Chocolate Jar Cakes

Description
Cake in a jar recipes are such fun to make, and people love receiving them. The only ingredient not listed for this yummy chocolate cake is love, but it will be evident when someone receives your gift.

Serves: 8
Cooking Time: 40 min

Ingredients
8 pint-sized wide-mouth canning jars [4 L]
1 stick plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter [156 g]
3 cup sugar [600 g]
4 eggs [220 g]
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
3 cup flour [390 g]
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder [84 g]
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions
1. Prewash canning jars (be sure to use the kind that have no shoulders) in hot, soapy water.

2. Rinse well, dry and let them come to room temperature.

3. Preheat oven to 325F degrees.

4. Grease insides of jar well.

5. Beat together butter and half of sugar until fluffy.

6. Add eggs and remaining sugar, vanilla and applesauce.

7. Sift dry ingredients together and add to the applesauce mixture a little at a time: beat well after each addition.

8. Pour one cup of batter into each jar and carefully remove any batter from the rims.

9. Place jars in a preheated 325F]degree oven and bake for 40 minutes.

10. While cakes are baking, bring a saucepan of water to a boil and carefully add jar lids.

11. Remove pan from heat and keep lids hot until ready to use.

12. When the cakes have finished baking, remove jars from oven. Make sure jar rims are clean; if they're not, jars will not seal correctly.

13. Place lids on jars, and screw rings on tightly. Jars will seal as they cool. Cakes will slide right out when ready to serve.

Notes
Unsealed jars should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within 2 weeks.

Sealed jars may be stored with other canned food or placed in a freezer.

The cake is safe to eat as long as the jar remains vacuum sealed and free from mold.

To enjoy the best flavor, try to eat all canned cakes within 6 months.