~Birthday Cake For Jesus~ Recipe!

Greetings and holykisses!

Now is the time that everyone begins their Christmas baking and candy making.
I've made my own lists and have started stocking the pink breadbox and cupboards with extra chocolate chips, and bags of pwd, and brown sugars.
Like many of you; one of my very favorite things to do is line my countertops full of assorted cookies, candies and treats and wrap them up all pretty for gift giving. -- But one recipe stands out, that has become my #1 tradition. No treat I make is as important as Jesus birthday cake. Afterall, it's His birthday that we have and celebrate CHRISTmas!

A few years back, my friend Jeri' shared this recipe with me. I'd never baked anything in a jar before and didn't even know you could! But you can, and cakes turn out beautifully, baked in jars! So, I decided to make mini birthday cakes to give in my gift baskets.
I like to use the little Ball jelly jars. But I've also used pint sized ones--of course; using those; you don't end up with as many little cakes. After the jars come out of thee oven, you wipe the rims just as you would when making jelly and twist the lids and caps on.... and woohoo; before you know it, they'll start pinging and sealing just like jelly! It's the coolest thing! I don't know how long they would "keep," but most people use them December 25th anyways. Especially if you tie a birthday candle on the jar when you decorate them.
I like to use colorful, Christmasy fabrics to cover the lids. I just place the fabric between the lid and the cap and twist the cap on. Voila! If you have a Sunday school class that you give gifts to; these would be perfect. Here's the recipe I use, but you could really use just about anything. I stick to this one, because it's tried and true and as my friend Jeri' once said: "It smells just like Christmas to me." She's right; it does!

Pumpkin Spice Cake
1 cup raisins (I usually only put raisins in half the batter, for ones I know that
don't like raisins.)
1 cup walnuts (I've always omitted these too - but its up to you)
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cloves
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
16 oz can pumpkin
Oven at 325, - and the recipe says to grease jars lightly, (no pam)* but I skip this part.
It has alot of oil in it already.

(I wash my jars ahead of time, and let them air dry overnight.)
Okay, let's bake cakes!
Chop walnuts and put aside with the raisins.
Mix flour, soda, baking powder, salt and spices in a large bowl.
Add the raisins and walnuts (if desired- it's really good without them; I'm not putting
them in this year.)
In a separate bowl beat eggs, and add sugar to them. On low speed,
blend in the oil and pumpkin, and then stir in the flour mixture.
Carefully spoon mixture into jars, ... just a little less than half full. Then place
on a cookie sheet to put inside your oven.
*My tip: is make 1 jar to start with. Fill it just a little less than half and bake it
and see how high it rises. If it goes too high, you'll know to fill the next ones
a little less. Coz you gotta get those jar lids on them, and they can't be too high.
After your first jar bakes, and you know how they will rise, you can do the rest.
I have no baking time on this recipe because it all depends on what jars
you use. If you've baked cakes you know you put it in the oven and
bake until it starts to look done. To test it, use a toothpick and insert
into the middle of the little cake. When it comes out clean, it's done!
When it comes out of thee oven, wipe that rim off with a clean towel and
screw the lids on while it's hot. You'll hear them start pinging
as they seal. I love to hear them ping! Sealing them like this makes them
sooooo moist! Yummy!
When cool, start decorating. I use a saucer to trace the underside
of my fabric and draw a circle with a pen, then use a pinking shears to cut the fabric.
Jute twine works great to tie around them (or use pretty ribbon) and tie your birthday candles and tags on them. This is a fun project and I look forward to it every year.
If you aren't a gardener or canner, you may have trouble finding jars.
The best place I've found are farm supply stores. Tractor Supply might have them; but ATWOODS; is where I've purchased jars out of season. They almost always
have a few boxes leftover this time of year.

If you make these, please let me know how they turned out for you. If you have any
problems, give me a buzz.

Happy Birthday Jesus!!