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Sugar & Sparrow

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How to Make + Decorate Cakes Ahead of Time

May 28, 2021 · In: Cake Basics, Featured

I’m a big advocate of cake making as a means to reduce stress and have fun. That said, I know how incredibly stressful cake can be when you’re running short on time and/or things just aren’t going the way you wanted – especially if said cake is an order. I can remember many stressful nights (and even a few panic attacks) from my years of running a cake business from home and most of them stemmed from not giving myself enough time to enjoy the process. Can you relate? In hopes of sparing you some of that added stress, I’ve put together my best tips for making a timeline and working ahead. This way, maybe you won’t find yourself up at 2am agonizing over an unfinished cake! 

First, let’s talk about some make ahead tips for baking cake layers, making frosting, and storing it all so it’s ready to go when you’re ready to decorate. There are a few different methods and preferences on the subject that vary from baker to baker, and the purpose of this post is to talk about my own preferred methods. I’ve gathered them all in the video below, so give it a watch before reading on to commit these make ahead tips to memory.

And side note: if you’re wanting to learn more Cake Basics, be sure to check out my YouTube channel and hit the Subscribe button so you never miss a new one. In addition to the basics, you’ll also find my favorite recipes and cake decorating tutorials to broaden your skill set!

Storing Unfrosted Cake Layers 

When you’re building a cake, it’s ultra important that your cake layers are room temperature and not even a little bit warm (trust me, your frosting will melt). Because of this, you’ve got to give your cakes a few hours to cool after they come out of the oven. This means padding in those extra hours of cooling time into your overall timeline, which can end up taking a lot of your day if you’re doing all of it the day of. Instead, there are a few options for baking your cake layers and storing them properly so they’re ready to go on decorating day:

Storing at Room Temperature

If you’re baking your cakes a day or two ahead of decorating day, you can store them at room temperature as long as they’re wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.

how to store cake layers at room temperature

Just be sure to wait until they’re completely cooled before wrapping them in plastic wrap, as the steam from a hot cake layer can create excess condensation in the storage process. Nobody wants a soggy cake!

Freezing Cake Layers

If you’re baking your cakes more than two days ahead of time, I recommend freezing your cake layers. Again, it’s important that you let the cakes cool completely before wrapping them up. As long as you wrap them properly, they will keep for up to two months in the freezer and once thawed will taste just as fresh as the day you baked them! Talk about a cake hack. 

how to freeze cake layers

To ensure they stay extra fresh, I like to wrap the cake layers in one layer of plastic wrap, then one layer of aluminum foil, then place them into a ziploc bag (or other airtight container that can go in the freezer). When you’re ready to use them, simply take the cake layers out of the freezer the day before decorating to thaw them. 

Remove them from the ziploc bag, but keep them in their aluminum foil/plastic wrap covering. This way, any excess condensation will escape and gather on top of the foil, which acts as a barrier to keep the cake beneath it from getting soggy. Then, on decorating day, remove all the wrapping and you’ll have your cake layers thawed and ready to go! 

Making Buttercream Ahead 

To make your buttercream frosting ahead of time, simply place it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks before decorating day.

how to store buttercream

When you’re ready to use it, bring it back to room temperature by placing it on the counter for an hour or two. Once it reaches room temperature, add it back into your stand mixer and mix it on low speed for about a minute.

how to make buttercream ahead of time

This will bring it back to frosting consistency and you’ll be ready to roll! 

Storing Crumb Coated Cakes 

After you’ve filled and frosted your cake with a crumb coat, it’s safe to store it in the refrigerator overnight without the risk of drying out the cake. The thin layer of buttercream acts as a barrier to preserve the cake underneath and help it maintain its moisture. 

why crumb coat cakes

I always like to add my final layer of frosting to a chilled crumb coated cake anyways, because having a nice firm structure underneath the final layer is one of the secrets to creating a smooth buttercream finish. Even if you don’t plan on storing your crumb coated cake in the fridge overnight, I highly recommend letting it firm up in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before you add your final layer of frosting. Here’s everything you need to know about how and why I crumb coat my cakes.

Storing Decorated Cakes (Uncut) 

Once the final layer of frosting has been added and you’ve decorated your cake, the safest place to preserve it is in the refrigerator, uncovered (in my opinion). This way, the details of your decorating will be preserved while keeping the cake beneath all that frosting nice and moist. I like to decorate my cakes and store them in the refrigerator overnight before serving them.

chocolate ganache drip tutorial

Although I don’t have much experience with fondant covered cakes, I store my buttercream frosted cakes with ganache drips, buttercream piping, sprinkles, and even fondant/gumpaste accents in the refrigerator overnight, until about an hour or two before serving the cake. If I’m driving the cake somewhere, I keep it in the fridge until the minute I walk out the door. This is because cakes that are chilled are much easier to handle and transport while keeping the details intact. 

Cakes With Fresh Flowers

If you’re topping a cake with fresh flowers, I recommend keeping those flowers in a vase of water until the morning of the cake due date. Then, prepare the flowers according to these instructions to ensure they stay fresh once you top the cake with them. 

when to add flowers to cake

Since fresh flowers tend to wilt over time (some quicker than others), adding these final touches the day of is your best bet. 

Cakes With Fresh Berries

Berries (and fruits in general) are full of liquid, so if you are adding these to your cake, it’s best to add them last minute if possible. This will often require that you save some of the final buttercream piping until the due date of the cake as well, since those berries will need something to adhere to (and firm buttercream doesn’t make the best glue). 

when to put berries on cake

To work ahead, you can always frost the final layer of the buttercream, add any ganache drips, and store the cake overnight in the refrigerator. Then finish the rest of the decorating the day the cake is due to keep those berries looking fresh. 

Cakes Topped With Cotton Candy

Cotton candy makes a pretty whimsical cake topper, but it’s a fleeting one. Since cotton candy only lasts about an hour before beginning to disintegrate, I wait until the cake is going on display to add the cotton candy – aka the very last minute. This way you get an hour for people to ooh and ahh before you cut the cake and no one has to know the cotton candy was about to fall apart.

Creating a Cake Timeline 

To best prepare yourself, especially if you’re just getting started on your cake journey, it’s a really good idea to establish a cake timeline for yourself. This just helps you plan ahead so you’re not scrambling to get your materials together last minute. Here’s a sample timeline that I have gone by when making cakes with due dates:

timeline for cake

Notice that frosting and decorating the cake is split between day 3 and 4. This is just to give you extra padding in case you don’t want to do all the final decorating the day before. Your timeline will depend on what your final design will be, so be sure to take some time to think about things and plan out your schedule before you get in over your head.

Once you get the hang of how long things take, you can certainly squeeze this timeline even tighter and do more work closer to the due date. You can also freeze cake layers and store buttercream weeks in advance so you can eliminate more work for yourself the week of. It’s all up to you! But hopefully these make ahead tips and sample timeline give you the tools you need to set yourself up for success. Happy cake making!

By: Whitney · In: Cake Basics, Featured · Tagged: cake basics, cake decorating timeline, cake schedule, cake timeline, freezing cake layers, making cakes ahead, making cakes in advance, planning cakes, scheduling cakes, store buttercream, store cakes, storing buttercream, storing cakes

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Comments

  1. Lauri Rottmayer says

    June 5, 2021 at 3:26 am

    This is awesome and helpful. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      June 7, 2021 at 9:20 am

      Yay, Lauri! So happy to help!

      Reply
  2. Yazmin says

    June 5, 2021 at 3:28 am

    This is awesome !! Pure gold, thanks for taking the time for putting it together

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      June 7, 2021 at 9:20 am

      Yay, Yazmin! So happy you find it helpful!

      Reply
  3. Alexandra says

    June 12, 2021 at 7:48 am

    When you put parchment on the bottom of the cake pan, do you spray the bottom of the pan with Pam or use butter first? Or do you put the parchment on the pan without any cooking spray or butter? Thank you!! I’m a total newby to baking.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      June 12, 2021 at 9:38 am

      Hi Alexandra! I spray the sides with Pam and a little bit of it always gets on the bottom of the pan in the process, so I just stick the parchment paper on top of that.

      Reply
      • Alexandra says

        June 13, 2021 at 9:54 am

        Thank you so much!!! It worked!! I just made the cake this morning. I also made your buttercream frosting. You have the most wonderful website and videos!!! So helpful, especially for nervous newbies such as myself.

        Reply
        • Whitney says

          June 13, 2021 at 8:05 pm

          Yay, Alexandra! I’m so happy to hear that 🙂 thanks for cheering me on!

          Reply
  4. Alexandra White says

    June 13, 2021 at 11:56 am

    Is the crumb coating meant only for cakes that have smooth frosting? Is it meant for regular swirly type frosting as well? Thank you so much!!!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      June 13, 2021 at 8:06 pm

      I’d recommend a crumb coat no matter what style of frosting you’ll be doing on top.

      Reply
  5. Kelly says

    June 13, 2021 at 7:19 pm

    Thank you for these tips! I am having trouble finding balance between my Monday thru Friday regular job and adding 2 to 3 cakes a week since I started my side hustle business test drive 3 months ago. Your plan/schedule is a huge help for my anxiety!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      June 13, 2021 at 8:08 pm

      Yay, Kelly! I’m so happy to help and cheering you on in your side hustle!

      Reply
  6. Julia says

    June 18, 2021 at 11:57 am

    This is so helpful to anyone looking to think about doing this on the side! (Full time veterinarian here but love making cakes!) Curious about whether you can torte your cake layers before freezing or if that’s a step best left until just before you crumb coat?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      June 22, 2021 at 7:12 pm

      Hi Julia! You can totally torte your cakes before freezing. Cheering you on in your cake side hustle!

      Reply
  7. Pauline says

    June 23, 2021 at 2:30 am

    Hi Whitney, I’m planning to bake one of your cakes for a family gathering that’s about 5.5-6h in July by car. While I’ll have a good and sturdy ice bag, do you think the buttercream and flower buttercream will travel well or you’d suggest to prepare the buttercream at the location?

    thanks for your advice!!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      June 23, 2021 at 9:58 am

      Hi Pauline! You should be totally fine to decorate the cake at home as long as you keep the cake in the refrigerator until you have to leave for the gathering, then just keep the AC on in the car. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  8. Amelia says

    July 6, 2021 at 11:42 pm

    Can I do the same process but instead of using buttercream use whipped cream?? Can I frost it the night before and add decorations the day it’s due ?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      July 7, 2021 at 3:07 pm

      Hi Amelia! It should totally work to frost the cake with whipped cream the night before, keep it in the refrigerator, then add decorations the day it’s due.

      Reply
  9. Mary-Anne Barclay says

    July 27, 2021 at 1:46 am

    If you are decorating with buscuits like Oreos and wafer sticks, is it best to add those just a few hours before presenting the cake? I decorated my cake the night before, refrigerated it over night, left it in a cool room the next day but the biscuits and wafers went soft.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      July 27, 2021 at 9:27 am

      Hi Mary-Anne! Yes, the wafers/cookies will go a little soft in the refrigerator but should still be fine and tasty enough to eat. If you want them fresher, I would add them as close to the time you’ll serve the cake as possible.

      Reply
  10. Tinu says

    July 30, 2021 at 3:04 pm

    Hi Whitney,
    Thank you for all the cake basics. They are so helpful.
    When should the cake be taken out before serving? I used whipped cream to frost, hence i left the cake in the refrigerator until it was ready to be served. But the cake wasn’t soft. Can you please advice.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      August 1, 2021 at 9:53 am

      Hi Tinu! I would take the cake out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours prior to serving. This way the cake has a chance to soften back up. It’s much softer at room temperature.

      Reply
  11. Mary says

    August 5, 2021 at 4:04 am

    I usually bake my cake layers the day before stacking and a filling and then I double wrap them in plastic wrap and leave them in the refrigerator overnight. This time I have to make them two days before. I am wondering what your thoughts are on storing them in the fridge vs. the freezer. My house is pretty warm in summer (usually 78 degrees), so I am worried freezer to counter would result in a soggy mess.

    Reply
  12. Beth says

    August 17, 2021 at 12:14 pm

    Good afternoon!
    Gold leaf…have you ever used it?
    I have a wedding cake tomorrow and was planning on icing my cakes today and keeping them in the freezer until tomorrow when I deliver them and assemble the cake.
    Can I put the gold leaf on today after my buttercream is set and chilled and then proceed to freeze the cakes with the gold leaf on them?
    Will this ruin the gold leaf/will it affect the gold leaf in any way?
    Or should I freeze the cakes, stack them at the reception venue and then apply the gold leaf?
    Or would you suggest something else?
    I look forward to hearing back from you, THANKS!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      August 20, 2021 at 2:40 pm

      Hi Beth! I have never covered a cake with gold leaf before but I have used it as an accent. When I did I added it to a chilled buttercream cake and refrigerated it overnight before serving it. I have never frozen a decorated cake before, so I’m not sure how it will preserve the cake. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  13. Vanessa says

    September 15, 2021 at 11:44 am

    Any recipe for the cake? In your videos it looks like you use the same recipe but where can I find it?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      September 15, 2021 at 10:30 pm

      Hi Vanessa! This video shows quite a few different recipes. I have all of my cake recipes here: https://sugarandsparrow.com/category/recipes/cake/ if you’re looking for a specific flavor you can use the search bar at the top of the page or let me know in a reply and I can direct you to the right page.

      Reply
  14. Megan Teahon says

    October 6, 2021 at 11:54 pm

    Hello, could I leave the buttercream decorated cake uncut in the fridge for a couple days? Or is it best just the one night? For example, decorate completely Thursday but if it isn’t being served until Saturday. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      October 7, 2021 at 2:33 pm

      Hi Megan! That shouldn’t be a problem. It’s freshest the closer you make the cake to the deadline, but it should be totally fine to work that far ahead.

      Reply
      • Mitsu says

        March 8, 2023 at 2:43 pm

        So so helpful – I am using your website for all things cake at the moment

        Reply
        • Whitney says

          March 8, 2023 at 9:41 pm

          Yay, Mitsu! I’m so happy to help!

          Reply
  15. Mona Hasan says

    October 16, 2021 at 12:53 am

    Hi,

    Love your website… so helpful!
    Could you plz advise me… I am making a cake and icing it on Saturday, to be eaten on Monday. I wanted to add toasted almonds on top of my icing. Will they go soft?

    Love,
    Mona

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      October 19, 2021 at 10:44 am

      Hi Mona! I think you should be totally fine with the toasted almonds and that timeline. Toasting them should keep them firm. Enjoy!

      Reply
    • Pat says

      December 1, 2022 at 3:36 am

      Hi
      Thanks for your ever so helpful video! Makes perfect sense.
      I will soon make a trial cake for my daughter’s birthday. My question is whether it’s ok to fill my cake layers and crumb coat the cake with American buttercream and then decorate with Italian meringue buttercream and leave it in the fridge uncovered overnight?
      Or should the cake be decorated with the Italian meringue buttercream on the day of serving it? I’ve never used Italian meringue buttercream before.

      Reply
      • Whitney says

        December 1, 2022 at 9:28 pm

        Hi Pat! I’ve never used italian meringue buttercream before either, but after googling it seems like you can frost the cake with italian meringue buttercream ahead of time and refrigerate the cake until 1-2 hours before serving it. Hope that helps!

        Reply
  16. Joli H. says

    October 20, 2021 at 11:00 am

    I am serving my cake Friday evening, can I do more than the crumbcoat tonight (Wednesday) or only the crumb coat? I am
    Hoping to at least get it frosted. I am doing a drip which can wait until Friday but if I can do the rest earlier I will (just Thursday night so trying to work around that).

    Also, loving your channel!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      October 21, 2021 at 3:27 pm

      Hi Joli! You can absolutely crumb coat and frost the cake on Wednesday (and even do the drip if you want!). That should be perfectly fine if you’re serving on Friday night. Hope that helps and thanks for the kind words about my channel!

      Reply
  17. Lori Stone says

    October 26, 2021 at 11:34 pm

    Thankyou for these posts, very informative.
    I’m about to embark on two cakes for my boys birthday party. I don’t have room in the fridge for storage however live in high humidity area, so leaving them out isn’t really possible either.
    Do you think I could possibly store in a dark room with the A/C on in a sealed container?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      October 31, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      Hi Lori! You could try it, but since I’ve never tried storing a cake anywhere but the fridge or freezer and don’t live in a high humidity area, I’m not entirely sure how it will work out. It sounds like your only option though, so I would go for it!

      Reply
  18. Marisa says

    November 2, 2021 at 5:40 am

    Hi there how would this work with red velvet cake and cream cheese frosting? I’m making it for my fiancé’s 30th which is on a Wednesday. I will give it to him Wednesday morning and need to make it Monday primarily and finish final touches Tuesday somehow before he’s home. Need your help thank you SO much

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      November 7, 2021 at 11:21 am

      Hi Marisa! Your timeline sounds totally good! You can bake the cake and make the buttercream Monday, assemble and crumb coat/frost the cake either Monday or Tuesday, and add all the finishing touches Tuesday. Store the decorated cake in the refrigerator overnight and it’ll be fresh for Wednesday morning. Sounds like such a lovely cake!

      Reply
  19. Erika says

    November 5, 2021 at 6:08 pm

    This was exactly what I was looking for and VERY helpful! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      November 7, 2021 at 11:12 am

      Yay, Erika! I’m so happy to hear that!

      Reply
  20. Amy M says

    November 12, 2021 at 5:21 am

    What if you don’t have room in the fridge to store cakes? My girls bdays are all in November so we do one big party but they each get their own cake. So I make 3 cakes for one party. Can I just store these out on the counter, frosted and covered for the night? I don’t have time to cook for and frost 3 cakes the day of.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      November 13, 2021 at 4:47 pm

      Hi Amy! You can certainly store your cakes at room temp so long as they don’t have fillings/frostings that need to be refrigerated. I like to store my cakes in the refrigerator to help preserve the decorating details, but it’s not usually mandatory!

      Reply
  21. Rick Jones says

    November 30, 2021 at 5:08 pm

    I’ll be sure to store unfrosted layers. I only need them when I get the frosting. So I might as well keep them fresh and safe.

    Reply
  22. Victoria says

    December 7, 2021 at 5:07 am

    Great article! What do you recommend for half naked cakes where you only ice the top? How do you keep these moist?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      December 14, 2021 at 9:57 pm

      Hi Victoria! If it’s a semi-naked cake that looks almost like a crumb coat (like this one: https://sugarandsparrow.com/semi-naked-cake/), the frosting layer will keep the cake moist for a few days. If there is absolutely no frosting on the sides (like this one: https://sugarandsparrow.com/pumpkin-pie-layer-cake-recipe/) you can keep it moist by adding a milk soak or simple syrup soak in between layers and wrapping the sides in plastic wrap. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  23. Crystal says

    December 22, 2021 at 1:30 pm

    Do cakes need to be on a cardboard cake round before wrapping in plastic wrap to store for a couple days or freezing?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      December 22, 2021 at 4:29 pm

      Hi Crystal! If they’re just cake layers then you don’t need to place them on a cardboard round. You can just wrap those and store them at room temp or the freezer according to the instructions in this blog post. They don’t need to be on a cake round until you start building the layer cake. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Crystal says

        December 22, 2021 at 5:44 pm

        Yes! Thank you so much! I’m attempting to make a wedding cake for my daughter. First one ever, so doing a trial run to have for dinner Christmas Eve. Need all the good vibes I can get!

        Reply
        • Whitney says

          December 23, 2021 at 7:11 am

          Sending alll the good vibes to you! You can do this!

          Reply
  24. Denise Nass says

    January 5, 2022 at 1:23 pm

    I just made a drip cake and decorated it. I’d like to keep it a week in the freezer. How do I store it in the freezer and thaw out when ready?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      January 8, 2022 at 10:17 pm

      Hi Denise! I’ve never stored a cake in the freezer before but I hear about bakers doing it all the time. From what I’ve read here’s what I would do: Place the cake in the freezer for 1-2 hrs before wrapping the outside in plastic wrap to preserve the cake from freezer burn. One day before serving the cake, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap. It will thaw in the refrigerator. Then 2 hours before serving the cake, take it out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temp (tastes better at room temp!). Hope that helps!

      Reply
  25. Favour says

    January 7, 2022 at 11:58 pm

    Thank u so much ma, this really helped.

    Reply
  26. Teresa Passaretti says

    February 9, 2022 at 4:04 am

    This is a great guide! I’m making a drip cake with sprinkles for my granddaughters 2nd birthday. I’ve been reading all your posts from ganache to buttercream frosting to tips on putting it all together. My confidence is growing and I’m ready to get baking. I’m falling in love with baking again! Thanks for inspiring me.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      February 12, 2022 at 1:45 pm

      That’s so amazing, Teresa! It makes my day to hear that! Cheering you on and glad to be a resource for your cake making 🙂

      Reply
  27. Paula Brown says

    February 19, 2022 at 4:35 am

    Hi Whitney,
    I have been asked to do a Victoria Sponge cake for my Uncles 80th. I’m only learning so I am going to coat it with buttercream. I go away Thursday evening until the Sun day the cake is needed.(3 days) Can I bake and make buttercream on the Thursday afternoon ? Thanks in advance for your advice x

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      February 19, 2022 at 10:06 pm

      Hi Paula! It sounds like Thursday afternoon is the best option. Any longer of a timeline and you may risk the cake not tasting as fresh. Cheering you on!

      Reply
  28. erin W says

    March 2, 2022 at 2:54 am

    this was the most helpful video. thank you.
    explained so well and easy to follow.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      March 2, 2022 at 8:50 pm

      Yay, Erin! So happy this was helpful!

      Reply
  29. Kate Peacock says

    March 25, 2022 at 10:02 am

    Hi Whitney,
    I’m making a two tier birthday cake and wondering if I can do my final icing tonight before stacking tomorrow and adding the rest of the decoration. I’ve read that icing can crack however. Should I just do a crumb coat tonight on both tiers and refrigerate overnight and a final coat in the morning before stacking?

    Thanks,
    Kate

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      March 28, 2022 at 7:19 pm

      Hi Kate! I would totally frost the cakes with the final icing tonight, store them in the refrigerator, then stack them tomorrow and add the rest of the decoration. I have never heard of frosting cracking (I use American buttercream though, maybe that’s different). As long as you properly dowel the bottom tier you should have enough support to prevent the bottom tier from cracking/collapsing. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  30. Abbe Cherry says

    March 31, 2022 at 2:29 am

    Hi Whitney,
    Do you have any problems with buttercream sweating? It’s very humid where I am right now. What the best way to avoid swearing??
    Cheers,
    Abbe

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      April 8, 2022 at 9:52 pm

      Hi Abbe! I don’t usually have problems with my cakes sweating, I live in a fairly mild climate. I’ve heard of bakers using a paper towel to soak up the beads of condensation though – I wonder if that works!

      Reply
  31. Mary says

    April 23, 2022 at 6:57 pm

    Hello! I am planning to make and decorate some cupcakes the day before they are to be shared. Would you put them in the fridge after you frost them? Covered or uncovered? Or will that dry them out? It’s pretty warm where I am so it’s possible my buttercream might melt off if I leave them at room temperature.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      April 24, 2022 at 9:32 pm

      Hi Mary! There’s no need to refrigerate decorated cupcakes unless the frosting requires refrigeration (like cream cheese buttercream). I always store my cupcakes at room temperature in the box they’ll be delivered in and they keep very fresh one day ahead. If you’re concerned about the buttercream melting though, it will be better to store them in the refrigerator in a box. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Rose says

        April 30, 2022 at 2:30 am

        Hi my experience is if i store the gumpaste/fondat things for decoration when it comes out fron the fridge it start melting.

        How long can i store the finished decorated cake at room temperate?

        Reply
        • Whitney says

          May 10, 2022 at 12:41 pm

          Hi Rose! You can absolutely store a cake at room temperature for 4-5 days unless the filling/frosting requires refrigeration. Hope that helps!

          Reply
  32. Marie says

    May 20, 2022 at 5:50 am

    Hello Whitney,
    I am baking a simple chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream filling (using your recipes) and adding some Harry Potter decorations (fondant) on top of it. It’s for sunday and it’s going to be 93 degres outside. It’s for a party that is outside 🙁 Unfortunately I could’t make your special hot day frosting recipe. What do you think of putting the whole cake in the freezer on saturday evening and taking it out on Sunday morning?
    Thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      May 21, 2022 at 4:43 pm

      Hi Marie! I would actually just refrigerate the cake until the very last minute, then transport it in an air conditioned car if you can and keep it in the shade. You can certainly try the freezer, but I just don’t have any experience freezing a fully decorated cake so I’m not sure if it’s the best route. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Marie says

        May 23, 2022 at 1:29 am

        Thank you Whitney! I didn’t try the freezer, too risky without any experience… We did what you suggested. I made a DIY box with 2 ice packs attached to it (inside the box). The cake was totally fine. Such a relieve (it was the first time I baked a cake for someone outside of my family!).

        Reply
        • Whitney says

          May 31, 2022 at 7:40 pm

          Oh my gosh, Marie, that makes me so happy!! I’m so glad everything worked out. Great work!!

          Reply
  33. Becky Rodrigues says

    May 21, 2022 at 9:15 am

    Hi Whitney!

    Thank you for your super helpful timeline. I used it and on decorating day, I actually had fun because I had time haha.

    I have to make two cakes fully frosted with buttercream two days ahead (no fondant). Could I store them in the fridge Friday night and deliver them Sunday morning? Or do you think they would dry out? Is Room temp /freezer better for two nights than fridge?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      May 22, 2022 at 8:44 pm

      That’s so amazing, Becky! I’m glad decorating day was fun and not stressful! The decorated cakes should be totally fine for two days in the refrigerator. Just try to do the baking/assembling as close to decorating day as you can for maximum freshness. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  34. Linda says

    May 27, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    Can you freeze buttercream frosting? Swiss Meringue frosting?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      May 27, 2022 at 8:13 pm

      Hi Linda! I never really do, but I know you can freeze frosting by placing it in an airtight container (most bakers wrap it up in plastic wrap before placing in a ziploc bag) and placing it in the freezer for up to two months. The day before you’re ready to use it, place it in the refrigerator to thaw, then bring it to room temperature the day you need it. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  35. Christine says

    July 26, 2022 at 6:26 pm

    Hi Whitney, do you have an easy way to sift powdered sugar for buttercream frosting? For some reason it is my least favorite part of the process.
    Just wondering?
    Thanks, Christine

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      July 26, 2022 at 9:04 pm

      Hi Christine! I actually don’t sift my powdered sugar for frosting unless it has visible clumps that need sifting. I don’t find it makes much of a difference otherwise. If you want an easy way to sift large amounts of powdered sugar though, a large fine mesh sieve is the quickest way!

      Reply
  36. Payton says

    August 18, 2022 at 4:06 pm

    I am nowhere near a baker but I love to bake and I’m making the cake for my brother and sister-in-law’s gender reveal party and this just saved me! I would have been pressing the day before but I’m definitely going to bake my layers tonight! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      August 21, 2022 at 7:00 pm

      Yay, Payton! Happy to help and I’m cheering you on with the gender reveal cake!

      Reply
  37. Joanne says

    September 12, 2022 at 3:09 pm

    Same process for large order of filled cupcakes?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      September 14, 2022 at 7:26 pm

      Hi Joanne! It depends on the filling. If the filling needs to be refrigerated you’ll need to figure out a way to store them all in the refrigerator or do the filling/decorating the day the order is due. If you want to decorate them the day before you’ll want to store them in a box, at room temp unless they need refrigerating due to the filling.

      Reply
  38. Joan says

    September 14, 2022 at 1:54 pm

    Hello Whitney.
    Thank you for these information. I would like to use your vanilla cake recipe for a 4- Tier (with 3 layers each tier (2inches every layer) wedding cake I’m making for my friend on Oct. 1, 2022. It’ll be base- 16” square pan, followed by round pans of 14, 12 and 10 top. How much recipe/batch mix would I need for every tier. I’m a novice and this is only my 3rd wedding cake. I would appreciate your advice. Thank you I’m advance.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      September 14, 2022 at 7:23 pm

      Hi Joan! Wow, that is a huge endeavor and I am cheering you on! I will say that I have never baked my vanilla cake recipe in a pan larger than a 9 x 13 casserole dish, so I’m not sure how long to bake it per your pan sizes. The recipe yields about 7 Cups of batter as-is, and you’ll need 7 Cups of batter for each 10″ round layer, 9 Cups of batter for each 12″ round layer, 12 Cups of batter for each 14″ round layer, and 16 Cups of batter for each 16″ square layer. If each size is three layers tall, you’ll need a total of 132 Cups of batter for that entire cake. Divide that by 7 Cups per batch and you’ll need to whip up about 19 batches of the recipe. I would recommend researching best practices for baking cakes in larger pans like that and you should be able to find a relative baking time for each pan size. Hope all of that helps!

      Reply
  39. Holly raiford says

    September 17, 2022 at 5:04 pm

    Hi Whitney
    I live in Louisiana. The humidity is my worst nightmare. I do buttercream and fondant decor on my cakes. My cakes look great when I’m finished and place them in refrigerator over night, but my last 4 cakes my fondant decor seems to be falling and making the cakes look melted. I thought I had a stable enough buttercream but it his humidity is killing me. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      September 21, 2022 at 10:59 am

      Hi Holly! That’s so rough. My best recommendation besides keeping the cakes in the refrigerator until the very last minute is to use this heat resistant buttercream recipe: https://sugarandsparrow.com/buttercream-recipe-for-hot-weather/ hope that helps!

      Reply
  40. Connie says

    November 15, 2022 at 11:12 am

    Hello! I love your awesome tips and tricks!!!! I am new to baking cakes and have really picked it up and having a blast! I like the idea of making them ahead of time. Can you do the same for carrot cakes? I want it to remain moist and wouldn’t want to mess up the homemade flavor. 😉
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      November 16, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      Hi Connie! I’m so happy you’re learning and having fun making cakes! You can absolutely make a carrot cake ahead of time. Those are usually even more flavorful/moist after a day or two stored at room temp!

      Reply
  41. Talia Conklin says

    December 11, 2022 at 7:32 am

    Hello! I’ve followed all of your cake basic tips, they have been so helpful! Today is the day for the cake to be eaten! It’s been in the fridge all night, how many hours before the event should I take the cake out of the fridge to come to room temp? (I did a 3 layer 9″ cake).
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      December 12, 2022 at 2:04 pm

      Hi Talia! I’m so happy that you’ve found my Cake Basics tips helpful! I always take my cakes out of the refrigerator an hour or two before serving. I’d say closer to two hours for a cake of that size.

      Reply
  42. Elisha says

    December 28, 2022 at 6:11 am

    So helpful, Thank you. 🙂

    Can I ask if you freeze the cake layers in advance – When defrosting the day prior to decorating do you defrost the cake layers in the ‘fridge’ or at room temperature on the ‘kitchen counter’?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      January 2, 2023 at 1:32 pm

      Hi Elisha! I always defrost the cakes at room temperature (on the counter). So happy this guide has been helpful!

      Reply
  43. CC says

    January 5, 2023 at 9:04 pm

    HI there!

    Thanks for the information above 🙂
    I am wondering for 1 layer cakes, to be topped with a chocolate ganache, can this be done without any crumb coat / frosting beneath? Also, can the ganache be applied on the same day the cake is baked, if the cake has been left to cool at room temp for a couple of hours?

    As for frosted cakes, can the frosting be made while the cake is baking? and after the cake cools, then to have the frosting applied all at once, if it’s meant to be a semi/ naked frosted cake? (i.e. without having to cool in between)

    Many thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      January 9, 2023 at 9:52 pm

      Hi CC! To answer your questions: 1) if you’re pouring chocolate ganache over a cake like a glaze, you don’t technically need a crumb coat or frosting underneath. If you’re frosting the cake with whipped ganache, I would recommend doing a crumb coat with some of the whipped ganache just to make sure you don’t get any crumbs in the finish. 2) Yes, the ganache can be applied the same day the cake is baked, as long as the cake is completely cooled. 3) Yes, the frosting can absolutely be made while the cake is baking. 4) You don’t technically need a crumb coat if it’s meant to be a semi naked cake (here’s a tutorial I did on that style: https://sugarandsparrow.com/semi-naked-cake/).

      Hope that helps!

      Reply
  44. Stacy says

    February 13, 2023 at 3:58 pm

    Thank you so much for this information. I am making a small cake and cupcakes for my mum’s wedding. Would this timeline apply to cupcakes too? I am doing buttercream flower decorations on the top of the cupcakes would this need to be refrigerated like the cake mentioned? The wedding is an afternoon one on Friday so was planning on baking all cakes/cupcakes on Wednesday and decorating them all on Thursday so that I can just take them on Friday for the 12:30 wedding. Would this timeline be ok?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      February 21, 2023 at 7:50 pm

      Hi Stacy! Your timeline sounds perfect. That’s exactly what I would do. Refrigeration depends on what kind of buttercream you’re using. If the buttercream wouldn’t normally require refrigeration (like a standard american buttercream) then there’s no need to refrigerate, and since part of the cupcake would be exposed in the refrigerator it’s better not to refrigerate if you don’t have to. Hope that helps!

      Reply

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  1. June 2021 » Hummingbird High says:
    June 1, 2021 at 4:00 am

    […] Whitney’s guide on how to make and decorate cakes ahead of the big event/special occasion they are for is ABSOLUTELY my jam. 100% Weeknight Baking vibes! […]

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Anyone Can Cake x Wilton GIVEAWAY 🥳 @wiltoncake Anyone Can Cake x Wilton GIVEAWAY 🥳 @wiltoncakes has been a HUGE part of my cake journey and I’m extra excited to gift ONE lucky winner every Wilton tool they could possibly need to make ⁣perfect layer cakes!⁣
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ONE lucky winner will get everything in this Reel:⁣ ⁣
✨Gold piping tip set⁣
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✨Color Right Performance Food Coloring Set⁣
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TO ENTER:⁣
⁣⁣1️⃣ LIKE this post⁣ ⁣
2️⃣ FOLLOW @sugarandsparrowco and @wiltoncakes⁣
3️⃣ TAG a couple friends who would love this prize below in separate comments. One comment = one entry ⁣⁣ ⁣
4️⃣ BONUS for commenting where you’re at in your cake decorating journey!⁣
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That’s it! Ends March 25th at 11:59pm PST and is open to US residents only (sorry to my worldwide friends!). I’ll reach out to the winner via DM to claim the prize and if it’s you, please respond within 24 hours to claim. 🎉 Must be 18 or older. Not sponsored by Wilton or Instagram. Best of luck to all 🎉⁣
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(Ad) Buttercream Embroidery Cake Tutorial🧵🌸🎂 to celebrate March being National Craft Month, I decided to try out some new buttercream piping techniques and make the embroidery cake of my dreams! It ended up being so fun + easy with the perfect cake decorating supplies from @joann_stores 🙌🏼 Here’s how to make this happy little Spring-inspired cake:⁣
⁣
1️⃣ Frost your cake with a smooth buttercream finish and chill for at least 20 minutes.⁣
2️⃣ Use floral cookie cutters to imprint the buttercream.⁣
3️⃣ Outline the shapes using Wilton tip 2 or 3, then fill in the shapes with lines of buttercream piping. For some of the flowers, start at the edge of the shape and pipe a series of lines that connect in the center. For others, experiment with ways to fill in the shape with parallel lines, dots, or other embroidery-inspired piping. ⁣
4️⃣ Freehand some tiny dotted flowers and floral accents using those same piping techniques wherever your heart desires!⁣
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The full tutorial + video for this pretty floral embroidery cake is linked in my bio! It’s the perfect way to welcome Spring 🌸⁣
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#handmadewithjoann #joannpartner #embroidery #embroiderycake #baking #floralcake #cakeideas #buttercreamcake #bake #cakesofinstagram #cake #buttercream #cakelover #cakeart #nationalcraftmonth
Yellow Cake + Chocolate Frosting (aka Classic Birt Yellow Cake + Chocolate Frosting (aka Classic Birthday Cake) 🙌🏼 🥳 this one is extra nostalgic for me because it’s what my mama made for all my birthdays growing up 💛 this recipe rivals the box mix: super moist and fluffy layers of classic yellow cake (naturally colored with egg yolks) + silky smooth chocolate buttercream. Top with rainbow sprinkles for extra fun! 🎉⁣
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Find this recipe linked in my bio + on page 147 of my book, Anyone Can Cake ✨⁣
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#birthdaycake #yellowcake #chocolatefrosting #chocolatebuttercream #sprinkles #layercake #cakelover #cakesofinstagram #cake #bake #bakingfun #bakedfromscratch #anyonecancake #cakeideas #cakedecorating
Ombré Rainbow Sheet Cake 🌈🥳 for St. Patrick Ombré Rainbow Sheet Cake 🌈🥳 for St. Patrick’s Day or any day, because rainbow cakes are year round if you ask me 🫶🏽⁣
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🎨 colors: custom mixed with @wiltoncakes color right food coloring system ⁣
🌈 piping tips: @wiltoncakes 1M for the rosettes, 104 for the ruffles, 32 for the swirls and stars⁣
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#ombrecake #rainbowcake #sheetcake #cakedecorating #rainbow #stpatricksday #buttercreampiping #pipingskills #bakingfun #satisfyingfood #bake #cakeideas #cakelovers
I wish you could see that the inside of this cake I wish you could see that the inside of this cake had crushed Cadbury Mini Eggs sprinkled between each layer 😍 best Easter candy of all (name a better one, I dare you!) 🙌🏽 ⁣
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#ombrecake #cadburyeggs #cakedecorating #chocolate #ganache #dripcake #eastercake #cakeideas #cakelover #bakingfun #cake

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