This cupcake in a jar makes a great gift for a teach, coach, babysitter and more. It also makes a perfect party favor. The one I made today is a Valentine’s Day theme, but it could easy be changed for any holiday by changing the color of the ribbon, icing and even the cupcake. Follow the step-by-step directions below to find out how to make a cupcake in a jar.
Materials: 1/2 pint glass jelly jars, 1 box of cake mix (or you can make your own), 1 
can frosting (I used spray frosting but again you can make your own), sprinkles, ribbon, decorative napkin, plastic fork, tacky or hot glue, sharpie, decorative scrapbook paper optional: fruit preserves any flavor
Pre-heat 350
Step 1: Make the cake mix according to the box
Step 2: Clean and dry your jar. You do not need to grease or spray the inside of the jar.
Step 3: Place two spoonfuls of the batter into the jar, using a cereal sized spoon. Make sure you do not get any batter on the top part of the glass so it looks clean when it’s finished baking. If you get some batter around the top part of the glass jar, just clean with a paper towel.
Step 4: Add one spoonful of the fruit preserves, I used strawberry.
Step 5: Add two more spoonfuls of the batter into the jar. The jar should be less than half full. The jars that I used had numbers along the outside of the jar. The batter was filled up to line number 2.
Step 6: Place jars on cupcake trays, this is so they don’t fall over while baking. Bake for 15-20 minutes depending on your oven. It’s important not to over bake so they don’t look brown in the jar.
Step 7: While cupcakes are baking and cooling it’s time to decorate your jar. Using the top of your lid trace a circle on scrapbook or decorative paper. Cut it out.
Step 8: If you used the jelly jars they will have a lid that separates. If your jar’s lid separates continue with this step, if it doesn’t you can skip this step. Separate the inside lid from the outer lid. Place your circle on the inside lid, then place in back into your outside lid.
Step 9: Glue your ribbon around the rim of the jar.
Step 10: Now that your cupcake is cool, you can decorate with frosting and sprinkles.
Step 11: Place your fork on your decorative napkin as shown in the picture. Make sure the fork is sticking out just a little. Wrap the napkin around the fork.
Step 12: Hold your swaddled fork next to the jar, tie a ribbon around it to secure
Step 13: Write a cute message on top of your jar with a sharpie.
