Cakes in a Jar - that don't go bad!

[Jenn_NicksWifey]

Here is a tip for all of you who would like to send your sailor a little something sweet from home but don't want it to spoil before it gets to the destination.  I have tested this recipe and a few different containers and will include my notes.  Sadly, I won't send it to my sailor because he doesn't care for cake. 

What you need:

1 box of angel food cake mix

1 box of other cake mix, any flavor.

1 large container to send the mix in

1 measuring spoon set that you can part with the Tablespoon

1 small serving container

1 spoon or fork for eating

Take your two boxes of cake mix and combine them in a large mixing bowl.  Make sure to mix them together well, they tend to look exactly the same, no matter which flavors, when they are just dry mixes.  I found that using a wire whisk was best.  Pour the well combined mixes into the large container.  Package it in your mailing box with the Tablepoon measuring spoon (pick up a spoon set at the dollar store), serving container and eating utensil.

The instructions for this cake are:

Measure 3 Tbsp of cake mix, 2 Tbsp water and mix thoroughly in serving bowl.  Microwave for 1 minute.  Eat.  Be careful, it's hot! 

My tips - prepare and taste a sample of your treat before you send.  Some flavors don't work out as well as others.  Chocolate isn't as chocolatey as I would have expected.  Test the serving container before you send it, too.  I have found that heavier items like glass or pyrex work better than thin plastic, but those might not be feasible to mail.  Also, the shape seems to matter.  Circular works better than square, and sides that are slightly flared seems to work better than straight or slightly enclosed (like a small mouth jar).  You want to make sure the container is big enough to contain the cake, it will expand as it cooks.  Something that holds 8 or 10 oz should work fine.  I tried it in a 6oz container, it overflowed.  A coffee cup might be a really good option, as it can do double duty.  Things can be added into the mix before hitting the microwave, but heavier things (like chocolate chips) tend to sink.  5 or 6 chips to a cake is good or it overwhelms the flavor, since there really isn't much cake there. 

Additions that could be included - a can of premade frosting, it does not need refrigeration after being opened, chocolate bars (if you put a little square in the cake right as it comes out of the microwave, it will melt really fast and do a chocolate lava cake type thing), nuts, sprinkles, caramel candies (same thing, put a chunk in the middle after cooking), jelly or jam, peanut butter (I hear they come in single serve packets now, like ketchup at a fast food restaurant), nutella, coconut flakes (toast them first, yum!), chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, white chocolate, or toffee chips, there are even mint "chips", marshmallows.  The possibilities are really endless, with the dozens of cake flavors at the supermarket and the hundreds of add-ins or toppings.  Check the ice cream topping section or the baking section for things that don't need refrigeration after opening. 

My personal favorite that isn't really feasible for a ship is pineapple upside down cake.  I LOVE pineapple upside down cake.  So I put a spray of nonstick cooking spray, brown sugar, pineapple slice, and a cherry, in that order, and used the pineapple flavored cake mix.  It turned out perfectly.  You can even invert it like the real thing!  But like I said, not really feasible for the ship. 

I have written up a whole list of recipes for these cakes.  I make them in jars for craft sales, but I thought some fellow Navy spouses or moms might be able to use the idea for their sailors.  I will post more recipes when I find them. 

[Hello2u]

yum!! mine prefers cheesecake!  darn!

[YooperMom]

I've done raspberry/rhubarb pie in a jar.  The top crust isn't as crispy as I'd like, but it holds well.  I used the  square 1/2 pint jars.  Put the hot lid & ring on as soon as it comes out of the oven...self seals. 

[latinnative]

This is awesome I'm going to bake away now.