A blender jar for use with a blending appliance includes a receptacle portion defined between an open top and a base portion. A flexibly resilient lid is removeably received at the open top and includes a central aperture which opens into the receptacle portion of the blender jar. In assembly, the lid is configured to seal against an upper housing of the blending appliance in which the blender jar is laterally received. The blender jar includes a bearing assembly having radial bearings disposed around a shaft which are biased by a biasing mechanism within a bearing housing. The blender jar may also include a removable base collar having a heating element disposed therein.