Can you believe Christmas is one week away?

[brittany_stager]

Oh my, where does the time go?? Christmas is already one week away! Yikes!

Although I am done my Christmas shopping, I still have a ton of baking to do. I often bake gifts for my friends, family and co-workers, it makes it soooo much easier, I mean, who doesn't love treats? This year it is cupcakes in jars! I'm starting my baking tonight, so hopefully I will have some photos for you tomorrow!!

So what about everyone else? Are you guys all done, or do you still have last minute running around to do?

[beth_nixon]

I'm done!!

Yipee!! We still have one easy treat snack to make . . . that'll be our project tonight.
Then just some fun crafts and LOTS of wrapping!!

The hard part of our getting ready is over and we are just going to enjoy now!!

Yipee!!

[chronosadmin]

We just did our first-ever attempt at homemade ginger bread houses (completely from scratch). It was a two day project and we had a ton of fun. They turned out great which surprised us a bit for our first attempt Beginners luck? LOL!

[brittany_stager]

Yup finished them all up last night!! Between shoveling the 12 inches of snow we got and last minute wrapping, I managed to get all 40 Cupcakes in Jars finished! Bravo!! I even had time for a little freebie!

Check 'em out!



I already gave them to my colleagues at the office and they loved them!

I felt a complete sense of relief as I topped the last one with sprinkles.... finally done everything!! Now, I just wait!

[chronosadmin]

Love the label on the lids and the cupcakes look yummy too! Those bottles look like they were made specifically for cupcakes. Where did you find them?

[beth_nixon]

Ok I want to know exactly how you did those! Those are GREAT and I would love to do that, next year, for teachers and aides! Super idea!! Now share the details!!!! LOL

[brittany_stager]

The bottles are actually just half pint canning jars, you know the ones that you use to make jams and such.... it took me a while to find them as Fall is prime-time for canning, so stores don't usually re-order them until late summer!

Beth it is super easy, especially when you use my secret weapon.... boxed cake mix! Yup that is right, I had no time to bake from scratch this year, so boxed cake mix and icing came to the rescue.

Just prepare the cake batter as it describes on the box and bake the cupcakes in a large cupcake pan. Remove them from the pan and allow to cool for several hours (you don't want the icing to melt and turn into liquid!). In the meantime you can clean the jars in hot water, put the ribbon on the cap and glue on the labels.

When you are ready to assemble, just cut the cupcake in half and push the bottom half all the way to the bottom of the jar, then add a layer of icing, followed by the top half of the cupcake, more icing and.... sprinkles!!

i love these because they are simple and tasty! You can use this idea for anything... I like your idea for the teachers gifts.

The one thing that I did realize is that you should eat them within a week, or else the moisture from the cake starts to build up in the jars.... it kind of turns icky.

So that is the big secret.... how I got the cupcakes into the jars!!

[sookiepaquin1]

Christmas is long while ago... how come nobody updates this post?