My sister-in-law and I are the dessert makers in my husband’s family. We’re the ones that get our hands filthy with the wonderful sweet goodies, whether it’s pies, cheesecakes, or cakes.
On Saturdays at lunchtime, we usually get together for a birthday or a getaway. It’s usually a good time, but the fact that we get together so early in the day occasionally causes me problems if I’m preparing a cake.
When it comes to baking and icing cakes, they may be a bit challenging. You don’t want to do those two things too close together or you’ll have issues with the frosting.
Melted frosting is never pleasant to work with. It may slide all over the cake and even leave some areas naked from sliding off!
So I’m left with one of a few possibilities. I can prepare the cake before we leave and risk the icing falling off, I can bake the cake before the kids wake up (tough with small hands!) and allow it time to cool, or I can bake the cake the night before and ensure it will be cold before I need to frost it.
I’ll tell you which one is the most enticing right now. If I can obtain decent results AND avoid getting up early? Win-win situation.
Contents
- How Should I Cool a Cake Overnight?
- What if I Need to Store It Longer Than Overnight?
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
- Do I cover cake to cool overnight?
- Can I put a cake in the fridge to cool overnight?
- Is it OK to let cake sit overnight?
- What is the best way to cover a cake overnight?
- How do you store a cake overnight and keep it moist?
- How do you cover a hot cake overnight?
- What happens if I put a warm cake in the fridge?
- What is the best way to cool cake?
- Can you put a hot cake straight into the fridge?
- Should I leave cake out overnight or in fridge?
How Should I Cool a Cake Overnight?
There are several perspectives on the best technique to chill your cake overnight. That was quite perplexing to me when investigating it.
I was able to narrow down what I believed was the greatest choice for me after doing some experimentation on my own. These are a few procedures I try to stick to whenever I prepare a cake the night before.
1 – Bake Cake
This one is straightforward. Bake the cake according to the package directions.
2 – Allow Cake to Cool for 15 Minutes in Pan
When you initially remove the cake from the oven, leave it in the pan. Let it to cool for around 10-15 minutes.
3 – Remove Cake From Pan
After 10-15 minutes, loosen the edges of the cake from the pan using a knife. Flip the pan over, either on your hand or on a baking rack, and the cake should come free.
4 – Wrap Tightly with Plastic Wrap
Cover the cake securely in at least one layer of plastic wrap. You want to prevent any remaining moisture in the cake from escaping and leaving you with a stale, dry cake.
You may also wish to place the cake in a zip-top bag or cover it with aluminum foil to help retain the moisture in and preserve the cake.
5 – Leave on Counter or in Refrigerator Overnight
If the cake does not contain perishable fillings like dairy, eggs, or fruit, you can leave it out on the counter overnight. If it does, you should keep it in the refrigerator.
In the Morning –
After keeping the cake overnight, just take it from the plastic wrap and frost it as usual. If you kept it in the refrigerated, bring it to room temperature for around 30-60 minutes to allow condensation to form on the top of the cake and produce a slippery layer beneath the frosting.
If, after removing the plastic wrap, the top of the cake seems overly wet or sticky, sprinkle it lightly with powdered sugar. You may also use a powdered sugar and water combo. This should absorb any surplus moisture.
If you remove the plastic wrap and discover that the cake has dried out, brush it with flavored sugar syrup or top it with a layer of jam or frosting. The moisture from these should sink into the texture and repair it. It will also enhance your taste!
Letting the cake to rest overnight also aids in its settlement. You may also want to tort or level it beforehand.
What if I Need to Store It Longer Than Overnight?
If you have cooked the cake several days ahead of time, you should reconsider your storage plan. You may still chill it overnight in the manner described above, but you may prefer to skip that step and place it in the freezer sooner rather than later.
If you haven’t already, place a layer of aluminum foil over the cake before freezing. The cake should also be kept in a zip-top bag or an airtight plastic container to avoid freezer burn and absorbing freezer and food odors.
If you wrap the cake carefully, it will keep in the freezer for months. When you decide to utilize the cake and take it out of the freezer, make sure it is thoroughly thawed before you ice it.
If you frost a cake while it is still frozen, the icing will thicken and become difficult to spread.
Final Thoughts
The ability to chill a cake overnight is a useful skill. Freeing up my morning time benefits everyone involved, even the individual who receives the cake!
Wrapping the warm cake securely is essential because it may retain a lot of the moisture in without allowing it to condense on the cloth.
As I previously said, if you do wind up with extra moisture on the top of the cake, use some powdered sugar to soak up part of the condensation, whether you add water or not.
Good luck with your baking!
FAQs
Do I cover cake to cool overnight?
If you decide to leave your cake out overnight, place it on a clean surface. Covering the cake is another approach to decrease the possibility of contamination. To protect the cake from the weather, cover it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Covering it will also help the cake keep moisture.
Can I put a cake in the fridge to cool overnight?
The refrigerator and freezer are the quickest ways to chill a cake. Use the refrigerator only for brief periods of time, since too much time inside might dehydrate your dessert in only a few days. Freezers do not have the same issue. Before keeping your cakes in any location, cover them with plastic wrap.
Is it OK to let cake sit overnight?
Most cakes, frosted or unfrosted, sliced or uncut, will keep at room temperature for many days.
What is the best way to cover a cake overnight?
Unfrosted: Wrap the cake or cake layers in plastic wrap before refrigerating to prevent them from drying out or absorbing refrigerator odors. Frosted cake: Refrigerate it uncovered for 15 minutes to solidify the frosting, then wrap it loosely in plastic wrap.
How do you store a cake overnight and keep it moist?
How can you keep a cake moist for many days? If the cake is unfrosted, cover it in plastic wrap and keep it on the counter for 5 days or in the freezer for weeks. Frosting reduces the shelf life somewhat, but it also keeps the cake moist since icing closes the cake and retains the moisture within.
How do you cover a hot cake overnight?
pie. A sad expression. What you CAN do is put a clean dish towel over your pan or sheet. Your baked items will remain fresh overnight, and no steam will develop. brownies Even if there is just a little warmth emerging, condensation will accumulate, resulting in soggy cake. The use of steam and
What happens if I put a warm cake in the fridge?
Chilling a cake in the fridge or freezer immediately after it comes out of the oven may also modify the crumb texture. Yes, the fridge and freezer can help, but don’t leave your cake in there for too long or you’ll end up with a cake that’s “frozen on the outside, hot in the middle”!
What is the best way to cool cake?
Take the cake from the oven and cool for 15 minutes in the pan on a cooling rack. Using a butter knife or tiny flat spatula, loosen the edges of the cake from the pan. Remove the cake from the oven and lay it straight on a cooling rack to cool entirely.
Can you put a hot cake straight into the fridge?
Yes, you may place the cake in the refrigerator to chill after temporarily cooling it on the counter (approximately 5 to 10 minutes). If you don’t allow the cake to cool somewhat outside of the fridge first, it may sink in the centre or adhere firmly to the edges of its pan.
Should I leave cake out overnight or in fridge?
Should Cake Be Refrigerated? In most circumstances, refrigeration should be avoided. Unless your cake contains perishable ingredients that might spoil, such as cream icing, fresh fruit, ice cream, mascarpone, or whipped cream, it’s best served at room temperature.