Would you believe that making a homemade cake mix is faster and cheaper than running to the store to buy one in a box? It's true.
Plus, this homemade cake mix recipe tastes better than the boxed counterpart, doesn't contain any questionable GMO ingredients, and can be stored in one of my favorite items of all time, a Mason jar.
This is my great-grandmother's Chocolate Cake recipe and you know when a recipe has been passed down for that many years, it's a keeper. Ain't no one passing down and making a recipe for that many generations if it isn't good, can I get an amen?
Resources for making Homemade Cake Mix in a Jar
1 quart-sized Mason jar
Funnel for pouring in dry ingredients
Long-handled spoon
Embellishments for decorating the jar
Get yourself more from-scratch cooking and time-tested recipes in The Made-from-Scratch Life. With over $20 in free bonuses, this is the perfect book to give with this homemade cake mix in a jar recipe so they'll never go back to store-bought processed stuff again!
How to Make Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix in a Jar
- Place your canning funnel on your Mason jar
- Pour in the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and powder
- Tap the top of the dry ingredients to help remove the air pockets and settle all of the ingredients into the jar.
- Place a metal canning lid (I wash and dry used canning lids for these dry goods projects) and band on.
- Pretty up the jar however you want, I especially like this red and white jute twine and silver jingle bells for the holidays.
- Attach the FREE printable tag with baking instructions.
Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix Baking Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Combine ingredients in jar with 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup cold water, 1/2 cup brewed coffee and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir until smooth and pour into greased and floured pans (two 8 inch cake pans, one 9×13 baking pan or cupcake tins).
Bake cake for 30 to 40 minutes or bake cupcakes for 16 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting.
Other Homemade Mix Recipes:
- Homemade Spice Mixes and Herb Blends + Free Printable Tags
- DIY No-Knead Bread Mix Recipe in a Jar
- DIY Homemade Brownie Mix in Jar- Best Ever Fudge Brownies
- Homemade Pancake Mix
- DIY Homemade Pantry Mixes
- Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix 3 Ways (From Scratch!)
Homemade Cake Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Baking Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Combine ingredients in jar with 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup cold water, 1/2 cup brewed coffee and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir until smooth and pour into greased and floured pans (two 8 inch cake pans, one 9×13 baking pan or cupcake tins).
- Bake cake for 30 to 40 minutes or bake cupcakes for 16 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting
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Melissa, this is just like a cake my mom used to make, except she used milk instead of coffee. As a coffeeholic, I’m going to have to try this. It’s one of the few chocolate cakes I’ve ever liked. Imagine that, even as a kid I didn’t like chocolate cake, until my mom got this recipe from the label of a Hellman’s Mayonnaise jar! This is such a delightful, moist, cake. I’m really looking forward to the mocha version! Thanks for sharing with us.
Mare,
Yay! You could use milk but my grandma’s instructions was the coffee and it is a delightful cake.
What size pan does you Gramma’s chocolate cake go into. I put the recipe together for my granddaughter, she is 12 and I want her to have all the info she needs to be able to make it.
Mary Kay, she says it can go in two 8-in pans, a 9×13, or cupcakes.
Melissa, thank you so much for all you do for us! This is amazing, I just put together 7 of these in a 1/2 hr (for various gifts, teachers, co-workers, etc)! Next year I’ll be making all of my Christmas gifts!! You rock, lady!
What kind of flour are you using for this cake mix?
I’ve used all-purpose, spelt, and a blend of the both.
Hi Melissa,
I was wondering what kind of flour you use for the cake? I grind my own wheat for bread but haven’t tried it yet for cakes.
By the way, I’m really enjoying your podcasts!
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
I’ve used all-purpose from the store as well as with my home ground flour I prefer to use spelt or soft white wheat. I’ve used spelt as my pastry flour for a couple of years now and it turns out great.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the podcast!
When you use the soft white wheat do you measure it the same as all purpose? I grind with Mockmill, do recommend sifting it?
Thank you for always sharing your treasured family recipes! I really love them…and the fact that you are so generous with them!
Hi, What would be the shelf life of this cake mix? TY, anna
The same as the individual ingredients on your shelf, depends on how old they are when you mix it up, but most flour is a year or so.
Can I assume, for a yellow/white cake just leave out the cocoa powder and replace the coffee with milk?
You’ll need to increase flour for white/yellow, it’s not just omitting cocoa powder and yes, use all milk.
This cake sounds fantastic. Thank you!
How much do you increase the flour for a white/yellow cake?
I was wondering if you had a new link to the free printable tag – the current one doesn’t work. I am looking forward to making some homemade gifts in a jar for the holidays, thanks for the wonderful recipes!
I want to make the Homemade Cake Mix, but it requires brewed coffee. I don’t drink coffee so what could I use in place of the coffee? Thank you for your suggestions and all the recipes that help us be self-sufficient.