Last Updated on February 22, 2023
Moist, decadent, and flavorful, it’s hard to beat the delicious taste of the cake. You will want to know how to keep a cake moist overnight if you don’t plan on eating them right away. This will give your cakes the best possible flavor and texture.
If not properly stored, a cake can dry out overnight. This will give it a texture that is not desirable, making for a less tasty dessert. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep it moist overnight so you don’t have to worry about it drying out.
How to Keep a Cake Moist Overnight
Nobody wants to bite into a beautifully decorated cake only for it to be dry. Fortunately, there are some great tips for keeping your cake moist and delicious if you don’t plan to eat it right away.
Frost your cake
Not only does frosting taste delicious, but it is also an important addition to keeping your cakes moist. By frosting your cake, you are trapping in moisture that gives your cake its delicious texture.
For best results, frost your cake as soon as it is cool. Be sure to fully coat your cake in frosting, as one unfrosted spot can trap in air, leading to a dry cake. All types of frosting will work to keep moisture in your cake.
Properly store your cake
Whether your cake is frosted or unfrosted, it is important that you properly store it. Though an unfrosted cake is more prone to drying out, it is still important to properly store your cake.
If storing an unfrosted cake overnight, you will want to wrap it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can also store your unfrosted cake in an airtight container or a cake stand with a dome top. Avoid leaving your cake fully or partly uncovered, as it will dry out if left out overnight.
For a frosted cake, you can store it in an airtight container or a cake stand with a dome top. If your cake contains perishable fillings or frosting, such as homemade fruit jam, pastry cream, or cream cheese frosting, you will want to keep it covered in the fridge.
An unfrosted cake will last for around one to two days properly covered at room temperature. You can also store your unfrosted cake in the fridge for three to four days.
Your frosted cake can last for two to three days properly covered at room temperature. In addition, it will also last for up to five to seven days in the fridge.
Freeze your cake
Freezing your cake is a great option if you don’t plan to eat it right away. It will help keep the moisture in and will keep your cake tasting fresh. You can freeze both frosted and unfrosted cakes to keep them fresh.
For unfrosted cakes, set them uncovered in your freezer for one to two hours to allow the frosting to set. Then, carefully wrap the cake in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Then return your cake to the freezer and store it in there for up to three to six months for the best flavor.
For a frosted cake, wrap it in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Then, place your cake in the freezer and store it for up to two to three months for the most flavor.
When ready to enjoy your cake, let it thaw at room temperature for one to three hours, depending on the size of the cake. You can also let your cake thaw overnight in the fridge, both frosted and unfrosted.
Cover your cake with simple syrup
Simple syrup is a simple mixture of equal parts water and sugar that have been heated together to create a syrup. Many bakers will coat their cakes with simple syrup to keep the cake delicious and moist.
With a pastry brush, coat your cake with a layer of simple syrup. After fully coating your cake with simple syrup, you can then decorate it with your frosting.
Tips for How to Bake a Moist Cake
There are several great tips for baking a moist cake. These simple hacks can help ensure you bake the best cake possible.
Use fresh leavening agents
Be sure that your leavening agents, such as baking powder and baking soda, are still good. Your leavening agents must be fresh, otherwise, your cake may fall flat and become dense.
Use full-fat dairy
Full-fat dairy is key to a moist, flavorful cake. Since full-fat dairy is richer than skim and reduced fat, it will give your cake more substance. For a particularly moist cake, use buttermilk instead of whole milk.
Don’t overbake
Be sure to only bake your cake for as long as it needs. Overbaking your cake can cause it to dry out, making it less tasty.
Let cold ingredients come to room temperature and measure accurately
Be sure to bring your egg, butter, milk, and buttermilk to room temperature before using. In addition, make sure to measure your ingredients correctly, as too much flour will cause a dry cake.
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How to Keep Cake Moist in the Fridge
While storing the cake in the fridge is easy, keeping it moist can be tricky; particularly if it’s unfrosted. If your cake is unfrosted, it’s best to wrap your cake in plastic wrap, and then a layer of foil. This will help your cake to retain moisture; as well as not be affected by any odors in the fridge.
If your cake is frosted, first you’ll need to place it in the fridge for around 20 minutes. This allows the frosting to become firm. At this point, you can wrap it with plastic wrap and a layer of foil.
When you’re ready to eat your cake, just be sure to allow at least 30 minutes at room temperature for your cake to taste as delicious as can be.
How to Make a Cake Super Moist
The way to make a cake extremely moist starts from the very beginning of the baking process. Let’s take a closer look at some of our top tips.
- Use Cake Flour. Starting from the batter is important. Cake flour is a very fine flour, which makes for a tender and moist baked cake.
- Do Not Overmix. This can cause your cake to be dry and dense. Only mix until your ingredients are just combined and your batter is not grainy.
- Do Not Overbake. Once your baking time is almost up, check your cake every few minutes to ensure it doesn’t overbake. Overbaking will completely dry out your cake.
- Decorating. Once your cake has baked and cooled, you can soak it in a simple syrup to keep the cake moist. Or add fillings or toppings to keep the moisture inside your cake.
- Storage. If your cake is exposed to air for too long, it’ll start to dry out. This is why storing in plastic wrap and an airtight container is very important.
How to Moisten a Dry Cake
If your cake is already baked and is dry, there are a few ways you can try to salvage it. You can insert small holes and fill them with a simple syrup, as well as brush the cake with the syrup. As well as this, you can also try adding fillings and toppings to make your cake moist. And finally, something as simple as placing your cake in the fridge can add moisture.
Simple Moist Cake Recipe
If you’re looking to make the perfect simple moist cake, then look no further. For this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
For the cake:
- 2 cups of cake flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups of white sugar
- 1/2 cup of cubed butter
- 1 cup of full-fat milk
- 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 3 tablespoons of vanilla extract
For the buttercream:
- 2 sticks of softened butter
- 1lb of sifted confectioners’ sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons of milk
- 3 tablespoons of vanilla extract
Now all you need to do is:
- Gather the ingredients you need and preheat your oven to 350F. You’ll also need to grease and line two cake pans.
- In a bowl, add the following ingredients: all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix and leave to one side.
- In a stand mixer, beat your eggs for around a minute and then gradually pour in the white sugar. Beat for around 6-8 minutes, or until your eggs are aerated and light.
- Add your cubed butter and milk to a microwave-safe bowl and melt your butter, and heat the milk.
- Gradually add the bowl of dry ingredients to your bowl of egg whites; mixing as you go, until smooth.
- Add the milk/butter to a bowl, along with the oil and vanilla extract. Now add all of the ingredients to one bowl and mix until you have a smooth batter.
- Pour batter into your prepared pans and bake in the center of your preheated oven and bake for around 30 minutes. Remove from oven and leave to cool completely.
- To make your frosting, add the butter to your stand mixer and mix for a few minutes, or until pale in color.
- Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and beat for around 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Then add both the milk and vanilla extract. Mix until you’re happy with the consistency. Add more milk if too thick and more confectioners’ sugar if too thin.
- Frost and fill your cake as desired. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Conclusion: How to Keep a Cake Moist Overnight
Nobody wants to eat a dry cake. Fortunately, there are some easy steps to keeping your cake moist overnight to achieve a delicious dessert.
Do you have any questions regarding how to keep a cake moist overnight? If so, please ask any questions regarding keeping the cake moist in the comments.
FAQs
How Do You Store a Cake Overnight?
To store a cake overnight, place it in a cake stand with a dome top or an airtight container. Most cakes will do fine overnight at room temperature unless they have perishable filling or frosting.
How Do You Keep an Unfrosted Cake Moist Overnight?
Cover your unfrosted cake with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep it fresh. In addition, you can also place it in the freezer overnight.
Can You Leave Freshly Baked Cake Out Overnight?
You can leave a freshly baked cake out overnight, but you must cover it. An uncovered cake will dry out overnight.
What's The Secret to a Moist Cake?
The secret to a moist cake is covering it with a layer of simple syrup. Simple syrup will give your cake moisture and frosting will then lock in this moisture.
Simple Moist Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 cups cake flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1/2` cup cubed butter
- 1 cup full fat milk
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp vanilla extract
For the Buttercream:
- 2 sticks softened butter
- 1 lb sifted confectioners' sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- 3 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients you need and preheat your oven to 350F. You'll also need to grease and line two cake pans.
- In a bowl, add the following ingredients: all purpose flour, salt and baking powder. Mix and leave to one side.
- In a stand mixer, beat your eggs for around a minute and then gradually pour in the white sugar. Beat for around 6-8 minutes, or until your eggs are aerated and light.
- Add your cubed butter and milk to a microwave safe bowl and melt your butter, and heat the milk.
- Gradually add the bowl of dry ingredients to your bowl of egg whites; mixing as you go, until smooth.
- Add the milk/butter to a bowl, along with the oil and vanilla extract. Now add all of the ingredients to one bowl and mix until you have a smooth batter.
- Pour batter into your prepared pans and bake in the center of your preheated oven and bake for around 30 minutes. Remove from oven and leave to cool completely.
- To make your frosting, add the butter to your stand mixer and mix for a few minutes, or until pale in color.
- Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat for around 5 minutes until light and fluffy. Then add both the milk and vanilla extract. Mix until you're happy with the consistency. Add more milk if too thick and more confectioners' sugar if too thin.
- Frost and fill your cake as desired. Slice, serve and enjoy!
Ever since she was a young girl, Anna has been a lover of desserts. As an adult, she enjoys
baking a variety of desserts from cakes, cookies, brownies, bread, and more from scratch. She
enjoys sharing her passion for baking with others who also have a sweet tooth. From properly
measuring ingredients to making sure they are the correct temperature, Anna knows the
importance small details can make in baking. She wants to share her experience with others in
hopes they can make the most delicious baked goods. When she’s not busy blogging, Anna
enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen.
