The most common are fruits and vegetables,fresh herbs, but also preserves meat. What many people don't know is that you can also preserve baked goods. This can extend their shelf life by up to six months. How can you bake and preserve a cake in a glass? Follow these simple step-by-step instructions and also read our useful onesTips for long shelf lifeand optimal enjoyment. And what's even better: the cakes in screw-top jars make wonderful edible gifts.
Baking cakes in a glass – which glasses are best suited?
Wide-mouth mason jars with a screw top and a capacity of 500 ml (or 473 ml in American terms) are best if you want to bake a cake in a jar. It is important that you always use glasses that are heat-resistant and suitable for baking.
Start by washing and drying the mason jars. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's washing instructions. If you reuse the jars, you will need new lids.
Baking and preserving cake in a glass – how long does it last?
If you want to bake and preserve the cake in a jar, the classic pound cake recipe is ideal. The dough is like velvet and the golden baked cake looks very pretty in the mason jars!
As for the shelf life of cake in jars, the conditions and methods of storage vary, and it is up to you to decide whether a cake stored for a long time is safe to eat or not. If you want to stay on the safe side, you should consume the cakes within 3 to 4 days. If you want to make the cake last longer, we recommend storing the sealed jars in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to bake cake in a glass?
Step 1: Grease the glasses
Use baking spray to completely cover the inside of the mason jars. Preheat the oven to 170 °C, top and bottom heat.
Step 2: Use a baking sheet
Arrange the jars on a baking sheet, preferably with extra high rims. This means you can get the glasses in and out of the oven quickly and safely.
Step 3: Pour the dough into the glass
Prepare the typical pound cake batter as usual. Depending on how many preserving jars you want to fill, you should adjust the amount of ingredients. Here is the best recipe for a cake in a mason jar:
Ingredients for 6 glasses
250 g soft butter
250 g granulated sugar
250 g Flour
3 Owner (M)
1 pack vanilla sugar or vanilla flavoring
1/2 pack baking powder
*Optionally, you can give the sponge cake a great aromatic note with coconut flakes or orange peel. Raisins and chocolate chips, on the other hand, add even more flavor.
Preparation:
Mix the soft butter with the sugar and vanilla sugar with the mixer until fluffy, then gradually stir in the eggs one at a time. Sift the flour into a bowl with the baking powder and stir into the egg-sugar-butter mixture, diluting with a little milk if necessary.
Using a 60ml measuring spoon, spoon the batter into each jar. Wipe away any dough that sticks to the sides. The glasses should be a maximum of 1/2 full. So with about 250 g of dough.
Step 4: Bake the cake
How long does the cake have to bake in the glass?The classic sponge cakeis baked in the loaf pan until light brown, about 50 to 60 minutes. Set your timer for 15 minutes less than the time called for in the recipe. You can use a wooden skewer to check whether the cake is finished baking. Bake longer if necessary.
If your cakes don't come out exactly the same, don't worry. Most ovens have hot spots, where one part of the oven is hotter than others. We recommend rotating the baking tray halfway through the baking time to ensure the cakes are baked evenly.
Step 5: Seal the jars to preserve the cake
In order for the jars to seal, they must still be hot. The lids should also be at least room temperature. Do not screw on the lids too tightly. Within 15 minutes of sealing the jars you will hear a short pop. The heat creates a vacuum in the glasses, which makes the glasses airtight.
Decorate the glasses
If you like thisembellish edible giftIf you want to make the cake, write the name of the cake and the ingredients on a blank business card and attach it to the glass with a hole punch and ribbon. To decorate the lids, you can cut out a 25 x 25 cm square of fabric with zigzag scissors and use them.
You can find more great ideas for Christmas gifts in jarsin this article!