Recently, I was asked to make party favors for my niece’s First Communion. Her name is Cassidy. She is sweet, smart, stylish – I adore her. She told me I could be as creative as I wanted but whatever I made had to be “cute and pink.” Easy enough.

To justify my addiction to Pinterest, I scoured the links for something I have never made before. I came across a few different versions of these cupcakes in a jar and couldn’t wait to make my own. While they are easy to make – there are several steps involved which made them a little time-consuming. If you must know, I totally missed the church! But to my defense, I did have to make 48 of them and I do have a job, a child, a dog, etc. Don’t judge me.

Assuming most people won’t have to prepare that many, I have included a recipe to make exactly 24. Plan on at least two hours of your time – more if you have a small child at your knees like I did – and spending around thirty dollars on the supplies.

You will need:

24 Quilted Jelly Jars (Ball) – Only $8.47 for a dozen at Wal Mart

Circular Paper Punches* – I used 1.75″ and 1.25″ for my two layers (Bottom layer can be a color or a pattern)

*Free Printable Template for your 1.25″ Circular Paper Punches: 1.25 Inch Circles

Satin Ribbon, Yarn or Twine - Approximately 40ft, cut into 10″ strips or longer (personal preferences for what kind of knot or bow you want to make)

Extra Large Craft Glue Stick

24 Colored Plastic Spoons

1 Pillsbury Cake Mix** – Makes 24 Cupcakes - Strawberry was used here

For the mix: 1 Cup Water, 1/3 cup Olive Oil (it’s my preference), 3 eggs

**If you want to be fancy, you can also buy an extra box of cake mix and double layer your jars to look like a parfait. Either way, the finished product looks enticing. However, if you decide to do this you must double your frosting recipe.

Homemade Vanilla Buttercream Frosting - Click the link to view the recipe from www.SavorySweetLife.com

Wilton Decorating Bag – 12″

Wilton Extra Large Tip 2A

Sprinkles, Sugar Crystals or Candy – Pink Sugar Crystals were used here

Cupcake Instructions:

1. Coat your cupcake tins with cooking spray and DO NOT USE CUPCAKE LINERS.
2. Fill each tin only half-way so you have enough mix to make exactly 24.
3. Bake at 350° according to the directions on the package.
4. Cool completely before you try to remove them from the pan. You may need to use a butter knife around the edges to loosen them up.
5. Once cooled and the little guys are free, squish a cupcake to the bottom of each jelly jar. If you are all fancy and want to layer, you will obviously need to reserve two cupcakes per jar.
6. Assuming you have already made the frosting, use your Wilton Decorating Bag (buy the biggest one!) to pipe in your frosting. Get your swirl on. Start at the sides and work your way into the middle.
7. Top the frosting with your Sugar or Sprinkles.

Decorating your Jars:

1. Print your circles using the above-mentioned template.
2. Use a glue stick to adhere the smaller circle to the larger circle and the larger circle to the top of the jar.
3. Tie your pre-cut ribbon anyway you like underneath the rim of the jar – make it tight with barely enough room to tuck in the plastic spoon.
4. Spoon it!
5. Take a picture.
6. Be proud.

The assembly takes a little time, but in the end you will receive nothing but compliments! These make excellent favors for any event and I will definitely be making them again…the possibilities of colors, flavors, themes are endless.

Related articles

• 50th Birthday | Chocolate Chianti Jarcake Favors (pasticheevents.com)
• Salted Caramel Buttercream Recipe (pasticheevents.com)
• Party Favors: The Ever Useful Mason Jar (tanksinthekitchen.wordpress.com)
• How To Make The Perfect Honey Cupcake (romancingthebee.com)
• DIY Gift Jars. (savedollarblog.com)
• Cranberry cupcakes (dienecakes.wordpress.com)
• Halloween Cupcakes: Witch (inspiredbyfamilymag.com)
• Three Tips For Flawless Cupcake and Cake Frosting (berries.com)
• Baking Delicious Cupcakes for a Child’s Birthday Bash (berries.com)
• Cupcakes Made With Bunny Peeps (redenvelope.com)
• Not So Scary, But Tasty, Filled-Cupcakes (alternativetastes.com)
• The Pink Elephant Has Left The Building (foodnthoughtpeddler.com)