Baking cake in advance and freezing it?

[Laranna]

I'm planning on making DS a Lightening McQueen cake for his birthday party on Saturday and was wondering if it is possible to bake the cake in advance and freeze it? I'm planning on carving the shape and decorating on Friday.

How long would it take to defrost? What would be the best cake recipe to use?

[amberj]

In my experience cakes freeze and defrost really quite well. They only take a few hours to defrost. I think I will be using this idea for DS's upcoming party too!!

[clare076]

Freezing the cake is fine, and actually carves better frozen so I wouldn't worry about defrosting time.
I use either a white choc mud cake or a mississippi mud cake for all my cakes, but I buy wholesale. I would prob suggest any of the Betty Crocker packet cakes

[luna moth]

If you can get your hands on the Black & Gold packet mix, it freezes really well. Most recipes do, although I think things with lots of eggs don't do so well.
When you freeze, think abotu wrapping it in paper towel or muslin, and then cling wrap or airtight container. Stops it from going soggy when you defrost.

Sounds like an epic cake! Good luck!

[Pandora]

It will carve and ice better if its partially frozen too.

[ShootingStar]

Yep should be fine. Just a warning though about carving frozen. Its fine to do as long as you are only using butter icing on the outside. If you are using fondant or RTR icing, it has to be room temperature before you put the fondant on otherwise it may sweat.

[Laranna]

Thanks ladies SS, I'm planning on using a buttercream icing under the fondant so I'll see how I go with that.

[ShootingStar]

Thats what we do (i have a cake deco business).. tastes nicer but if you are using fondant youll have to make sure the cake is room temperature before you put it on otherwise the fondant will sweat as the cake defrosts.

[Sequoia]

Eluned, I made DS an Elmo cake last month and made a basic butter cake and froze it the weekend before his party. Put it in the fridge from the freezer the night before the party and iced the next day. I also hired the tin from Major Cakes in Vic Park so there was no carving.