How Far In Advance Can You Bake A Cake?

Last Updated on December 31, 2022

Sometimes life gets busy and you don’t always have time to bake when you need to. This may have led you to wonder, how far in advance can you bake a cake?

Fortunately, there are some great alternatives to baking a cake on the day of an event or celebration. This is ideal for those on a tight schedule, as it will save you lots of stress in the kitchen. No more rushing to bake a cake in time for your kid’s birthday party.

How Far in Advance Can You Bake a Cake?

You can bake a cake 2-3 days in advance. This allows you to have plenty of time to prepare your cake before you need it, whether that is for a birthday party or holiday event. If life starts to get hectic, this is a great option to save you time and stress.

No matter what size or type of cake you make, it will be able to keep 2-3 days before when you need it. However, it is important that you properly store your cake. This will prevent it from drying out and allow it to maintain its wonderful flavor.

How to Properly Store a Cake in Advance

To keep your cake fresh for 2-3 days before serving, you should store it unfrosted in an airtight container at room temperature. Ideally, you should cover it in plastic wrap before placing it into the container so it won’t lose any moisture. Be sure to allow your cake to fully cool before storing it.

For unfrosted cakes, you want to avoid keeping them in the fridge, as this can actually dry them out faster. Storing an unfrosted cake in the fridge causes the molecules to recrystallize faster, which causes it to lose moisture faster.

Be sure to store your cake in a cool, dry area in your kitchen and avoid placing it in direct sunlight. If it is hot and humid out, you can store your cake in the fridge. Be sure that is tightly covered in plastic wrap, to avoid any weird fridge odors from getting in and preventing it from drying out.

Once you are ready to serve your cake, you can frost it on the day of the event. You can make your frosting in advance and store it in the fridge for two days, allowing it to reach temperature before use.

150 Pcs Cake Decorating Supplies Kit for Beginners

Storing a Frosted Cake in Advance

If your cake is frosted and contains any fruit or cream fillings, you should store it in the fridge. Since frosting and fillings can be perishable, they need to be kept in the fridge. Decorated cakes should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for two days ahead of time.

Once you are ready to serve your frosted cake, allow it to reach room temperature. Any leftover cake should be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days long in the fridge.

Check out these easy and delicious buttercream  recipes:

• Amazing Kittencal Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
• Incredible Lemon and Poppyseed Cupcakes with Lemon Buttercream

Freezing Your Cake in Advance

If need more than 2-3 days ahead of time to make your cake, you can always freeze it. You can freeze your unfrosted cake for up to three months before the day you need it. This is a great time-saving hack to help you prep in advance.

When freezing a cake, it is vital that you let it fully cool before you place it in the freezer. Once your cake is cool, wrap it in plastic wrap and then wrap it in aluminum foil before freezing. For extra protection from freezer burn, you can wrap it in two layers of plastic wrap before wrapping it in aluminum foil.

Once you are ready for your cake, allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for two hours. When your cake is fully thawed, you can decorate it with frosting.

Frosted cakes may also be frozen, but any decorations may get squished in the freezer. It is often best to freeze a cake unfrosted and then frost it on the day you serve it.

How Soon Can I Ice a Cake After Baking?

Cakes should always be left to cool completely before icing or frosting. If the cake is still warm, the icing will melt and run off the cake. Much-loved brands such as Betty Crocker recommend waiting at least 2-3 hours for your cake to cool throughout. They also suggest adding a crumb coat and then chilling for 30 minutes.

For your cake to cool as quickly as possible, you need to remove it from the oven and leave it for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. After another 20 minutes or so on the wire rack, you can chill in the fridge or freezer, until cool. It’s important to leave in the pan for 10 minutes and then cool on the wire rack before you chill. You do not want the cake to cool down too quickly.

How Early in Advance Can You Make Cake Pops?

Cake pops can be made well in advance to save you time nearer the event you’re planning to use them for. It all depends on whether the cake pops have been dipped into chocolate as to how long they’ll keep for. If they’re naked cake pops (not yet dipped in chocolate), they’ll keep in the fridge for around a week or in the freezer for around a month.

They need to be in airtight containers for best results. If your cake pops are decorated and dipped, they’ll last slightly longer and you’ll have more time to make them in advance. They’ll keep from 1-2 weeks at room temperature, in the fridge for 2-4 weeks, and the freezer for 4-6 weeks. It’s important to allow them to come to room temperature before serving.

How Far Ahead Can You Make Fondant Cake Decorations?

When it comes to making fondant decorations for your cakes, it’s best to make them anywhere from 2-3 days in advance. This will give them time to harden slightly, but will still be fresh and delicious. If stored correctly, you can make them a few weeks in advance too, but I’ve found that the closer to the decoration date as possible gives the best results. To dry your decorations, just lay them on greased wax paper once you’re finished and leave them to dry in a cool, dry place for around 2 days. At this point, you can either use them as they are or store them in a cardboard box with parchment paper.

Can I Make Genoise Cake Ahead?

Of course! Most cakes can be made in advance, as long as they’re then stored correctly. For genoise cake, you can store it for around 2 days at room temperature, covered. Or you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for around 5 days, or in the freezer for around 1-2 months. It’s important that the cake has not been cut before you have done these steps and that before you eat it, you allow the cake to come to room temperature.

Save Time and Stress in the Kitchen

For those with a busy lifestyle, making a cake ahead of time can be a wonderful option. This will allow any birthdays or celebrations to run more smoothly, as you won’t be rushing in the kitchen to get everything done in time.

Cakes can be made 2-3 days ahead, or even three months ahead if you are freezing them. With the proper storage, no one will know that you made the cake in advance, as it will have a delicious, fresh taste.

Do you have any questions on how far in advance you can bake a cake? If so, please ask them in the comments down below.