The fun of enjoying a custom wedding cake doesn’t doesn’t stop at the first cut. Many newlyweds opt to follow the tradition of saving, freezing, and storing their cake’s top tier, to be shared on their first anniversary the following year.
While some couples rely on their wedding cake bakery to do the post-wedding preservation (some bakeries even offer a smaller, duplicate cake that can be picked up in a year’s time), we understand that some clients may prefer the DIY method. Fear not; here are some ways to make your wedding cake taste brand new after a year in the freezer.
To preserve your icing’s structure, allow it to harden before prepping the cake for storage. Buttercream icing is very soft, and you don’t want to have a mess on your hands! Stick your leftovers in the fridge until everything feels sturdy, which will allow you to wrap the cake more easily and tightly.
Next, remove any decorative additions to your cake, so that you can give it an airtight wrap before putting in the freezer. You don’t want any room for airflow under the plastic wrap. A smoother cake allows for better coverage—i.e., less chance of spoiling. And while sugar flowers and so on may look pretty when left on, they will only get soggy once they’re put into the freezer.
Now, it’s time to get wrapping. Press the plastic directly onto the surface of the buttercream or fondant, and wrap it two or three times. Then, follow up with at least two layers of tinfoil, which should shield it from anything else entering the freezer. If anything aromatic is going into the freezer, like fish or frozen onions, make sure it is well-wrapped and sealed properly. It would be unfortunate if, a year from now, your wedding cake tasted like frozen shrimp.
If you know in advance that you will want to save the top of your wedding cake, ask your baker for ideas. Every recipe is different, and an experienced baker will know which cakes have the longest shelf life. One good rule of thumb that fluffy, airy cake will dry out faster than a cake with a lot of density and moisture.
When you’re ready to defrost your cake, take it out of the freezer and keep it in the fridge overnight. Leave it at room temperature on the counter for five or six hours unwrapped—then dig in! For more wedding cake tips, or if you’d like to order a custom wedding cake in Raleigh NC, contact our Raleigh bakery today!
