22 Desserts In Jars That Are Perfect For Summer Picnics

No picnic is complete without something sweet for you to dive into. And what can be cuter or more convenient than desserts in mason jars! Layer upon layer, these dessert jars are great to look at, and heavenly to bite into. They sure brighten up a summer picnic!

1. Funfetti Cake In A Jar

Rainbow sprinkles and vanilla buttercream – this fun, colorful treat can brighten up just about any occasion.  This dessert jar has delicious funfetti cake, which has sprinkles added to a basic cake recipe, layered with frosting, and topped with even more sprinkles.

Ingredients

For The Cake

• 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 3 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• ½ Cup Olive Oil
• 1 Cup Orange Juice
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• ½ Cup Sprinkles

For The Frosting

• 500g Powdered Sugar
• ¼ Cup Milk
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Stick Butter

How To Make

1. Combine all the ingredients for the cake in a bowl and mix them well. Pour into a baking tray and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Make sure you use a toothpick to check whether the cake is done. After it has cooled, slice the cake into cubes.

2. To make the frosting, combine the sugar, vanilla extract, and the milk. Add the stick of butter and whisk till it is smooth and without any lumps.

3. Layer the frosting and the cake cubes in a jar. Garnish with sprinkles.

2. Caramel Chocolate Brownie

Brownie and chocolate with a dash of caramel to keep things interesting.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Brownie Mix
• 400g Cool Whip
• 1 Jar Caramel Cream

How To Make

1. Make the brownies using the brownie mix and cut into small pieces.

2. Layer the mason jar with brownies, cool whip, and caramel sauce.

3. Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Igniting the memories of carnivals and fun, this delicious dessert will take you all the way back to your childhood.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
• 250g Cream Cheese
• 1 Cup Whipped Cream
• 1½ Cups Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• ¼ Cup Butter
• 2 Cups Sliced Apples
• 1 Cup Caramel Syrup
• ½ Teaspoon Salt

How To Make

1. Melt the butter, stir one-fourth cup of sugar into it, and add it to the cracker crumbs.

2. In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, vanilla extract, and one cup of sugar. Beat till they are combined.

3. Stir in the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.

4. Squeeze the lemon juice over the apple slices. Add the slices, along with salt, to the caramel and mix.

5. Layer the cracker, cream cheese, and caramel apple till the top of the jar.

4. Chocolate Mousse

Nothing beats a jar of fluffy chocolaty goodness on a hot summer day. This lightweight dessert is the perfect end to a day out, or even a day in.

Ingredients

• 300g Dark Chocolate, Grated
• 1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder
• 3 Eggs
• 300ml Whipped Cream
• ¼ cup Sugar
• Chocolate Syrup
• Grated Almonds For Garnishing

How To Make

1. Melt the chocolate using a double boiler and set it aside.

2. Place the sugar and the eggs in a bowl, and beat until the mixture is thick.

3. Add the melted chocolate and cocoa powder to the mixture and stir well.

4. Finally, stir in the whipped cream.

5. Layer the mousse and the chocolate syrup, garnish with almonds, and refrigerate for an hour before serving.

5. Trifle Pudding

Fruity and colorful, nothing represents summer quite like trifle pudding. The pink base is made by adding a little red food coloring to an ordinary cake mix.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Cake Mix
• ½ Teaspoon Red Food Coloring
• 1 Vanilla Pudding Mix
• 1 Cup Whipped Cream
• Fruits Of Your Choice For Garnishing

How To Make

1. Add the red food coloring to the cake mix and bake following the directions. Prepare the pudding and set it aside.

2. Crumble the cake and scoop it into the jar. Add a layer of pudding, followed by a layer of cake, and keep repeating till two-thirds of the jar has been filled.

3. Using an icing bag, add whipped cream on top, and garnish with fruits of your choice.

6. Strawberry Shortcake

The strawberry shortcake is a deliciously fresh way to end your picnic. With layers of cake, vanilla frosting, and fresh strawberries, this lightweight dessert is perfect for those hot summer days. You can make a cake from scratch, but the easiest way to go about making this is by using a cake mix instead.

Ingredients

• 1 Boxed Cake Mix
• 1 Can Of Vanilla Frosting ( you may whip up your own frosting with sugar, butter, and vanilla essence)
• 4 Cups Sliced Strawberries, Mixed With ¼ Cup Sugar

How To Make

1. Follow the instructions on the cake mix box to bake the cake, and allow it to cool before crumbling it.

2. Press the cake crumbs into the bottom of the mason jar, and add a layer of fresh strawberries and vanilla frosting.

3. Follow it up with another layer of cake, strawberries, frosting, and cake. And refrigerate before serving.

7. Oreo Cheesecake

Oreos are awesome. Oreo cheesecakes – they are even more awesome. This little jar of yumminess requires practically no prep time and just three ingredients.

Ingredients

• 15 -16 Oreo Cookies, Crushed
• 450g Cream Cheese
• 1 Can Of Condensed Milk

How To Make

1. Crush the Oreos into crumbs and keep it aside.

2. Place the cream cheese in a bowl and whisk it till the consistency is soft and smooth. Add the condensed milk to it and whisk again. Add a small amount of the crumbled Oreos to the cream cheese mixture and stir.

3. Scoop about two tablespoonfuls of the crumbs into a mason jar. Layer it with the cream cheese and top it with another layer of crumbs.

4. Refrigerate for half an hour before serving.

8. Red Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese

Red velvet with cream cheese frosting – it is a classic combo. And making and eating this adorable cake is a surefire way to a day of girly fun.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Red Velvet Cake Mix
• 500g Cream Cheese
• 1 Stick Butter
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

How To Make

1. Following the instructions on the box mix, bake the red velvet cake. Let it cool before slicing it into smaller pieces.

2. To make the cream cheese frosting, add butter, sugar, and vanilla extract to softened cream cheese and whisk well.

3. Layer the red velvet cake at the bottom of the mason jar and pipe in the frosting. Keep layering till you get to the top of the jar.

9. Cherry Cheesecake

Light, fluffy, and delicious – all this no-bake cheesecake just requires you to do is assemble simple ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1½ Cups Of Graham Cracker Crumbs
• ¼ Cup Of Melted Butter
• 1¼ Cups Powdered Sugar
• 225g Cream Cheese
• 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 Cup Whipped Cream
• 1 Can Cherry Pie Filling

How To Make

1. Combine the butter with one-fourth cup of sugar and add it to the cracker crumbs.

2. Place the cream cheese, vanilla extract, and one cup of sugar in a bowl and beat to combine.

3. Stir in the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.

4. Scoop the Graham cracker mixture into a mason jar, and flatten it at the bottom. Add the cream cheese filling and top it off with the cherry preserve. Set it for a few hours in the refrigerator before serving.

10. Apple-Cinnamon Cheesecake

Cinnamon and apple is a classic combo. And once again, they come together to bring you this jar of yumminess.

Ingredients

• 1½ Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
• ¼ Cup Melted Butter
• 1¼ Cups Powdered Sugar
• 225g Cream Cheese
• 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 Cup Whipped Cream
• 1 Cup Apple Jam
• 1-2 Teaspoons Cinnamon Powder

How to Make

1. Combine the butter with one-fourth cup of sugar and add it to the cracker crumbs.

2. Place the cream cheese, vanilla extract, and one cup of sugar in a bowl and beat to combine.

3. Stir in the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.

4. Scoop the Graham cracker mixture into a mason jar, and flatten it at the bottom. Add the cream cheese filling and top it off with the apple jam. Garnish with cinnamon powder.

11. Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse

Relive the hazelnutty, chocolaty magic of Nutella with this decadent dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Heavy Cream
• 1 Cup Whipped Cream
• 1 Jar Nutella
• ¼ Teaspoon Cocoa Powder
• 3-4 Tablespoons Roasted Hazelnut, For Garnishing

How To Make

1. Combine the cocoa powder and Nutella with the heavy cream and whip it till they combine.

2. Scoop Nutella into a mason jar, and layer it with the mousse and whipped cream. Top it off with roasted hazelnuts.

12. Rocky Road Chia Pudding

Marshmallows and chocolate – culinary heaven is probably made out of these two ingredients. They spruce up just about anything and are a great addition to an ordinary chia pudding.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Almond Milk
• 4 Tablespoons Chia Seeds
• 1-2 Teaspoons Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 Rocky Road Candy Bar, Roughly Chopped

How To Make

1. Combine the milk, chia seeds, sugar, and cinnamon in a shaker and refrigerate for a few hours.

2. Pour it into jars and garnish with the chopped chocolate.

13. White Chocolate Cheesecake

If white chocolate is more your thing, then try this pretty looking, pretty delicious dessert.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
• 600g Cream Cheese
• 1¼ Cups Of Sugar
• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 200g White Chocolate
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• ½ Cup Heavy Cream
• White Chocolate Chips/Chopped White Chocolate For Garnishing

How To Make

1. Melt the chocolate using a double boiler. Allow it to cool a little and stir it in with the heavy cream. Add one cup sugar to it, and mix well.

2. Melt the butter and stir one-fourth cup of sugar into it. Add the mixture to the cracker crumbs.

3. Beat the cream cheese till it is soft, and combine with the chocolate-cream mixture.

4. Layer the crackers and the cream cheese mixture in a mason jar.

5. Top with white chocolate chips or chopped chocolates.

14. Tiramisu Cheesecake

Tiramisu has always been a classic in the world of desserts.  And making a mini version in a jar has never been so easy.

Ingredients

• 1 Packet Of Ladyfinger Biscuits
• 1 Tablespoon Instant Coffee
• 250g Cream Cheese
• 250g Whipped Cream
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder

How To Make

1. Mix the instant coffee in a cup of hot water and let it cool down to room temperature.

2. Combine the cream cheese, whipped cream, and sugar into a smooth mixture.

3. Arrange the ladyfinger biscuits in the mason jar and drizzle coffee over it. Add a layer of the cream cheese mixture. Keep repeating till you reach the top of the jar.

4. Refrigerate for a few hours and garnish with cocoa powder before serving.

15. Banana Split

If you’ve wanted to enjoy a banana split without worrying about all the ice cream melting, this is the way to go.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Chocolate Graham Cracker Crumbs
• 1 Stick Butter
• 3 Cups Sugar
• 250g Cream Cheese
• 1 Cup Whipped Cream
• 4 Ripe Bananas, Sliced
• 4 Tablespoons Grated Chocolate

How To Make

1. Melt the butter and add it to the graham cracker crumbs.

2. Mix the cream cheese with the whipped cream and sugar, and beat till creamy.

3. Layer the cracker crumbs, cream cheese mixture, and the sliced bananas, till the jar is full.

4. Garnish with grated chocolate.

16. Yogurt With Granola, Blueberries, And Apricots

There is no need to miss out on desserts just because you are on a diet. Indulge in this healthy dessert, made with yogurt and fresh fruits.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Plain, Low-Fat Yogurt
• ½ Cup Pitted And Sliced Apricots
• 1½ Cups Granola
• 1 Cup Blueberries, Fresh Or Frozen

How To Make

1. Mix the yogurt and the apricot together.

2. Layer a mason jar with granola and the yogurt-apricot mixture.

3. Garnish with blueberries and apricot slices.

17. Peach Cobbler

Put on your apron and pull out your baking tray to bake these miniature peach cobblers in the mason jar itself.

Ingredients

• 600g Peach Pie Filling
• ½ Cup Cake Mix
• ½ Cup Milk
• ½ Cup Sugar
• ½ Teaspoon Salt
• ¼ Cup Butter

How To Make

1. Preheat oven. Place the mason jars in a baking pan and add hot water to it.

2. Mix the cake mix, milk, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Melt the butter and add it to the mixture.

3. Scoop the peach pie filling into the jars. Add one to two tablespoons of batter on top.

4. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

5. Allow the jars to cool before adding another layer of peach pie filling.

18. Creme Brulee

Keep your blowtorch handy, because this crème brulee is here to class up your picnic.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Heavy Cream
• ½ Cup Sugar
• 3 Egg Yolks
• ½ Cup Sugar

How To Make

1. You’ll need to preheat your oven before beginning.

2. Add the vanilla extract to the heavy cream and heat the mixture in a saucepan over a medium flame till it starts boiling. Remove from the flame and set aside.

3. In a bowl, add the egg yolks and one-fourth cup sugar and whisk till they blend.

4. Add the cream to the sugar-egg mixture, little by little, stirring all the while.

5. Place a mason jar in a pan of hot water, add the mixture to it, and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

6. Refrigerate for two hours and spread sugar evenly on the top.

7. Melt the sugar with a blow torch, and let it sit for five minutes before you dig in.

19. Banana Cream Pie

Bananas are yummy. But banana cream pies are yummier.  And here’s how you make a portable version of your favorite dessert!

Ingredients

• 1 Box Banana Cream Pudding Mix
• 1 Can Cool Whip
• 2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
• 1 Stick Butter

How To Make

1. The first order of business is to prepare the banana pudding following the instructions on the pack. After the pudding is done, refrigerate it.

2. Place the graham cracker crumbs in a bowl and add melted butter to it. Scoop spoonfuls of the mixture into mason jars.

3. Layer the banana pudding on top of the crackers, followed by a layer of cool whip. Keep repeating till you get to the top of the jar.

20. Lemon Tiramisu

Add a lemony twist to the classic tiramisu to celebrate the warm and bright days of summer.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Cake Mix
• 2 Lemons, Juice And Zest
• 4 Tablespoons White Rum
• 100g Sugar
• 500g Mascarpone Cheese
• 4 Tablespoons Lemon Curd
• 2 Eggs
• 150ml Heavy Cream

How To Make

1. Follow the instruction on the cake box to bake a basic cake, and cut it into small slices.

2. Mix the lemon juice and rum with 50 grams of sugar.

3. Separate the eggs. Mix the egg yolks with the mascarpone cheese, lemon curd, lemon zest, and the rest of the sugar.

4. Whip the egg whites and the cream separately.

5. Combine the cheese mixture with the egg whites and the cream.

6. Add the rum and lemon juice mixture to it.

7. Layer the cake and the cheese in a mason jar.

21. Chocolate Rice Pudding

Chocolate makes everything better. So, it makes sense to add a dash of chocolaty goodness to the traditional rice pudding

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Almond Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• 2 Cups Precooked White Rice
• ½ Cup Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Cornstarch
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Teaspoon Grated Chocolate

 How To Make

1. Mix the almond milk, pre-cooked rice, and cocoa powder in a saucepan and bring to simmer over low heat.

2. Mix the cornstarch, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.

3. Slowly stir the sugar mixture into the almond milk and rice.

4. Stirring continuously, cook for 15-20 minutes on a low flame.

5. Allow it to cool before adding the grated chocolate.

22. Blueberry Cheesecake

Who can resist the creamy deliciousness of blueberry cheesecake? Now there is no need for resistance of any sort, for these little jars of goodness are so easy to make.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
• 1 Stick Butter, melted
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 500g Cream Cheese
• 200g Whipped Cream
• ½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 Jar Blueberry Preserve

How To Make

1. Place the graham cracker crumbs in a bowl. Add melted butter, sugar, and salt, and mix well.

2. Whisk the cream cheese in a bowl till the consistency is smooth. Add vanilla extract and sugar to it, and mix well.

3. In a separate container, whisk the whipped cream. Gently stir it in with the cream cheese.

4. Scoop the graham cracker crumb mixture into a mason jar and gently flatten it. Layer it with the cream cheese mixture and blueberry preserve, followed by another layer of cream cheese, and topped with more blueberry preserve.

Warm sun and delicious desserts – summers simply cannot get any better! So put on your sundress, grab a wicker basket, and tuck in these little jars that guarantee a great picnic!

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Bhavna Panda

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