Friday, December 11, 2009

~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!!


12 comments:

Unknown said...

Lea,
This is the PERFECT POST!!!!
I wanted to do something special this year and here it is. I will let you know how the cakes turn out. I now wish I wasn't going away for the weekend so I could get right to it but it will wait till next week. Thanks again and have a Blessed CHRISTmas. Very truly yours, Meg

Kristi said...

I love this! What a fantastic idea.

Laurie Ann said...

Sounds great! Thank you for walking us through it. I can't wait to try them.

Anonymous said...

OMGoodness! This is the CUTEST idea EVER and since I am a diehard baking fan then I MUST make these! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing~I was looking for something to give *my girls* that I teach on Wednesday night that was not too complicated (I have been having some bad health days-not feeling well)I love the message...it truely is HIS BIRTHDAY we are celebrating! Love, love, love adding the Birthday candle! Im gonna save one of these for ME so I can light the candle on HIS day and blow it out! Love ya Lea and have missed visiting with you! Merry CHRISTmas dear sweet bloggy friend!

Texas Size Blessings
Char

PCovi said...

Such a great idea!!! Little candle tied on...haha :)
If I do it I'll let ya know!

Unknown said...

Oh, thank you! I'm gonna make some for our Sunday school class, this is perfect! But I must ask, where did you find that gingerbread fabric? And can I use any cake mix? I'm so excited about this, I know, I'm easy! LOL

Leaon Mary said...

Hope it turns out great for yall!
Sue, yes, I think you can bake any cake mix in a jar, you just have to be careful how high it rises.
The gingerbread men fabric came from walmart nearly 3 years ago, so I'm not sure if they still stock it.
Bon Appetit! (I can't stop sayin that after watchiing Julie and Julia!)

Yolanda said...

Lea,

It just causes my own heart to ping and zing as well...when I hear those seals, sealing. I just grin from ear to ear.

I'm going to try this, what a blessing you are, because you're always stretching me to do something new, and I love learning.

God bless you my Precious Friend!!!

Lovingly,
Yolanda

Carol said...

What a precious idea! It's perfect for children as well as adults! Thanks for sharing!

Denise said...

I love it, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I love this idea! Thank you! I. Just added this to my Pinterest to remember forever!!!

Jill said...

I just love these! I am making them right now for our Children's Ministry Birthday Party for Jesus. These are the perfect favors to send home with all the children to open Christmas Day Thank you for such a creative idea!