4th of July Cake in a Jar Dessert Recipe
I love making desserts that are easy to serve and look festive. This 4th of July Cake in a Jar is one of my favorites because it turns a simple white cake mix into individual red, white, and blue treats. Each mason jar holds layers of colorful cake crumbles and creamy white frosting, so everyone gets their own patriotic dessert.
These jar cakes are perfect for a backyard barbecue or a potluck. You can make them ahead of time, store them in the fridge, and pull them out when you are ready to celebrate. Leftovers keep well, too, so you do not have to worry about waste.
The recipe uses a box of white cake mix, which keeps things simple. You divide the batter, tint one half red and the other half blue, then bake small cupcakes.
After that, you crumble the cupcakes and layer them with frosting in half pint mason jars. The whole process takes about 40 minutes from start to finish, with 20 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of baking.
Whether you are hosting a big party or just having a small family gathering, these layered jar cakes are a fun and delicious way to show your patriotic spirit.
The first time I made these, my kids could not wait to dig in. They loved seeing the colorful layers through the glass.
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Jar Cake Ingredients
To make these festive jar cakes, you will need a few basic ingredients. The full list with exact amounts is in the recipe card below, but here is a quick overview.
- White cake mix (I use Betty Crocker Super Moist)
- Water, vegetable oil, and eggs
- Red and blue food coloring
- White frosting (Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Classic White works great)
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles
That is it. The white cake mix gives you a neutral base that takes on the food coloring beautifully, and the white frosting adds a creamy contrast to the colorful cake layers.
You can use any white cake mix you like, but I prefer Betty Crocker for its light texture. The water, oil, and eggs are the standard additions for the cake mix, so you likely have them in your kitchen already.
Special Tools Needed
You only need one special piece of equipment for this recipe: four mason jars, approximately half pint size. These jars are the perfect single serving size and show off the red, white, and blue layers.
I also like to have a small piping bag or a plastic baggie with the corner cut off for piping the frosting. It makes the assembly much easier, but you can also just use a spoon if you are in a pinch.
If you do not have mason jars, small glass cups or plastic cups work in a pinch, but you will not get quite the same look. A cookie scoop can help you add even layers of crumbles.
How to Make Cake in a Jar
Making these jar cakes is a fun activity for the whole family. Here is how to do it step by step.
First, prepare the white cake mix according to the package directions. You will need the water, oil, and eggs. Once the batter is smooth, divide it equally into two bowls.
Add blue food coloring to one bowl and red food coloring to the other. Stir until the colors are vibrant. I like to start with about 20 drops and add more until I get the shade I want.
Next, bake the cupcakes. Pour the blue batter into a cupcake pan lined with paper liners, filling about 5 cups. Do the same with the red batter. Bake according to the package instructions, usually around 20 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool completely before you crumble them.
Once cooled, crumble the blue cupcakes into one bowl and the red cupcakes into another. You want small, bite sized pieces, not fine crumbs.
Now, prepare your frosting. Spoon some of the white frosting into a small piping bag or a plastic baggie with the corner cut off. This will let you pipe neat lines around the edges of the jars.
To assemble, take a mason jar and add a one inch layer of blue cake crumbles at the bottom. Then pipe a thick line of frosting around the edges of the blue crumbles, pressing the frosting against the glass as you go.
This is important for that pretty layered look. Do not cover the entire surface with frosting, just the edges. A full layer would make the frosting to cake ratio too high.
Next, add a one inch layer of red cake crumbles. Pipe another thick line of frosting around the edges of the red layer, again pressing against the glass. Then add a second layer of blue crumbles, another frosting line, and a second layer of red crumbles. You will have two blue layers and two red layers in total.
Finally, pipe a full layer of frosting over the top of the cake, covering it completely and reaching right about the top rim of the jar. Sprinkle the patriotic sprinkles over the top. Repeat the assembly for the remaining three jars.
Serve the cakes with a spoon so everyone can dig in. The layers look beautiful, and the combination of cake and frosting is delicious.
These jar cakes can be made ahead of time. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors meld together nicely, and the frosting stays soft. Just cover the jars with lids and keep them cool until serving. If you are transporting them, a cooler works great.
Tip: For the cleanest layers, press the frosting against the glass with the back of a small spoon after piping.
How Much Food Coloring Do I Need to Use?
This is a common question. The answer is: be liberal with the food coloring. It can take anywhere from 20 to 40 drops to achieve the bright red and blue colors you want.
Start with 20 drops, mix well, and add more until you are happy with the intensity. Remember, the cake will lighten a bit as it bakes, so go a little bolder than you think you need.
I keep a set of gel food colors on hand for the most vibrant results, but liquid drops work just fine.
More Amazing 4th of July Desserts
If you love these cake jars, you might also enjoy some of my other patriotic treats. Here are a few favorites:
- Red, White and Blue 4th of July Popcorn
- Firecracker Strawberry Pops
- 4th of July Cake Cups with Fruit
These are all easy to make and perfect for your holiday celebration. These recipes are all no bake or quick bake, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests.
Ingredients
Here is the complete list of ingredients you will need, with exact amounts.
| Amount | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1 box | Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix White |
| 1/3 cup | vegetable oil |
| 3 | eggs |
| 1 cup | water |
| as needed | red food coloring |
| as needed | blue food coloring |
| 16 oz | Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Frosting Classic White |
| assorted | red, white, and blue sprinkles |
For special tools, you will also need 4 mason jars (approximately 1/2 pint size).
Instructions
Follow these steps for perfect cake in a jar.
- Divide the white cake mix batter equally into 2 bowls. Color half blue and half red to your liking.
- Bake 5 cupcakes of each color according to the package.
- Crumble up the blue cupcakes into a bowl. Crumble up the red cupcakes in a separate bowl.
- Put some of the white frosting into a small piping bag or a small plastic baggie with the corner cut off.
- Take a mason jar and put an inch layer of blue cake crumbles in the bottom.
- Take the frosting and pipe a thick line around the edges of the blue cake crumbles. Make sure you are pressing the frosting against the glass edge as you are going around.
- Add a layer of the red cake crumbles next, about an inch thick.
- Pipe another thick line of frosting around the edges of the red cake, again making sure you are touching the glass.
- Add another layer of blue crumbles, then a frosting line, and another layer of red crumbles.
- Now pipe a full layer of frosting over the top of the cake so it is completely covered. You should be right about at the top rim of the jar.
- Sprinkle the patriotic sprinkles over the top.
- Repeat steps for the remaining jars.
Serve with a spoon and enjoy!
Tip: For best results, chill the jars for 30 minutes before serving. This helps the layers set and makes them easier to eat with a spoon.
Recipe details
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Serving size: 1 jar
Nutrition per serving (1 jar):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 1157 |
| Carbohydrates | 184g |
| Protein | 9g |
| Fat | 43g |
| Saturated Fat | 9g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 128g |
| Sodium | 1199mg |
| Cholesterol | 123mg |
Note: Nutrition values are provided by the source and are an estimate.
This recipe makes 4 servings, so it is perfect for a small family or a few friends. If you need more, simply double the recipe and use 8 jars.
FAQs
What size mason jar is best for making 4th of July cake in a jar?
Half-pint mason jars are the ideal size for this individual dessert. They provide the perfect height to create four distinct layers of red and blue cake crumbles with white frosting stripes. This size also seals tightly for easy storage and transport.
How much food coloring do you need for red white and blue cake layers?
You should be liberal with the food coloring, typically using between 20 to 40 drops to achieve the desired vibrant red and blue shades. Add the coloring drop by drop to the white cake batter until it reaches the intensity you like. Gel food coloring is recommended as it adds less liquid to the batter.
Can you make 4th of July cake in a jar ahead of time?
Yes, this is an excellent make-ahead dessert for your party. Assemble the jars up to one day in advance, as the cake crumbles will soften slightly against the frosting, creating a more cohesive texture. Store the sealed jars in the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.
How do you keep the cake layers from mixing together in a mason jar?
After adding each one-inch layer of blue or red cake crumbles, pipe a thick line of white frosting around the inside edge of the jar, pressing it against the glass. This frosting ring acts as a barrier that visually separates the layers and creates the festive red, white, and blue stripes when viewed from the side.
4th of July Cake in a Jar
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
4th of July Cake in a Jar Dessert Recipe I love making desserts that are easy to serve and look festive. This 4th of July Cake in a Jar is one of my favorites because it turns a simple white cake mix into individual red, white, and blue treats.
Ingredients
1 box Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix White
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 cup water
red food coloring
blue food coloring
16 oz Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Frosting Classic White
red, white and blue sprinkles, assorted
Special Tools Needed
4 mason jars, approximately ½ pint size
Instructions
1-Divide the white cake mix batter equally: Divide the white cake mix batter equally into 2 bowls. Color half blue and half red to your liking.
2-Bake 5 cupcakes of each color according: Bake 5 cupcakes of each color according to the package.
3-Crumble up the blue cupcakes into a: Crumble up the blue cupcakes into a bowl. Crumble up the red cupcakes in a separate bowl.
4-Put some of the white frosting into: Put some of the white frosting into a small piping bag or a small plastic baggie with the corner cut off.
5-Take a mason jar and put an: Take a mason jar and put an inch layer of blue cake crumbles in the bottom.
6-Take the frosting and pipe a thick: Take the frosting and pipe a thick line around the edges of the blue cake crumbles. Make sure you are pressing the frosting against the glass edge as you are going around.
7-Add a layer of the red cake: Add a layer of the red cake crumbles next, about an inch thick.
8-Pipe another thick line of frosting around: Pipe another thick line of frosting around the edges of the red cake, again making sure you are touching the glass.
9-Add another layer of blue crumbles, then: Add another layer of blue crumbles, then a frosting line, and another layer of red crumbles.
10-Now pipe a full layer of frosting: Now pipe a full layer of frosting over the top of the cake so it’s completely covered. You should be right about at the top rim of the jar.
11-Sprinkle the patriotic sprinkles over the top: Sprinkle the patriotic sprinkles over the top.
12-Repeat steps for the remaining jars: Repeat steps for the remaining jars.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Method: bake
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 jar
- Calories: 1157
- Sugar: 128g
- Sodium: 1199mg
- Fat: 43g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 184g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 123mg
Keywords: 4Th Of July Cake In A Jar Dessert Recipe