Wouldn’t it be amazing if cakes lasted forever? Sadly, they don’t, but don’t worry! This guide is like a treasure map to cake heaven. It’s full of simple tricks to keep your cake yummy and moist after you bake it.
How Long Can You Keep a Cake?
You might wonder, “How long does cake last?” Most cakes, whether they have frosting, fondant, cream, or are plain sponge cakes, stay fine at room temperature for a few days. Just put your cake on a stand with a cover or under an upside-down bowl to keep it clean from dust.
If your cake has fruit inside and you think it might get too soft, the fridge is the best place for it. To keep its fruity taste perfect, wrap it up and put it in a container that seals tight. This way, your cake won’t pick up any weird fridge smells.
Usually, a cake stays moist and nice for about three or four days. After that, it might get a bit dry. If your cake has frosting, it can last a bit longer in the fridge because the frosting keeps it moist. First, let the cake chill in the fridge for 30 minutes in a container or loosely covered to set the icing. Then, wrap it well in plastic and put it back in the container in the fridge.
Freezing Your Cake: How Does It Work?
How do you freeze a cake? Well, it depends on the icing. Different icings mean different ways to store your cake. Here are some common icings and how to store them:
- Fondant and Buttercream Icing
It’s a cool fact that icing seals moisture into your cake. Buttercream and fondant are great for this. A cake with good frosting can last up to five days in a place where the temperature doesn’t change much. Just remember to keep it safe from dust in a covered cake stand.
You can keep cakes with fondant and buttercream icing in the freezer to make them last longer. First, let the cake cool down in the fridge. This stops the icing from breaking. Then, wrap the cake well in cling film and put it in a sealed box in the freezer. Usually, these cakes stay good for up to four months if you store them right.
- Cream cheese frosting
Cream cheese and whipped cream icing don’t do well in hot weather. They can make the cake look sad. So, if you’re not eating these cakes right away, keep them in the fridge.
Also, freezing cakes with this kind of icing isn’t a good idea. The cold changes the frosting’s texture. But, if you have a cake with whipped cream, you can freeze just the sponge part. Later, you can thaw it and add fresh icing or filling.
- Ganache
Ganache cakes are stored like buttercream and fondant cakes. They can be in the fridge for a week and frozen for months. But, if your ganache uses water instead of cream, don’t freeze the cake. Water gets bigger when frozen, making the cake look and taste different and go stale faster.
How long does a wedding cake last?
It’s a tradition to eat the top part of your wedding cake on your first anniversary for good luck. To make sure it tastes great, store it properly.
Wrap it in cling film and foil and put it in a strong, airtight box. This keeps its shape. Freeze it until your anniversary. To thaw, put it in the fridge a few days before. This way, the cake and icing soften together. Let it come to room temperature before eating to enjoy its full flavor.
Summary:
If your cake gets stale, don’t worry, you can fix it. Drizzle sugar syrup over the dry cake. Make sure it soaks in to keep it moist.
Or, use stale cake in different ways. Make bread pudding or cake pops with frosting or cream cheese. Sprinkle cake crumbs on ice cream or use them as decoration. Stale cake also works well in a trifle.
By following these tips, you can keep your cake tasty and fresh for a longer time.