Every celebration is better with cake, but making something special can take time to prepare, and buying a cake from a bakery can cost a pretty penny. Luckily, most cakes freeze beautifully, especially when they're unfrosted. When you find yourself with a bit of extra time, choose one of these delicious cakes to bake and then place it in the freezer until you're ready to serve. When that festive occasion arises, simply let the cake thaw and frost and decorate as normal. You can freeze most cakes up to 3 months before enjoying.
Chocolate Layer Cake
Even if it's not a birthday, holiday, or another festive gathering, a classic chocolate cake is a welcome dessert that's sure to be devoured in no time. This recipe is somewhat simple but produces a rich tasting cake with a moist crumb. Once the cake layers have cooled, wrap them well in plastic wrap or waxed paper and foil, and then label and freeze. Remove from the freezer and let thaw on the counter for 2 to 3 hours, then fill and frost with chocolate frosting or sweetened whipped cream.
White Layer Cake
A white layer cake opens the door to a whole lot of filling and frosting flavor options, so it's perfect to have at the ready for almost any special occasion. This recipe makes a light and fluffy cake with a satisfying smooth texture. It calls for just eight ingredients, but you need to measure each very carefully to achieve the ideal results.
Let the cake layers cool completely on a wire rack, then wrap well, label, and freeze. Remove from the freezer and let thaw on the counter for a few hours before filling and frosting with whatever toppings you prefer—raspberry jam and some buttercream frosting are good choices.
White Chocolate Maple Mousse Cake
The secret to this gorgeous and impressive all-white cake is that it's made with a cake mix, simplifying the process. You can make this cake in stages, baking and freezing the layers up to 3 months ahead, and then preparing the mousse and frosting the day before your celebration. The finely ground white chocolate gives this cake a very tender, velvety texture.
To assemble, thaw the layers on the counter for 1 to 2 hours. Make the filling, white chocolate topping, and frosting and fill and frost the cake as directed in the recipe. Store this cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Simple Chocolate Cake
The chocolatey richness in this cake comes from the use of both cocoa powder and unsweetened chocolate, and the tenderness is due to the addition of buttermilk. Bake this cake ahead of time and let it cool completely; do not frost it before freezing. Wrap, label, and freeze up to 3 months. To thaw and frost, let the cake stand on the counter for 2 to 3 hours; then prepare the frosting as directed in the recipe and pour it over the cake. Let the cake stand for about 1 hour to cool, then slice and serve.
Chocolate Cherry Cake
This super simple cake is made from a cake mix and canned cherry pie filling. The fruit makes the cake nice and moist and adds a rich and sweet flavor. This is one cake you want to frost before you freeze as the frosting is poured over the top while the cake is still warm. Once the cake has cooled completely, wrap, and then place in the freezer. Let stand at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours to thaw before serving.
FAQs
Cakes that are packed with flavour including lemon drizzle cake, carrot cake, chocolate cake andfruit cake freeze very well and will retain their flavour for up to three months. If you want to freeze a cheesecake for example, the good news is that it is possible.
Can you make and freeze cake ahead of time? ›
If you're making a layer cake, you can bake the layers ahead of time, wrap them and freeze for up to 2 months. Or, you can make an entire cake, frosting and all, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Read on for more tips and tricks.
What is the best baking to freeze? ›
10 Baked Goods I Love to Freeze
- Cinnamon Rolls. I know that it seems hard to believe that a full sheet pan of cinnamon rolls could ever be too many, but sometimes, you just need a few. ...
- Quick Breads. ...
- Hamburger Buns. ...
- Muffins (and Muffin Mix) ...
- Waffles. ...
- Scones. ...
- Pancakes. ...
- Focaccia.
How to Freeze Cakes
- Let's learn how to freeze cakes so that they taste the freshest.
- Step 1: Bake and completely cool a cake/cake layers. ...
- Step 2: Once the cake(s) cools completely, wrap it in Press & Seal. ...
- Step 3: Write the type of cake and use-by date on a large piece of aluminum foil.
Once solid, “you want to wrap the cake as tightly as possible in plastic wrap,” Stankiewicz says. “Maybe even take a piece of parchment paper and put it up against the surface of the cake, because that's where most of the moisture is going to evaporate. And that's where things are going to get stale and dry.”
Is it better to freeze cake in foil or plastic wrap? ›
FREEZING & THAWING
Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or a waxed cloth. The key is keeping as much air away from the cake as possible, but do not push on the decorations or they can break. Wrap again in aluminum foil. Label the cake with freezing date.
Do frozen cakes taste the same? ›
Good news – most homemade cakes and bakes freeze well, and by following a few key guidelines, most sweet treats will taste just as good after freezing as the day you baked them.
Can you freeze a buttercream cake? ›
Buttercream also freezes well. The best way to freeze a cake is to bake the layers as usual, let them cool completely, and then ice them. Then clear out your freezer and put the iced cake on a tray in the freezer — completely unwrapped.
What desserts should you not freeze? ›
Custard or meringue-based desserts
According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, pies or baked goods with cream or custard fillings (such as coconut or chocolate cream pies) are prone to separating and turning watery or lumpy.
What do chefs freeze? ›
Things like bread, sauces, cakes, and meatballs tend to freeze well and keep their flavor. You can make things like chicken pot pie and curry ahead of time, freeze them, and only defrost what you need for dinner. Visit Insider's homepage for more.
As a general rule of thumb, 'drop cookies,' which include oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, and 'cut-out cookies,' such as gingerbread and sugar cookies, are freezer-friendly.
Do professional bakers freeze cake? ›
As a pastry chef, I know the challenge of preparing a plethora of cakes, cookies, and slices on a day-to-day basis. The task can be quite daunting if you don't plan. But fear not, freezing cakes is not only possible, but it's also a common practice in professional kitchens!
What cakes are good for freezing? ›
- 1French apple cake. ...
- 2Chocolate pound cake. ...
- 3Simple golden syrup cake. ...
- 4Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. ...
- 5Butter cake. ...
- 6Quick-mix Caramilk cake. ...
- 7Gooey blueberry and white chocolate cake. ...
- 8Fluffy passionfruit impossible cheesecake.
And indeed, the best way to wrap a cake for freezing is to wrap it in plastic wrap. Plastic wrap produces a nice, tight seal that holds in moisture and protects the cake from freezer burn. If you're freezing your cake for three days or less, a single layer of plastic wrap is plenty.
Are cakes better after freezing? ›
It can save you hours in the kitchen, and keeping your cakes cold won't harm the taste if done right. In my years as a cake artist, I have found that when you use the freezer properly, it can even add to the cake's flavor and stability.
Can you freeze shop bought cake? ›
Most cakes can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you've ever wondered how to thaw cake, it is an easy process. Simply transfer your wrapped slices or layers from the freezer to the refrigerator a day ahead of serving (although cake generally thaws within 8 hours if you are pressed for time).
What are the best cookies to freeze? ›
As a general rule of thumb, 'drop cookies,' which include oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, and 'cut-out cookies,' such as gingerbread and sugar cookies, are freezer-friendly.
