Ah, the wedding cake: it’s stunning to look at, and so delicious to eat. What more could you ask for?
I suppose the only downfall is that, like all cakes, unfortunately, it will become dry and solid overtime, before finally passing its expiry date. At that point, a cake is no good for anyone, no matter how good it looks.
Nothing lasts forever… unless, of course, you carefully preserve it.
Many people choose to freeze part of their wedding cake to enjoy at a later date, usually on the happy couple’s first wedding anniversary. It is a lovely way to look back and remember the special day, all the while savoring a mouthwatering treat.
However, how you choose to preserve the cake makes all the difference when it comes to maintaining the texture, flavor and overall appearance. If instructions are not strictly followed, you may as well just throw the whole cake away… and no one wants to do that.
So, what are you waiting for? Keep reading to discover how you, too, can safely and carefully freeze your own wedding cake for later consumption.
Immediately Place Cake In Fridge/Freezer After Ceremony
While this may be one of the last things on your mind during your special day, you will thank yourself later for taking the time out to complete this task.
Firstly, you will want to remove the tier that you wish to keep – usually the top tier – and refrigerate or freeze it within an hour or two after the ceremony. The sooner the cake is kept at a cooler temperature, the better!
If you’re at a venue, ask if there is any way they could keep it cool for you in the kitchen. By immediately placing the cake in the fridge or freezer, you are ensuring it will keep its freshness for even longer. The longer it is left in the open, the more damage will be done.
It is also very important to make sure the cake isn’t left in direct sunlight! Through direct contact with heat, the cake will spoil and it won’t be worth eating even before you have had a chance to freeze it.
If your wedding has taken place outside, try and find the shadiest area possible to keep it out of the heat. If possible, your best bet is to take the cake indoors and store it in a cool room (or, better yet, a refrigerator) until you are ready to collect it. You don’t want the icing to melt before you’ve even had a chance to have a taste!
Choose Suitable Ingredients
While the most important feature of a wedding cake is, arguably, it’s outward appearance, we all know the part we most look forward to is eating it. With baked goods, taste is everything.
When picking out which cake you would like for your wedding, your best bet is going for a fruit cake: without icing, a fruit cake will last without refrigeration for a long time, and it is definitely the best type of cake for preserving. Failing that, chocolate flavouring lasts longer than your average vanilla sponge.
When it comes to choosing the icing, you’ll be more successful with a fondant or custard topping rather than anything creamy, e.g. butter icing.
If you’re at the start of your wedding plans and you have not yet decided on which cake you want, you should definitely have a conversation with your chosen baker about your options. If you plan ahead, you will certainly thank yourself later.
Remove All Decorations
The cake will undoubtedly be covered with beautiful ornaments, both edible and non-edible. Before preserving the cake, you will need to remove all non-edible decorations. This will save you space in the freezer, and you get to keep them as little keepsakes to remind you of the day!
If frozen, the ornaments will become damaged from the cold over time, and may also cause damage to the cake.
Wrap It Airtight!
When preparing to place the cake in the freezer, it is so, so important to thoroughly wrap it up so that it is completely protected.
The obvious options are to wrap it in cling film or tin foil, or, for best results, use both: first wrap with a thick layer of cling film to hold the cake together, containing all crumbs and crumbly bits of icing, and then cover with a generous amount of tin foil.
The foil will protect the cake from the cold temperature, which will prevent freezer burn over long periods of time.
You should then place the cake in an airtight container or a zip lock bag, completely sealing it from any moisture that could tamper with the preservation. As long as the cake is completely covered, it should be safe to store away.
One Year Later…
So, the time has come: the first wedding anniversary. A whole year has passed! While it may feel like no time at all has passed within the marriage, you can only hope the same can be said for your frozen cake.
Firstly, you will need to move the cake from the freezer to the refrigerator for 24-48 hours before you completely defrost it. The thawing process needs to take place slowly, and it may ruin the texture of the cake if you just transfer it to room temperature right away.
After 24-48 hours, remove the cake from the fridge and place it on a countertop, remove the container/bag/tin foil – leaving the cling film on – and allow it to settle at room temperature. Once the cake has completely thawed, you can unwrap the remaining coverings and prepare to enjoy your dessert.
If there is any cake remaining afterwards, it is not recommended that you refreeze it for any length of time. Either throw it into the compost, or give it away to friends and family! I’m sure anyone would be grateful for free cake, especially when it tastes as good as this one.
