{Valentine} Cake in a Jar

Happy Monday, friends. Have you recovered from the festivities surrounding the big game yesterday? I cried for the troops, farmers and Clydesdales, and am officially boycotting pistachios and Go Daddy (that one was just gross!)! And my rings and shoes are a little tight, so I must have hit the Fritos too hard. Bet Beyonce doesn't eat Fritos. It was a heartbreaking loss, but the upside is now Mr. Sugarplum will finally shave off his 'Playoff/Super Bowl' beard!

So are you ready for cuteness overload today?! I mean seriously, Pink Ombre Cupcakes in a Jar.....I die.

You can make these with any flavor of cake, but I wanted pink ombre layers, so I went with vanilla. Similar to the Rainbow Cake method from Babygirl's Art Party, I divided the cake batter into three bowls, and added increasing amounts of pink food color. I used good ol' cake mix from the box...why mess with what Betty Crocker has perfected?!

Grease your muffin pan really good before baking your cupcakes so the edges stay intact. I used the whole egg, but the color would likely be purer if I'd used just the egg whites.

I sliced the tops off my cupcakes so they'd be flat, but I don't think it's necessary. Eating those little cake-top slivers while you work, however, is necessary. Gently push the dark pink cupcake to the bottom of the jar (don't forget to wash and dry the jars first), then add a layer of frosting. I fake a piping bag by filling a ziploc with frosting, and cutting off the corner (thanks for the great tip, Courtney!). Adding the frosting this way keeps it from smearing all over the sides of the jar.

Continue layering cake and frosting, with the medium pink cupcake in the middle, and the light pink cupcake on top.

These 6-ounce jelly jars (I found them at JoAnn Fabric), each hold 3 small cupcakes. A hearty serving, but who's counting cupcakes.

Finish with another layer of frosting on top, and add sprinkles if you want. Duh, of course you want! They're sprinkles?!?

I topped the lids with stickers, and tied plastic spoons and gift tags with coordinating ribbon.

It's so cute you can't stand it, can you?! If you're able to part with them, they make most excellent friend/neighbor/teacher gifts. I treated Babygirl's teacher to one last week, and I hear it was devoured in record time.

I wish I had a cupcake in a jar for all of you! They are so fun and easy to make...think you'll whip up a batch? And does your man grow large amounts of facial hair during the Playoffs?