How To Freeze Cake Layers Before Frosting

Last Updated on June 6, 2022

Curious about how to freeze cake layers before frosting? Well, keep reading because even chilled cake layers allow you to frost easily. In addition to that, chilling the cake layers lessens the amount of crumbling. It also makes it easier to carve, especially if you plan to sculpt a cake. Not to mention that it reduces any shifting of the cake layers as you apply the crumb coat.

Also, knowing that a cake is exceedingly delicate, letting it cool entirely to room temperature before frosting will only make it fragile and tender. So, rather than trying to frost it at room temperature, you can wrap the cake layers in cling wrap. After that, store them in the fridge or, better yet, in the freezer. When putting it in the fridge, make sure to let it chill for a few hours or even overnight. In addition to that, you can even freeze it for several months before frosting it.

How to Freeze Cake Layers before Frosting?

First and foremost, bake and cool the cake layers entirely. Afterward, wrap it with plastic wrap, then with aluminum foil. Make sure to write the kind of cake and use-by date on the aluminum foil.

After that, put the wrapped cake layers in a freezer-safe container. Then, freeze it for approximately three months to retain the cake’s texture and flavor. In addition to that, you can freeze it longer for about four to five months; however, remember that the sooner you serve it, the fresher it will taste.

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How to Thaw Cake Layers Properly?

By the time you thaw the cake layers, make sure to transfer them from the freezer to the fridge a day before frosting them. Usually, the cake layers take about eight hours to thaw entirely in the fridge. You can let the cake layers thaw at room temperature if you are in a rush. However, it is better that you thaw the cake layers at a slower rate in the fridge.

Keep in mind that you should thaw the cake layers while they are still in the wrapping. The main reason for this is because the condensation will develop on the wrapping, not the cake. Hence, condensation forms as baked goods thaw. For this reason, you want to avoid wet and sticky cake layers at all costs.

What are the Best Cakes to Freeze?

Essentially, you can freeze most cakes after they have cooled entirely. For this reason, one of the best cakes to freeze are chocolate cakes, banana cakes, pumpkin cakes, and carrot cakes. In addition to that, these cakes’ flavor gets better after you have frozen and thawed them.

Moreover, pound cakes and bundt cakes freeze excellently as well. Remember to cool them entirely. After that, wrap them tightly before eventually freezing them. Also, avoid freezing delicate cakes such as vertical cakes and angel food cakes by any means necessary.

Tips and Tricks for Freezing Cake Layers

If you do not have a large freezer-safe container for the cake layers, you can wrap it in another layer of aluminum foil as an alternative. With that, be sure that the foil with the date on it is on the outside. Moreover, it would be best to wrap the cake in two layers because the first layer maintains the cake sealed and fresh. In addition to that, the second layer ensures no condensation will seep in.

Additionally, you should always chill the cake layers because if you don’t, the cake layers will start to crumble at room temperature, making them hard to shape. Never try freezing an entirely decorated cake because it will contract and expand during the freezing and thawing process. As a consequence, it will mess up the decorated cake.

That is why it is highly recommended to freeze the cake or cake layers but not a decorated cake. The main reason for this is because you want to assemble and decorate the cake on the day of the celebration to achieve the best texture and flavor. On the other hand, it is completely fine to freeze the leftover frosted cake.

Also, remove the cake layers from the freezer for approximately an hour before you intend to frost it. With that, you do not want the cake layers to be a bit frozen when starting to frost the cake since the frozen cake layers will chill the frosting. As a consequence, it won’t be easy to spread the frosting further. That is why you should ensure to let the cake layers thaw for a while. However, make sure that you start decorating when the cake layers are chilled.