The funnest (I know, not a word) part about planning my mother- and sister-in laws’ cupcake-themed birthday party was coming up with the cupcake-themed gifts. I’m actually just a wee bit envious of the gifts I gave them, and wish I had given one to myself.
That’s OK. I just need to collect a few more Swagbucks, and then I can order them myself for free from Amazon.com
! (Yes, those are affiliate links, just in case you want to click on them and earn me some money! ::wink, wink::)
I love baking cakes, cupcakes and muffins with my silicone pans because silicone pans are by far the easiest to remove baked goods from. By far, I say, with added emphasis. And this is not a paid review; it’s just my honest opinion. For a low-level home cook and baker like myself, I like tools that help me get the job done professionally without the necessary professional skills. So if you have trouble, like me, getting your baked goods out of the pan in their entirety, silicone is the way to go! Even though my MIL and SIL have no such problem (they both make amazing desserts!), I knew they would enjoy these fun silicone cupcake cups:
Aren’t they fun?! I’d love a set for myself, and I happen to have my own birthday coming up here soon (hint, hint, for any family reading…). You can use these silicone baking cups like any other silicone baking pan: simply place them on a cookie sheet, fill with batter, bake at a maximum of 450F (which covers pretty much any normal baked good), cool after removing from oven, then tip over and easily remove your delicious cupcakes! Or, you can leave them in the cup for serving, whichever you prefer.
The cupcake pans were only part of the gift, though. I also gave them
- canned frosting (unfortunately, the storebought kind because I didn’t think any homemade frosting would store long enough for gift giving, and then they’d have to use it right away instead of at their leisure)
- cupcake decorations
- cute spring tea towels
- and the other star of the show: cupcake mix in a jar.
Let me tell you, I searched long and hard, high and low looking for an easy to mix and easy to use (with few additional ingredients) cupcake mix in a jar. There are lots of recipes out there but either they involve too many ingredients or too involved instructions. Quick and easy is my thing, you know. I finally found the perfect recipe, and also discovered it could easily be adapted into two very different - but both amazingly delicious - flavors. I’ll give you the instructions for the mix I used, and then a simple variation. You can come up with your own variations, too - please tell me if you do so we can share with everyone else who may want them!
Orange Cupcake Mix in a Jar
2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour (or white whole wheat flour)
1 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Whisk together ingredients and carefully spoon into a 1 qt glass canning jar. Cut a small circle of scrapbook or wrapping paper to fit the top of the lid, and glue it on, smoothing it with some pressure from your thumb to remove any wrinkles or air bubbles. Screw lid on tightly. Print out the following instructions, cut them out and glue them onto coordinating scrapbook or wrapping paper. Punch a hole in the top, and tie with a ribbon onto the neck of the jar.
To make the cupcakes:
1 jar cake mix
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup oil
Combine ingredients. Mix well. Bake in muffin tin at 350F for 20 minutes.
That’s it! To make Apple Spice Cupcakes, simply:
- Add 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp ground cloves to dry mix.
- Use apple juice instead of orange juice.
I finished off the cupcake theme by decorating two very basic gift bags ($.50 each at Target) with more coordinating paper cut out in a cupcake shape, as you can see in the picture below.
I used 3 1/2 sheets of scrapbook paper from my stash to make the invitations, cupcake in a mix jars, gift bags, and popcakes. Less than a buck for all of it!
This is a QUICK last-minute gift idea, perfect for birthdays, holidays, Easter, hostess gifts, you name it! Even (or especially) a non-cook will enjoy the ease and simplicity.
It’s EASY to prepare for giving, and easy to bake upon receiving. What more can you ask?
It’s also a great CHEAP gift idea (shhh… don’t tell my in-laws!)! Here’s the breakdown of what I spent total for both gifts:
- $1.00 for the gift bags
- jars from my stash = FREE!
- $1.15 for flour and sugar
- $10 for cupcake baking cups (one set was free with my Swagbucks gift cards to Amazon - more shameless affiliate links)
- $4 for clearance cupcake decorations
- $4 for tea towels from Target
- $1.60 for 2 cans frosting
- TOTAL: 21.75
Cupcakes aren’t HEALTHY, really, just fun!
I love this recipe and how simple it is. Just on question tho to make them just a regular chocolate cupcake instead of orange juice can that be water?
Yes, any kind of liquid should work.