Sweet Molten Cake

       Sometimes I get an idea in my head, and there is a lot of trial and error before I finally can execute what I want to create.  Sometimes, it just doesn't come together at all and I have to scratch it.  Then I am left with the leftover pieces of my attempt and I hate to waste anything, so happily I can usually make something good happen with what I have left.  This is exactly what happened to me this week.
       I went to the store and I found these cute little jelly jars on sale for $3.99! That is a really good price, so I had to buy them. I was going to link you to a source online to purchase jars, but they are so much more expensive.  You are better off keeping an eye on the prices in your grocery store.

       You know of my desire not to turn on my oven during these hot summer months, so I thought that I would come up with a deliciously cute no-bake dessert to put in these little jars for my family, then later I could use them as gifts to give away blackberry-lemon marmalade.  I also had more blackberries, which have been selling at a pretty good price all summer, and I love them.  I thought how delicious would a blackberry cobbler be, but how would I make the ooey, gooey, crunchy crust? Wow! My little torch that I use on Creme Brulee should be just the thing!  Failed! Here is a quick synopsis of my failure.  Remember to click on the pics.

Washed out my cute jars and got them ready.

I used a yellow cake mix and cut a cube of melted butter into it until it was crumbly.

Here is my cute little torch! I become a bit of a pyro when I use it.

I put the first layer of crust into the bottom of the jars.

I guess this doesn't seem very safe, but I couldn't turn the torch down into the jar to heat it because the flame would go out.

First layer. Then I added a layer of berries and then more crust , etc.

I torched each layer of crust until I ended up with this.

It looks cute, right? But it tasted like burnt cake mix with a bit of petroleum mixed in. I thought it was weird because that isn't what Creme Brulee tastes like.

      Well, after putting my family through that trauma, I still had half a bowl of cake mix left.  So, I turned to Pinterest and found this pin.  I thought, "Hmm, I think I can do something like that in my jars!"  So, I did!  
1st- I mixed 1 egg into the second half of the mix and enough water to give me a slightly thicker than cake batter consistency.  If you make these with a box of cake mix without making the failed cobbler first, just make the recipe on the box, substitute butter for the oil and put a little less water than it calls for to make a little thicker batter.
2nd- Put 2 T. of the batter into the jar.  No more, or it will overflow in your microwave.

 3rd- Put a dollop of canned frosting in the center of your batter.    

I just happened to have a can. I hardly ever use premade frosting, I think homemade would work, too.

Maybe a slightly smaller dollop than this one. I think this one overflowed.

4th-I put them in the microwave 2 jars at a time for 1 minute each and they came out just right. But, every microwave varies, so watch them! Let them sit for just a minute.

They come out looking like this, with ooey, gooey goodness on the bottom.

5th- Add whipped cream and sprinkles and you have a simple dessert that the kids will love.  I think this would be a fun activity for young girls to make together at a party or get together.  Eat them right away because they are best served warm.  Or zap them for a few seconds if you serve them later to warm them up.

       I guess that this just goes to show that good things can come from our mistakes!  "If at first you don't succeed...", and all of that!  Wouldn't this be good with a chocolate cake?  Maybe a larger jar!
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