Franklin Dean
Wedding cakes can be a source of stress for couples, especially when it comes to timing. How early you make your wedding cake depends on the type of cake you're planning to bake. Fruit cakes, for example, can be made months in advance and frozen for up to a year. Sponge cakes, on the other hand, are best baked within three days of serving, or frozen for up to three months. If you're making a cake with multiple tiers and intricate decorations, you'll need to plan accordingly, allowing enough time for baking, cooling, filling, crumb coating, icing, and decorating. It's also important to consider the freshness of the cake, especially if it has perishable ingredients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of cake | Fruit cake, sponge cake |
| Preparation time | 8-12 hours |
| Number of tiers | 3-4 |
| Decoration time | 1-3 hours |
| Assembly time | 1-3 days |
| Storage | Room temperature, refrigerator, freezer |
| Fruit cake maturation time | 3-12 months |
| Fruit cake icing time | 2 weeks |
| Sponge cake baking time | Up to 3 days before serving |
| Sponge cake freezing time | Up to 3 months |
| Sponge cake defrosting time | Up to 24 hours |
What You'll Learn
Sponge cakes can be frozen for up to three months
To freeze a sponge cake correctly, first make sure that it is completely cool. Then, wrap each layer of cake in multiple layers of cling film to create a protective barrier. Once securely wrapped, transfer the layers into a durable plastic container, ensuring it is airtight.
It is best to freeze your cake before you fill and decorate it. When you are ready to serve the cake, simply transfer it from the freezer to the fridge up to 24 hours before. This will give the cake enough time to thaw while still leaving time for icing and decoration. Make sure not to start decorating until your cake is completely thawed!
If you are planning on a more intricate design, you may need to defrost the cake with more than 24 hours to spare. However, do not surpass the three-day mark, as this will affect the flavour and texture of the cake.
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Fruit cakes are best left to mature for three months
Fruit cakes are the traditional choice for wedding cakes, and they have the added benefit of being able to be made months in advance. The earlier, the better, in fact! The most common length of time to mature a fruit cake is three months, and it can be stored for up to a year in the freezer if it has enough alcohol in it.
Fruit cakes are ideal for weddings as they can be made well ahead of time, reducing stress for the baker. The cake can be iced two weeks before the wedding, leaving plenty of time for intricate decorations without adding to the pressure of last-minute preparations.
Fruit cakes are a good option if you want to add a boozy kick to your wedding cake. Soaking the fruit in alcohol preserves the cake, allowing it to be made months in advance and ensuring it stays moist and flavourful. This is a significant advantage over sponge cakes, which usually cannot be made more than three days in advance.
If you are making a fruit wedding cake, plan to bake it at least three months before the wedding. This extended maturation period will ensure your cake is delicious and give you ample time for decoration without the rush.
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Wedding cakes can be assembled 1-3 days before the event
However, it is important to note that a cake generally needs to be served within 3-4 days of being baked or else it is not fresh anymore. Therefore, if you are baking the cake layers ahead of time, it is best to freeze them and then defrost them a couple of days before the event so that you have enough time to decorate them.
If you are planning on freezing your cake layers, it is crucial to wrap each layer securely in multiple layers of cling film to create a protective barrier. Once wrapped, transfer the layers into a durable plastic container, ensuring it is airtight. This will prevent any potential moisture or bacteria from getting in.
Additionally, if you are short on time, you can also assemble and store your frosted tiered cake in the fridge for a couple of days before the wedding. Just make sure that you do not have anything with a strong odour in the fridge, as the cake should be stored uncovered.
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Wedding cakes can be served up to three days after baking
If you are decorating your cake with intricate details, you may need to bake it further in advance to give yourself enough time. In this case, you can freeze the cake and then defrost it a day or two before serving. It is important to properly wrap and store the cake in an airtight container to prevent bacteria and moisture from getting in.
If you are short on time, it is possible to bake a cake the day before serving. However, you will need to cover it well to prevent it from drying out. If the cake has perishable frosting or filling, it should be stored in the fridge.
Baking a wedding cake can be a time-consuming process, so it is important to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to bake, decorate, and deliver the cake.
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Wedding cakes can take 5 days to create from start to finish
The first step is a tasting and design consultation, where Katie meets her clients, discusses their ideas, and creates a rough sketch of the cake. This is followed by the designing of the cake and costing, where Katie creates mood boards and initial cake ideas with costing options. After the couple chooses their favourite design, Katie tweaks it to their specifications and creates a final costing. This part of the process can take 1-2 days.
The next step is prepping and sourcing ingredients and equipment. Katie makes sure to order any new equipment she might need for a specific cake design, as well as cake boards, boxes, and other essentials. She also shops around for the best ingredients for her cakes. This can take a few hours to half a day.
The baking and cake decorating process can take between 8-12 hours, depending on the number of flavours, ingredients used, and extra prep involved. Katie leaves the cakes to rest overnight before cutting, levelling, filling, and covering them the following morning. The second day is spent covering the cakes in ganache and fondant, and the third day is for adding extra decorations and dowelling the cakes in preparation for stacking.
Finally, Katie liaises with suppliers to arrange delivery and set-up, which can take 1-3 hours, depending on the decoration that needs to be added at the venue. This includes confirming timings with the florist, planner, and venue, and ensuring that a table is available for the cake to be displayed.
By offering this comprehensive service, Katie ensures that her clients have a stress-free experience and a beautiful, bespoke wedding cake that meets their specifications.
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Frequently asked questions
You should start preparing at least a couple of weeks in advance. This gives you enough time to source the right ingredients and equipment, and finalise the design.
Fruit cakes can be baked months in advance. They are usually left to mature for around three months, and can be stored for up to a year if they contain enough alcohol.
Sponge cakes can be baked up to three days in advance. They can also be frozen for up to three months.
Decorating a wedding cake can take several hours to several days, depending on the complexity of the design.
It's best to assemble a wedding cake one to three days in advance. This gives you enough time to fix any issues, and means you can spend more time with friends and family in the days leading up to the wedding.
