Springtime Cupcake in a Jar is a unique and colorful take on a traditional cupcake – layers of blue, purple, yellow and pink cake and creamy buttercream frosting combine into one delicious Easter dessert!

Close up on three Springtime Cupcakes in a Jar sitting on a pink placemat in front of white tulle.

We love making cupcakes in a jar. They always end up being a fun make-ahead dessert for any occasion.  Layers of pretty pastel cake and yummy homemade Buttercream Frosting combine in a convenient Mason Jar.  This is a unique take on a cupcake that is a real crowd-pleaser at a party.  This Springtime Cupcake in a Jar would be a fun Easter dessert but that is not all. They would be so pretty at a Baby Shower or even as a dessert at a kid’s birthday party.

How to Make the Cake

Collage image showing the steps for making the colored mini cakes used in the Cupcake in a jar.

Step 1: Make a box of White Cake Mix according to the directions on the back of the box.  Separate the batter into four equal portions. Each portion should have approximately 1 cup of batter.  Color the batter purple, blue, pink and yellow.  We used the following food color formulas to get these pretty pastel spring colors:

Pink = 3 drops of Wilton Color Right Pink Food Coloring
Yellow = 2 drop of Wilton Color Right Yellow Food Coloring
Purple = 5 drops of Wilton Color Right Pink Food Coloring and 2 drops of Wilton Color Right Blue Food Coloring
Blue = 2 drops of Wilton Color Right Blue Food Coloring

Step 2: We baked each portion of batter in a small jelly roll cake pan lined with parchment paper but you could also bake the cake up as cupcakes if you don’t have jelly roll pans.

Close up image on four pink, purple, yellow and blue mini cakes.

Step 3: Allow the cakes or the cupcakes to completely cool.  Once cooled, crumble the individual cakes into small (but not crumbs) pieces. Keep the colors of cake pieces separate.

How to Make the Frosting

Close up of a glass bowl filled with The Best Buttercream Frosting sitting next to a decorating bag full of frosting.

Step 4: For the frosting, you will need two batches of our Best Buttercream Frosting.  It is super easy to make and so very delicious. You can find the recipe and detailed instructions here.  

Putting it all together

Collage image showing how to use a Mason Jar to hold the Cupcake in a Jar.

Step 5: Wash and completely dry your Mason Jars.  We used one pint Mason Jars.  You can get them everywhere now … craft stores, grocery stores, big-box stores. We got these a Walmart.  We like them because they don’t have a lot of writing on them.
Step 6: Start by adding a layer of blue cake pieces to the bottom of the Mason Jar.

Collage image showing the steps for layering in the cake and frosting into the Cupcake in a Jar.

Step 7: Then add a layer of the best buttercream frosting.  We used a Decorating Bag and a Wilton 1M Open Star decorating tip to get a little swirl in the frosting.   You don’t need to completely cover the whole layer of cake with frosting. A circle of frosting around the edge of the jar is fine.
Step 8: Add a layer of purple cake pieces.
Step 9: Add a circle of frosting and the yellow cake pieces.
Step 10: Add another circle of frosting and the final pink layer of cake pieces.

Close up on the buttercream frosting swirl with pastel sprinkles on the top of a Springtime Cupcake  in a Jar.

Step 11: For the final layer of frosting, we used the decorating tip to make a pretty swirl of frosting.  We topped our Springtime Cupcake in a Jar with some homemade sprinkles that match the colors of our cake!  This is super easy to do and really makes your desserts look great!  We have all the directions you’ll need to make your own sprinkles right here.

Close up on three Springtime Cupcakes in a Jar sitting in a row on a pink placemat.

Step 12:  So pretty and so yummy!  This is a fun change of pace from a traditional cupcake.  You can make them the day before and store them in the refrigerator. They taste great the next day.  If you are going to put the Mason Jar lid on, make sure you don’t fill the mason jar over the top as we did here.

Closeup on a Springtime Cupcake in a  Jar sitting on a pink placemat in front of a white easter bunny decoration holding a yellow flower.

Other Easter Desserts You Will Love

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Springtime Cupcake in a Jar

Yield 8 Cupcakes in a Jar
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Springtime Cupcake in a Jar is a unique and colorful take on a traditional cupcake - layers of blue, purple, yellow, and pink cake and creamy buttercream frosting combine into one delicious Easter dessert!

Ingredients

  • Batter from 1 box of White Cake Mix
  • Wilton Color Right Food Coloring - Pink, Yellow, Blue
  • 2 batches Best Buttercream Frosting
  • 8 Mason Jars - Pint sized
  • Jelly Roll Baking Pan
  • Parchment Paper
  • Cupcake Sprinkles
  • Decorating Bags
  • Wilton 1M Decorating Tip

Instructions

  1. Using a box of White Cake Mix, make the batter according to the directions on the box.
  2. Split the batter into four equal portions.
  3. Color the batter portions pink, yellow, purple and pink.
  4. Pour each of the batter portions into either a small jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper or a cupcake pan lined with cupcake liners.
  5. Bake the cakes/cupcakes according to the directions on the cake mix box.
  6. Allow the cakes to cool.
  7. Make two batches of our Best Buttercream Frosting.
  8. To assemble the Cupcake in a Jar - add a layer of blue cake pieces on the bottom of the Mason Jar.
  9. Then add a circle of best buttercream frosting around the edge of the mason jar.
  10. Keep adding layers of cake and frosting - we added purple cake, then yellow cake and put the pink cake on the top.
  11. For the final layer of frosting, use a Wilton 1M Decorating Tip to make a pretty swirl of frosting.
  12. We topped our Springtime Cupcake in a Jar with sprinkles.

Notes

Food Coloring Formula
Pink = 3 drops of Wilton Color Right Pink Food Coloring
Yellow = 2 drop of Wilton Color Right Yellow Food Coloring
Purple = 5 drops of Wilton Color Right Pink Food Coloring and 2 drops of Wilton Color Right Blue Food Coloring
Blue = 2 drops of Wilton Color Right Blue Food Coloring

Did you Make this Recipe? Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @twosisterscrafting on Instagram so we can see it!