog for some time now, admiring your work. If you have time I would love for you to visit my humble little blog to see the Rainbow cake I made, with inspiration from your blog, for my son's birthday:
http://smilernpb-smilernpb.blogspot.com/2011/09/baking-challenge-week-seven-rainbow.html
Many thanks and keep up the good work! :o) xoxo
Posted by: smilernpb | Sep 19, 2011 at 03:01 PM
cute, cute. I have four of those Black and Yellow Argiopes in my front yard right now, I want to get rid of them but hubby keeps saying that they eat bugs. Whatever, they are bugs and they are creepy. Great job on the cakes though.
Posted by: Jamie | Sep 19, 2011 at 03:06 PM
These are amazing! I love the webs on top of the jar. I just had one suggestion.... since you mentioned you broke some webs when you removed the rubber bands, maybe you could try sliding them off the bottom of the jar instead of pulling them over the top of it. Anyway, just a thought. Thanks for all your awesome ideas.
Posted by: alisa | Sep 19, 2011 at 03:15 PM
You are so creative, I don't know how you come up with these ideas!
Posted by: Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen | Sep 19, 2011 at 03:33 PM
Your genius creations blow my mind girl, they really -really do! Love these! Gonna FB right now.
Posted by: [email protected] | Sep 19, 2011 at 04:01 PM
too good! Love your site!
Posted by: Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. | Sep 19, 2011 at 04:05 PM
Fun idea for the kids, very creative of you Amanda!
Posted by: Paula | Sep 19, 2011 at 04:50 PM
You never cease to amaze me Amanda - these are just too darn cute for words!!! Makes me miss having little boys around... but I may have to make these anyhow... just cuz!!!
Posted by: Nancy@acommunaltable | Sep 19, 2011 at 05:34 PM
This is insanely clever! Sharing this on my blog too!
Posted by: [email protected] | Sep 19, 2011 at 06:04 PM
These are adorable. So festive and perfect for Halloween! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Amy | Sep 19, 2011 at 07:44 PM
You must be the most favorite mom on the block. I wish I could come to your house for Halloween!
Posted by: Georgia Pellegrini | Sep 19, 2011 at 07:46 PM
What a cute idea!!! I bet you could use this for so many things!
Posted by: Jessica @ Glaze | Sep 19, 2011 at 09:30 PM