Cupcakes In A Jar... How Much?

Business By shuswapcakes Updated 27 Jan 2015 , 12:34am by xiolopez

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shuswapcakes Posted 2 Nov 2011 , 5:20am
post #1 of 28

I've been asked to make 30 "cupcakes in a jar" for a 16th birthday party, which I'm really excited about. I've been online and looked up all sorts of ideas and I think I'm going to do a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing in between the layers. I charge $2.25 for my red velvet cupcakes (each jar will only have room for one cupcake in them) Do you think $3.99 is asking too much?? They will have ribbon and spoons tied to each one.
Thanks!

27 replies
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Jennifer353 Posted 3 Nov 2011 , 1:55pm
post #2 of 28

How much will the jars, spoons and ribbon cost you and how long extra will they take you to make?
$3.99 doesnt sound too much to me but the above makes a huge difference - you dont want them to end up eating your profit.

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imagenthatnj Posted 3 Nov 2011 , 3:17pm
post #3 of 28

Agree with Jennifer353. You have to take the price of all the materials and time needed to assemble them.

I don't know about you, but if I were in your place, I would not make cupcakes that I would have to split, and which are thicker on top. I would make sheet cakes and cut the exact size I want them to fit in the jar.

http://www.pastrychef.com/SHEETPAN-EXTENDERS_p_1270.html

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jgifford Posted 3 Nov 2011 , 4:33pm
post #4 of 28

Are you talking about the cupcakes you bake in a jar?

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imagenthatnj Posted 3 Nov 2011 , 4:55pm
post #5 of 28

I don't think she's baking them in a jar. Notice how the OP says that there will be a layer of cake, then a layer of frosting, then a layer of cake, then the top frosting. Those are not baked in a jar.

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/sweets/cupcakes-in-a-jar-the-latest-cupcake-craze-142206

I understand when they're baked in a jar, they're handy and they save time. But not these.

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SweetDelites Posted 3 Nov 2011 , 4:55pm
post #6 of 28

Sorry to get in the middle, but where do you buy the jars from.

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Momofjaic Posted 3 Nov 2011 , 4:59pm
post #7 of 28

I make and sell cakes in a jar. (No icing) and charge 5.00 for 1/2 pint and 7.50 for pint size hope that helps I decorate the jars as well. I bake about 200 a month and it takes me a good week to bake and decorate, but I have kids and decorate at night!

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scp1127 Posted 9 Nov 2011 , 7:55am
post #8 of 28

Mine are $6.00 each. That seems to be the going rate nationwide for the 1/2 pint jars. Mine are tied with a ribbon an a fork or spoon is attached.

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shuswapcakes Posted 12 Nov 2011 , 6:19am
post #9 of 28

Thank you so much for all the replies! I'm sorry I haven't been able to pop my head in sooner - (had a scary few weeks at the hospital with my mom) But I'm back! I worked out what everthing cost me, including time to make, ingredients, etc... and I think $3.99 is the price I'm going to go with, especially for the area I live in and it still makes me a profit icon_smile.gif I can't wait for Christmas now.... Thanks again everyone!

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amaryllis756 Posted 12 Nov 2011 , 9:36am
post #10 of 28

I just love the idea of this. It sounds so great! Would love to try it. But I am worried about the expense of the jars. These look like canning jars, is that is what is used? In my area, canning jars are a little expensive just to "give them away with a cupcake". I don't know if people in my area would pay that much. I don't can, so if I were a customer, what would I do with these jars at my house. Don't get me wrong, I am not being critical, I just am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the whole concept. I think maybe some kind of other disposable container might work well too. Just a thought. Sorry if I offended anyone.

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lynn780 Posted 12 Nov 2011 , 1:45pm
post #11 of 28

I saw at a bakery once where they used the clear disposable cups and had layers of cake & frosting. Nothing fancy, they just put the cup lid on it.

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scp1127 Posted 12 Nov 2011 , 5:09pm
post #12 of 28

People do buy them because of the novelty. People who can't afford them don't buy them. But there are plenty of people who can.

One of the biggest mistakes in business is mentally spending other people's money. Look at the facts. There is a trend for jar desserts. People are buying them. The going rate is $6.00 a jar. Now you have to decide if your market has the income to support the product. But mentally deciding that they are not worth it is a personal belief, not something in a business plan.

In my business, the minimum jar dessert is 6, where the minimum for my cupcakes are 12. Since many of my cupcakes are $3 and these are $6, the amount spent on the gift is the same. A gift of 12 cupcakes to one person is a lot unless it is at a party or to a bigger family. But 6 cupcakes in a jar looks personal. The packaging is unique, thoughtful, and is easy to store and savor longer.

These purchases, or gifts, are for the person who has everything. It is to this demographic group that they need to be marketed. That group looks for the unique and something that someone will truly enjoy. These jar desserts... cupcakes, puddings, pies, fit that description perfectly.

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andpotts Posted 14 Nov 2011 , 6:29am
post #13 of 28

I love all things in a jar! And so do people, they seem to really enjoy individual desserts like this, it's my most requested treat. I do cupcakes and pies in a jar and recently I started doing CUPcakes, for things like bakesales and birthday parties where the jars aren't cost effective and they are perfect too. I mostly do the jars when I'm shipping to hubby and friends at deployed locations, they ship great too for future reference icon_smile.gif

I pay about $12 for a dozen 1/2 pint Mason jars and 1 jumbo cupcake per with assorted fillings/buttercream plus ribbon and spoon. I don't think $3.99 is too much at all. The ones in the disposable cups of course cost less. I have also started using those cute bamboo spoons on mine, just love them! Another thing is the lids are perfect size for a round personalized sticker to complete the theme, I would charge extra for that though icon_smile.gif

Sorry I don't have access to many pictures as I'm at work and there is stuff missing from my gallery here, humph, but here are a few not so great shots. The Jar ones were the very first ones I did and shipped to myself to see how they would travel. I have made tons since then and they are always well received, have fun and good luck with your order! Andrea

ok can't get pictures to attach there are some of the CUPcakes in my photos http://cakecentral.com/gallery/user/andpotts

And maybe you can see my first Jar ones after test shipping here (learned a ton since then icon_smile.gif
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/photos-ak-snc1/v377/145/88/595076926/n595076926_1525862_7737.jpg

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scp1127 Posted 14 Nov 2011 , 6:37am
post #14 of 28

andpotts, check Walmart. They sell the jars for $8.00/12. I just stock up duing canning season on the 4 oz and 8 oz. The others are there all year long.

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andpotts Posted 14 Nov 2011 , 7:24am
post #15 of 28
Quote:
Originally Posted by scp1127

andpotts, check Walmart. They sell the jars for $8.00/12. I just stock up duing canning season on the 4 oz and 8 oz. The others are there all year long.




Well that's quite a bit better! Is that for the wide mouth? I usually just pick them up at Albertsons since when I've looked at Wal-mart they never have the ones I want, but that a big of enough difference I stop at a few others to find them, thanks! Andrea

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scp1127 Posted 14 Nov 2011 , 7:42am
post #16 of 28

They have the big variety now, but this is the end of the season. They have them all starting in about July or August. I use them for many things at the bakery, like sauces and spreads that go with my baked items. I have the wide 4 oz and 8 oz plus the regular ones. They have Mason and BH&G. Every size is $8.00 for 12. I looked it up on their website to see if they had them there, but they don't. This is reminding me to finish stocking up.

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lynn780 Posted 14 Nov 2011 , 3:12pm
post #17 of 28

How long will these keep in the jars after you make them if you don't refrigerate or freeze? Thanks.

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shuswapcakes Posted 14 Nov 2011 , 6:40pm
post #18 of 28

My husband had his three days after, withouth putting it in the fridge, and he said it tasted great still. I know some people say 3 days and some people say 7.

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Momofjaic Posted 15 Nov 2011 , 2:51am
post #19 of 28

Ok the ones I do without icing and they are baked in the jar last up to 6 mo. I have mailed them over seas to our military and sometimes it's months before they get them and they are good. My BIL was in iraq for a while and was known as "the cake guy"! They area supera easy to do. If you want to know how I do it just ask. I am actually mailing some tomorrow to our navy first time I've shipped to a boat!

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scp1127 Posted 15 Nov 2011 , 3:26am
post #20 of 28

I've heard that the servicemen love them. If you want them to last, for example overseas, use a box mix. You could also send little piping bags of shortening based frosting with a line drawn for where tcut for frosting it themselves.

I don't think they last any longer than any other storage method for scratch cakes. Unfrosted, you can freeze, but still, it's like any other storage method.

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Maishelle Posted 15 Nov 2011 , 3:28am
post #21 of 28

Momofjaic, Are you baking your cake in canning jars? If not canning jars, what kind? I am curious about that. I love the idea of the cake in a jar concept, I just had not heard of baking your cake in the jar. Thanks, Maishelle

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Momofjaic Posted 15 Nov 2011 , 3:30am
post #22 of 28

Mine are scratch. When you seal them right out of the oven it preserves them like jams or green beans or anything else you can. Some people say they last up to a year but they never last that long in my house DH and kids find and eat them.

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Momofjaic Posted 15 Nov 2011 , 3:40am
post #23 of 28

Yes they bake right inside the jar I get the self sealing lids so as soon as they come out of the oven you put the lids on and they start popping my kids think it's popcorn. I put butter one a the inside of the jar I have tried spray type but it tends to turn sour after a while (3-4 weeks) or in heat. Then put 1/2 cup of batter ( for a 1/2pint jar) 3/4 to 1 cup in pint size jar depending on the cake( some rise more). I also put a tag on them saying what they are and "enjoy by date" I put 2 months out from the day I bake. I also put ingredients on them because they usually go to people I don't know and incase of allergies. I decorate them with fabric with button, and lace on the rim of the jar.
Make sure you sanitize the jars first.

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andpotts Posted 15 Nov 2011 , 4:41am
post #24 of 28

I do sometimes bake and send fun cakes in a jar to friends and family, like these:

http://heartinthedetails.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-got-jar-got-jar-full-of-sunshine.html?m=1

But that's not how I do my cupcakes in a jar. Part of the fun of them, for me, is making fun layerd creations for them to enjoy. I use ingredients that are as shelf stable as possible, buttercreme, chopped up candy bars, caramel, toasted coconut, chopped nuts, sprinkles etc and I don't add any pudding to the cakes, just try to give them a real good flavor profile. Then I seal my jars using this attachment to my Food Saver

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005TN7H/?tag=cakecentral-20

Works great, the guys get pretty layered desserts that are fresh and ready to eat as soon as they pop the lid. I do not send during the worst heat months to try to minimize spoilage. I have sent them all over the globe now. They have taken as long as 10 days to reach destination, which is about as long as I'm willing to risk. I tell them to eat or freeze as soon as they arrive for up to a month and just let them come down to room temperature before they eat them icon_smile.gif No problems and I have questioned them extensively on fresshness/taste etc and have been told time and again they are awesome. Of course anything from home is awesome when you're deployed, but I tell them to check them very carefully to make sure they are good to go. Cupcakes in a jar really are one of the things I enjoy making most icon_smile.gif

Now when they are not being shipped I do all kinds of different fresh fruit and cream layers, those I keep in the frige and would say they are good for up to 5 days max. Andrea

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jenng1482 Posted 15 Nov 2011 , 4:44am
post #25 of 28

If you have a Dollar Tree nearby, they do free shipping to store on these adorable little jars. $1 each!

http://www.dollartree.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=311820

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nadiaaproperty Posted 17 Sep 2013 , 8:57am
post #26 of 28

AHai i now want to buy the cupcakes in jar.. may i know what the flavours?and how much you charge it for one?

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chassidyg Posted 10 Jul 2014 , 9:48pm
post #27 of 28

Baking a sheet cake to cut is a brilliant idea! I'll definitely be doing that this winter! I want to send some cakes in a jar to a few family members & friends!

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xiolopez Posted 27 Jan 2015 , 12:34am
post #28 of 28

AHello. I have to make the 4oz. Cake jars. So how much would I charge for those?

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