If you ask me, cake in a jar is one of the smartest dessert ideas out there.

This fun twist on the classic Neapolitan flavors gives you chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry all layered up in a cute mason jar. Each spoonful delivers that perfect trio of tastes that made the original ice cream so popular.

The layers stay nice and neat, making it easy to see all three flavors stacked on top of each other. Plus, the individual jars make serving a breeze – no cutting or messy plates needed.

It’s a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s perfect for parties or just when you want something sweet that looks a little fancy without all the fuss.

Why You’ll Love This Neapolitan Cake in a Jar

Quick and easy dessert – Ready in just 30-45 minutes, this no-bake treat is perfect when you want something sweet without spending hours in the kitchen.
Individual portions – Served in cute jars, these personal-sized desserts are great for parties, picnics, or when you want portion control built right in.
No baking required – Perfect for hot summer days or when you don’t want to turn on the oven, this dessert comes together with simple mixing and layering.
Fresh strawberry flavor – The combination of raspberry oat dessert and fresh chopped strawberries gives you that classic Neapolitan taste with real fruit goodness.
Make-ahead friendly – These jars can be assembled ahead of time and chilled until you’re ready to serve, making them ideal for entertaining or meal prep.

What Kind of Strawberries Should I Use?

Fresh strawberries are definitely the way to go for this recipe since they’ll give you the best flavor and texture in your layered dessert. Look for berries that are bright red, firm to the touch, and have that sweet strawberry smell – these will taste the best and hold up well when chopped. If fresh strawberries aren’t in season or available, you can use frozen ones, but make sure to thaw them completely and drain off any excess liquid before chopping. When preparing your strawberries, hull them and chop them into small, bite-sized pieces so they distribute evenly throughout the jar and are easy to eat with a spoon.

Options for Substitutions

This layered treat is pretty adaptable, so here are some easy swaps you can make:

Digestive biscuits or graham cookies: Any crunchy cookie works here – try vanilla wafers, gingersnaps, or even crushed chocolate chip cookies. You’ll need about the same amount by weight.
Dark chocolate: Milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips work fine if you prefer something sweeter. You can also use cocoa powder mixed with a bit of melted coconut oil.
Coconut oil or nut butter: Regular butter works as a substitute, or try sunflower seed butter if you have nut allergies. Just make sure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing.
Fazer Aito raspberry oat dessert: This specific product might be hard to find, so try any plant-based yogurt or pudding – raspberry, vanilla, or strawberry flavors work great.
Fazer Aito Oat for whipping: Heavy cream, coconut cream, or any plant-based whipping cream will do the job. You might need to adjust the whipping time depending on what you use.
Fresh strawberries: Frozen strawberries work too – just thaw and drain them first. You could also try raspberries, blueberries, or chopped peaches.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest mistake when making layered desserts in jars is rushing the assembly process – each layer needs time to set properly, so chill your jars between adding the chocolate base and the raspberry layer to prevent them from mixing together.

Another common error is overpacking the digestive biscuit base, which can make it too dense and hard to eat with a spoon – gently press the mixture just enough to hold together.

Make sure your oat whipping cream is properly chilled before whipping, as warm ingredients won’t achieve the right consistency, and don’t skip chopping your strawberries into small, uniform pieces since large chunks can make the layers unstable.

For the best results, let your finished jars chill for at least 2 hours before serving, which allows all the flavors to meld together and makes the dessert much easier to enjoy.

What to Serve With Neapolitan Cake in a Jar?

These cute little cake jars are perfect as a standalone dessert, but they’re also great for serving at parties or picnics since they’re so portable. I love pairing them with a strong cup of coffee or espresso – the rich flavors really complement the sweet layers of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. If you’re hosting a dinner party, try serving them alongside some fresh berries or a light fruit salad to balance out the richness. For a fun twist, you can even add a dollop of whipped cream on top or sprinkle some crushed nuts for extra crunch.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: These cute little cake jars need to stay chilled in the fridge and will keep fresh for up to 3 days. Make sure to cover each jar with a lid or plastic wrap to prevent the whipped oat cream from absorbing other flavors. The layers actually taste even better after sitting overnight, so don’t worry about making them a day ahead!

Make Ahead: This dessert is perfect for preparing in advance since all the flavors meld together beautifully. You can assemble the jars up to 2 days before serving, just add the whipped oat cream right before you plan to eat them. The strawberries and raspberry layers will stay fresh and the chocolate base won’t get soggy.

Serve: Take your jars out of the fridge about 10 minutes before serving to let them come to the perfect temperature. The layers will be nicely set and easy to eat with a spoon. If you’ve stored them without the whipped cream, just whip up a fresh batch and dollop it on top right before enjoying.

Preparation Time	30-45 minutes
Cooking Time	0-0 minutes
Total Time	30-45 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

Calories: 1250-1350
Protein: 15-20 g
Fat: 70-80 g
Carbohydrates: 140-155 g

Ingredients

For the cookie layer:

2.5 oz digestive biscuits or graham crackers
2 oz dark chocolate (preferably 70%)
2 tbsp coconut oil or almond/cashew butter
2 tbsp maple syrup
Pinch salt

For the berry layer:

2 containers (10.5 oz) fazer aito raspberry oat dessert
7 oz fresh strawberries, diced

For the whipped oat topping:

2/3 cup fazer aito oat for whipping
1.5 tsp vanilla sugar or 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder

Step 1: Make the Cookie Crumble Base

2.5 oz digestive biscuits or graham crackers
2 oz dark chocolate (preferably 70%)
2 tbsp coconut oil or almond/cashew butter
2 tbsp maple syrup
pinch salt

Combine the digestive biscuits or graham crackers, dark chocolate, coconut oil or almond/cashew butter, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt in a blender or food processor.

Blend until the mixture becomes a coarse crumble that almost sticks together.

I like to pulse the mixture so some small chunks of chocolate remain for extra texture.

Step 2: Assemble the Base Layer in Jars

cookie crumble (from Step 1)

Divide the cookie crumble mixture from Step 1 evenly among four jars, pressing it down gently to form a solid base layer.

Try to distribute it evenly so each jar gets a tasty, crunchy foundation.

Step 3: Prepare the Berry Oat Dessert Layer

2 containers (10.5 oz) Fazer Aito raspberry oat dessert
7 oz fresh strawberries, diced

In a mixing bowl, combine the raspberry oat dessert and diced fresh strawberries.

To enhance the pink color and integrate the flavors, gently crush a few pieces of the strawberries while mixing.

Stir until the mixture is well combined and slightly chunky.

Step 4: Layer the Berry Mixture

berry oat mixture (from Step 3)

Spoon the berry oat dessert mixture from Step 3 over the cookie crumble base in each jar, dividing evenly.

Smooth the tops for a neat layer.

If you want even more berry flavor, you can add a few extra crushed strawberries to the very center of each jar.

Step 5: Whip the Oat Cream

2/3 cup Fazer Aito Oat for whipping
1.5 tsp vanilla sugar or 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder

Pour the oat cream for whipping into a mixing bowl.

Add the vanilla sugar or vanilla bean powder.

Whip using an electric mixer or whisk until the cream is fluffy and holds soft peaks.

For extra flavor, I sometimes add a tiny extra pinch of vanilla.

Step 6: Top and Serve the Neapolitan Jars

whipped vanilla oat cream (from Step 5)

Pipe or spoon the fluffy vanilla oat cream from Step 5 on top of the berry layer in each jar.

Serve the Neapolitan cake jars chilled, with a long spoon, so each bite has all three delicious layers together.

Enjoy!