Preserving Your Wedding Cake: A Step-By-Step Guide For Newlyweds

Preserving the top tier of your wedding cake to eat on your first anniversary is a tradition that dates back to Victorian England. Couples served alcohol-soaked fruitcake, which kept well for a year, even without electricity or freezers. While it's not recommended to eat year-old cake, there are several ways to ensure your wedding cake is preserved as best as possible. Firstly, it's important to know your cake and set your expectations. Some cakes will fare worse than others, with delicate cakes and certain fillings more likely to become stale during freezing. Heartier cakes, such as chocolate, carrot, hazelnut, and almond, will withstand freezing for a year. To prepare your cake for freezing, you should remove all decorations and flowers, then chill the cake in the refrigerator to harden the icing. After this, wrap the cake in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container, then store it in the freezer. When your first anniversary arrives, remove the cake from the freezer and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours before serving.

Remove decorations and cardboard

The first step to wrapping a wedding cake for the first year is to remove all the decorations from the cake. This includes sugar or fondant flowers, cake toppers, and other adornments. It is important to remove these items because they can spoil quickly and get in the way of the freezing process. Even if you plan to keep some of the smaller decorations on the cake, it is a good idea to remove them temporarily while you prepare the cake for freezing.

Once all the decorations have been removed, you should also take the cake off of any cardboard it may be on. Cardboard can affect the taste of the cake over time, giving it an unpleasant flavour. Instead, transfer the cake to a plastic or foil-covered board. This will help ensure that your cake tastes fresh and delicious when you eventually eat it on your first anniversary.

If your cake has large sugar flowers or other decorations that are difficult to remove, you can try placing the cake in the freezer for a short time to harden the icing. This will make it easier to remove the decorations without damaging the cake. Alternatively, you can cover the decorations with plastic wrap before placing the cake in the freezer, but this may not be as effective in preventing sticking.

After removing the cardboard, you may want to consider pre-freezing the cake. This involves placing the uncovered cake in the freezer for about an hour to harden the frosting. By doing this, you will prevent the soft, sticky frosting from becoming a gooey mess when you wrap the cake. Pre-freezing will also make it easier to wrap the cake tightly without smearing the icing.

Pre-freeze the cake

Preserving the top tier of your wedding cake to enjoy on your first anniversary is a long-standing tradition. It dates back to Victorian England, when couples served alcohol-soaked fruitcakes that could withstand the test of time without refrigeration. While modern cakes may not fare as well, there are steps you can take to give your cake the best chance of survival. The first of these is pre-freezing.

Pre-freezing your wedding cake is a crucial step in the preservation process. Before you wrap your cake, you should place it in the freezer, ideally as soon as you get home from your wedding. This will allow the icing to harden, making it easier to wrap without creating a sticky mess. Place the cake uncovered in the freezer for at least an hour, or up to 12 hours, until the frosting is firm to the touch. If you have sugar flowers or other adornments on your cake, it is best to remove them before pre-freezing to prevent them from getting in the way.

During the pre-freezing process, it is important to ensure your cake is not placed near any strongly-scented items in your freezer, as these odours can be absorbed. You should also cover the cake with a single layer of plastic wrap to prevent the cake from drying out. This initial layer of plastic wrap will also make it easier to handle the cake without leaving fingerprints on the frosting.

Once the icing has set, you can proceed to the next steps of wrapping your cake in multiple layers of plastic wrap and placing it in an airtight container. This will ensure your cake is well-protected from freezer burn and odours during its year-long hibernation.

Wrap in plastic wrap

Wrapping your wedding cake in plastic wrap is an essential step in preserving your top tier for your first anniversary. Here is a detailed guide to doing this:

Firstly, it is important to "pre-freeze" your cake. Place the cake in your freezer, unwrapped, for an hour or so. This will allow the frosting to firm up, preventing a gooey mess when you start to wrap the cake. If your cake is decorated with sugar flowers or other adornments, it is best to remove them at this stage.

Once the icing is frozen, it's time to remove the cake from the freezer and begin wrapping. It is recommended to use at least three to five layers of plastic wrap. The plastic should be wrapped tightly around the cake, hugging its contours to prevent air and moisture from getting in. This step is crucial to avoid freezer burn and unwanted odours. Make sure there are no air bubbles trapped between the layers of plastic wrap.

After the cake is securely wrapped in plastic, it is time to add another layer of protection. Some sources suggest placing the wrapped cake in a large plastic container or an airtight container or freezer bag. Others recommend wrapping the cake box or container in several layers of plastic wrap and then placing the wrapped cake inside. This extra layer of protection will ensure the cake's taste and texture are preserved.

Finally, don't forget to label your cake with a permanent marker or sticker. This way, you'll avoid accidentally throwing it out when cleaning out your freezer.

Now, your wedding cake is ready to be stored in the freezer until your first anniversary!

Place in an airtight container

To ensure your wedding cake stays fresh for your first anniversary, it is important to place it in an airtight container. This is a crucial step in the preservation process, as it helps to reduce air exposure and prevent freezer burn.

Firstly, wrap your cake in plastic wrap. It is recommended to use at least three to five layers of plastic wrap to ensure the cake is fully protected. Make sure the plastic wrap hugs the cake to prevent air and moisture from seeping in, but be careful not to wrap it too tightly.

Then, place the wrapped cake inside an airtight container or freezer bag. If using a freezer bag, gently press it closed while squeezing out as much air as possible. This creates an additional layer of defence against freezer burn.

Finally, place the airtight container inside a cardboard box, preferably one that is just slightly larger than the container to minimise movement. Seal the box with packaging tape and label it clearly as "Wedding Cake" and "Do Not Discard" to ensure it isn't accidentally thrown away.

Now your wedding cake is safely stored and ready to be placed in the freezer until your first anniversary!

Defrosting and eating

When your first anniversary draws near, it's time to take your wedding cake out of the freezer. The best way to defrost your cake is to move it from the freezer to the refrigerator, ideally 24 to 48 hours before you plan to eat it. This slow thawing process will help prevent your cake from drying out or becoming soggy.

Once the cake has thawed, remove it from the refrigerator and unwrap it. If you have used multiple layers of wrapping, be careful not to pull or tear the icing or decorations as you remove the wrappings. Place the cake on a plate or cake stand and let it sit at room temperature for a couple of hours before serving. This will ensure that your cake is soft and moist, and not too cold when you eat it.

Keep in mind that even with the best preservation methods, your cake will not taste exactly as it did on your wedding day. It might be a bit stale or dry, and the flavours may have faded slightly. However, it can still be a delicious and meaningful way to celebrate your first anniversary and reminisce about your wedding day.

If you are concerned about the taste or texture of your frozen cake, you could consider ordering a fresh replica of your wedding cake from your bakery. This way, you can still enjoy the tradition of eating cake on your anniversary, but with a cake that tastes just as good as you remember.

Frequently asked questions