Just Add Water Cake in a Jar
Just Add Water Cake in a Jar. Give the gift of cake! Add all the ingredients in little bags—including cake mix, add ins (chocolate chips, toffee bits, pretzels etc.) frosting, sprinkles and if needed a birthday candle! Give a single cake as a Secret Santa gift or the whole six pack for a Thanksgiving hostess gift. These also make a great Office party Christmas gift. Scroll down for FREE printable labels, tags and instructions.

How to make the base cake mix for ALL six cakes

2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup PLUS 2 tablespoons dry milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS— THE BASE CAKE MIX, STARTS WITH ANY FLAVOR CAKE MIX. EXAMPLE: IF YOU WANT TO CREATE THE PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CAKE, YOU’LL NEED TO ADD A CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX TO THE BAKING POWDER, DRY MILK AND SALT. THEN MEASURE OUT 5 TABLESPOONS OF THE MIXTURE ALONG WITH THE LISTED ADD INS FOR ONE JAR OF THE PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CAKE. ♥THIS WILL FILL 10 HALF PINT JARS♥

CINNAMON BUN CAKE (seasonal)
How to make one jar of the Cinnamon Bun Cake
- 5 level tablespoons of cinnamon bun flavored cake mix mixture (printable recipe below)
- 1/2 tablespoon white chocolate chips, add in
- 1/2 tablespoon seasonal sprinkles, add in
- store bought cinnamon bun frosting
- sprinkles, for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CAKE
How to make one jar of Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake
- 5 level tablespoons of chocolate cake mixture (printable recipe below)
- 1/2 tablespoon peanut butter chips, add in
- 1/2 tablespoon chopped salted peanuts, add in
- 1 individual mini cup Nutella, frosting
- sprinkles, for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
SALTY PRETZEL CHOCOLATE CAKE
How to make one jar of Salty Pretzel Chocolate Cake
- 5 level tablespoons of chocolate cake mixture (printable recipe below)
- 1/2 tablespoon toffee bits, add in
- 1/2 tablespoon crushed pretzels, add in
- 1 individual mini cup Nutella, frosting
- sprinkles for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
CRANBERRY ORANGE CAKE
How to make one jar of Cranberry Orange Cake
- 5 level tablespoons white cake mix mixture (printable recipe below)
- 1 tablespoon chopped dried cranberries, add in
- 1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel, add in
- store bought vanilla frosting
- 1/8 teaspoon dried orange peel, sprinkle on frosting
- sprinkles for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
FUNFETTI CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE
How to make one jar of Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cake
- 5 level tablespoons vanilla cake mixture (printable recipe below)
- 1/2 tablespoon mini chocolate chips, add in
- 1/2 tablespoon sprinkles, add in
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, frosting
- sprinkles for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
HOW TO PUT YOUR CAKE IN A JAR ALL TOGETHER
SUPPLY INFORMATION
I bought the pouches for these items on the aisle in the craft section where the jewelry making supplies are at Walmart. The bag with the cake mix in it is 4×3-inches, the bag for the add ins and frosting is 2×3-inches and the bag for the sprinkles is 1.5×2-inches.
For All Cake Mixes: (printable recipe below)
- Pour dry cake mix into a large bowl; whisk together the baking powder, dry milk and salt.
- Add the 5 tablespoons of dry cake mix mixture to the larger of the three bags and label it cake mix.
- Place add in ingredients into a medium size bag; label add ins.
- The frosting also goes into a medium size bag; label frosting.
- TIP: TO MAKE THIS STEP EASY—PIPE FROSTING INTO LITTLE BAGS WITH A PIPING BAG OR ZIP TOP BAG.
- Sprinkles and other toppings go into the smallest of the three bags; label sprinkles for frosting.
- DON’T FORGET TO ADD THE BAKING INSTRUCTIONS TO EACH LID.
HOW TO BAKE YOUR CAKE IN A JAR
- Add cake mix to the jar
- Stir in 2½ tablespoons of water
- Equally disperse add ins over the top of the cake batter
- Microwave 45 seconds
- FOR CHOCOLATE CHIP AS FROSTING— add to the top of the hot cake, smooth and add sprinkles
- FOR THE FROSTING—Wait until the cake has cooled completely before adding the frosting and sprinkles







Just Add Water Cake in a Jar
Give the gift of cake!
Ingredients
For All Cake Mixes:
- 1 (15.25 ounce) cake mix any flavor FILLS 10 JARS
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 cup PLUS 2 tablespoons dry milk
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For One Jar of the Cinnamon Bun Cake:
- 5 level tablespoons of cinnamon bun flavored cake mix mixture
- 1/2 tablespoon white chocolate chips, add in
- 1/2 tablespoon seasonal sprinkles, add in
- store bought cinnamon bun frosting
- sprinkles, for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
For One Jar of the Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake:
- 5 level tablespoons of chocolate cake mixture
- 1/2 tablespoon peanut butter chips, add in
- 1/2 tablespoon chopped salted peanuts, add in
- 1 individual mini cup Nutella, frosting
- sprinkles, for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
For One Jar of the Funfetti Happy Birthday Cake:
- 5 level tablespoons funfetti cake mix
- store bought vanilla frosting
- sprinkles, for the frosting
- birthday candle
- 1 half pint jar
For One Jar of the Salty Pretzel Chocolate Cake:
- 5 level tablespoons of chocolate cake mixture
- 1/2 tablespoon toffee bits, add in
- 1/2 tablespoon crushed pretzels, add in
- 1 individual mini cup Nutella, frosting
- sprinkles for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
For One Jar of the Cranberry Orange Cake:
- 5 level tablespoons white cake mix mixture
- 1 tablespoon chopped dried cranberries, add in
- 1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel, add in
- store bought vanilla frosting
- 1/8 teaspoon dried orange peel, sprinkle on frosting
- sprinkles for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
For One Jar of the Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cake:
- 5 level tablespoons vanilla cake mixture
- 1/2 tablespoon mini chocolate chips, add in
- 1/2 tablespoon sprinkles, add in
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, frosting
- sprinkles for the frosting
- 1 half pint jar
Instructions
For All Cake Mixes:
- Pour dry cake mix into a large bowl; whisk together the baking powder, dry milk and salt.
- Add the 5 tablespoons of dry cake mix mixture to the larger of the three bags and label it cake mix.
- Place add in ingredients into a medium size bag ; label add ins.
- The frosting also goes into a medium size bag ; label frosting. TIP: WHEN ADDING THE FROSTING TO THE LITTLE BAGS EITHER SPOON THE FROSTING INTO A PIPPING BAG OR ZIP TOP BAG; SNIP THE END AND FILL. IT MAKES FILLING A LOT LESS MESSY.
- Sprinkles and other toppings go into the smallest of the three bags; label sprinkles for frosting. DON'T FORGET TO ADD THE INSTRUCTIONS TO EACH LID
- MAKES ENOUGH FOR 10 JARS
How to Bake Your Cake in a Jar:
- Add cake mix to the jar
- Stir in 2½ tablespoons of water
- Equally disperse add ins over the top of the cake batter
- Microwave 45 seconds
- FOR CHOCOLATE CHIP AS FROSTING— add to the top of the hot cake, smooth and add sprinkles
- FOR THE FROSTING—Wait until the cake has cooled completely before adding the frosting and sprinkles
Notes
SUPPLIES:
I bought the pouches for these items on the aisle in the craft section where the jewelry making supplies are at Walmart. The bag with the cake mix in it is 4x3-inches, the bag for the add ins and frosting is 2x3-inches and the bag for the sprinkles is 1.5x2-inches.
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Great creative ideas for the holidays!
Great Christmas gifts! 🙂
This is so much fun! My daughter and her friends would love to make these as gifts for people!
Um….I have a few questions:
1. Where do I buy frosting chips? I’ve never seen them.
2. Frosting from a can?
3. Where are the baking directions?
Thanks!
Hi, They aren’t frosting chips they are chocolate chips that you sprinkle on top of the hot cake. They melt and can be spread like frosting. Yes, if frosting is listed it is the store bought frosting. The baking directions are on the directions print out that goes on the lid. If you scroll down past the recipe you will come to several labels one of those is the directions label.
Thanks Sheryl!
I love this idea!!!
Where to you find the little baggies to put everything in?
Hi Connie, I found them at Walmart on the jewelry making aisle. They’re to hold beads.
How did you get the frosting into the itty bitty bags? I am making a mess!
Hi Maureen, I put it into a piping bag and pipped it in. You can also use a zip top bag.
Thanks so much! This has been fun to put together!
I’m glad! I had fun putting them together too! Merry Christmas!
Sheryl, I am a leader of a Girl Scout troop and we are making these for an assisted living home in the area. I have a question as to your ingredients and directions. Under “for all cakes” is the cake mix of any flavor the same as the “5 level tablespoons Funfetti cake mix” or are they different? As in, is one a base and then you add the tablespoons to the base then distribute? I apologize but when working with 9-12 yr old girls I find that its better to ask the odd questions before they throw them at me. Thank you!
Hi Victoria, What a great activity for the girls. Yes, you will need to add the extra ingredients to whatever flavor of cake mix you decide to use and then serve up the 5 tablespoons into the pouches.
Not sure if I’m missing something…where is the recipe for the cinnamon bun flavor mix?
Hi Fiona, The Cinnamon Bun Flavor Mix is a purchased cake mix I found at Walmart.
Thank you! I am making these to go in a care package going to my son and his friends at college. So much cheaper than the mug in a cake boxes they sell and many more flavors!
That’s a great idea Barbra! They’re going to love these!
What’s the best jar to use. Can you make a cake for 2 in different size jar
Hi Sheila, The recipe fits perfectly in a half pint jar.
hi my cake mix says add eggs and oil so Im guessing the salt, dry milk and baking powder make up for that?
Yes Stephanie. Only add the dry ingredients. ♥
I also wanted to say THANK YOU!! this is by far the nicest site I have ever seen you are so generous to post this! Happy Holidays!
Awww….Thank You Stephanie! I love creating and being able to share it with you! ♥
Hi! Do you think this would work for gluten free cake mixes as well?
Yes I do Amy. That’s a great idea!
How long can these be stored? I am making them in bulk for others to give to customers at work and I’m needing to know how to store them.
Hi April, I would base it off of the expiration date on the cake mix.
Hi – These are great! I was wondering if you have directions for baking in a conventional oven instead of a microwave? Thanks!
Hi, I don’t but…..I think you would bake it like a cupcake.
Do you happen to have a recipe for creating enough dry mix to make a whole cake?
Hi Tracey, The first section of the recipe card titled “For all Cake mixes” is for a whole cake.
1 (15.25 ounce) cake mix
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons dry milk
1/8 teaspoon salt