A Very Sweet Treat

I wanted to do something slightly different than my typical baked goods for workplace gifts this year.  In searching through blogdom I found a creative idea: cupcake jars!

The hardest part of the gift was tracking down half pint wide mouth jars like these:

Next year, I'll definitely stock up on these during the summer months when coupons drop the price on a box of dozen to less than $10.

Anyway, wash your jars (and lids) and let dry thoroughly.

Fill the jars about halfway full with your favorite cupcake recipe. You need to allow room for the cake to expand, as well as room for frosting. It's difficult to judge the bake time required, so monitor and use a toothpick to judge when they are ready (just a few crumbs should stick to the toothpick after inserting into the center of the cake).

Since I was fancying these up, I used an apple corer or a knife to make a small well in the center of each cake:

Then I poured in a bittersweet chocolate ganache...yum:

Finally, I topped it all with a homemade peppermint buttercream icing and a few sprinkles of crushed peppermint stick:

Pop the top back on, stick on a label, tie a bit of ribbon and you're good to go!

Note - these aren't forever-shelf stable. They'll last a couple of days on the counter at room temperature and a few days longer in the refrigerator.

Cute and yummy, huh?!?

Interested in a detailed how-to? I found my recipe for Peppermint Cupcake Jars here.