How Do I Cool a Cake Overnight? (2024)

FAQs

Can a cake sit out overnight to cool? ›

Should Cake Be Refrigerated? Most cakes—whether frosted, unfrosted, cut, or uncut—are fine for a few days when properly stored at room temperature.

Steam and/or condensation will form – even if there's just a bit of warmth emanating – and this will result in soggy cake/cookies/brownies/pie. Sad face. What you CAN do is use a clean dish towel – simply drape it over your pan or sheet. Your baked goods will stay fresh overnight, and no worries about steam forming.

6. Rely on room temperature. You can leave out your covered cake overnight without even wrapping it, and it should be fine in the morning. For any amount of time longer than that, make sure to wrap it in something.

A better way to store cake is to cover it in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. This seals in moisture and prevents air from drying out the cake.

The fastest way to cool a cake is to use your refrigerator and freezer. Only use the refrigerator for short periods of time, as too much time inside one can rob your dessert of its moisture in just a few days. Freezers don't present the same problem. Use plastic wrap before storing your cakes in either place.

An unfrosted cake will store at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 24 hours. You can refrigerate it for up to 3 days. To freeze unfrosted cakes, tightly wrap the individual layers in foil for up to 1 month.

Keep your cakes cool or at room temperature. Heat will cause frosting to melt and slide and it dries out the sponge. In summer, or if your kitchen is very warm, it is better to refrigerate your cakes and then allow to come up to room temperature if you plan to serve them at a later time.

Can you leave a frosted cake uncovered overnight? ›

An uncut frosted cake that's been frosted with buttercream, fondant, or ganache can last at room temperature for up to five days. Keep it covered with a cake keeper or a bowl to protect it from dust or other particles.

The Best Way to Store Cake Layers

If you don't have plastic wrap, opt for a plastic zip-top bag. Store these wrapped cakes on the counter at room temperature, and they'll keep for about a week before starting to stale on you. Oil-based cakes tend to keep a day or two longer than butter-based ones.

Allow the cake to sit in the fridge until it is nice and cold, about two to three hours or longer is ideal, depending on the size of your cake. If you have time, let the cake stay in the fridge overnight. When you cake is fully chilled, it will be easier to cut and easier to work with.

Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to sit in the pan on the cooling rack for 15 minutes. Loosen the sides of the cake from the pan with a butter knife or small flat spatula. Turn out the cake and place it directly onto the cooling rack until cooled completely.

Cakes should rest in their pans on a rack for 15 minutes after coming out of the oven. By lining the bottom of the pan with parchment, you give yourself some added insurance that the cake will slide out after cooling. (Running a sharp knife between the inside of the pan and the cake is a good idea, too.)

Room Temperature Storage: Most birthday cakes can last a few days at room temperature, roughly around 3 days before the moisture evaporates. Keep your cake in a cake tin or an airtight container for best results.

Store the cake as you would normally, using a cake keeper or some sort of covering. A cut cake will last up to four days at room temperature.

Let the cake cool.

It should spend at least twenty to thirty minutes on your cooling rack or countertop before you even attempt to remove it from its pan. Place the cake in your refrigerator to speed up the cooling process if necessary.

Cakes stored at room temperature will spoil faster than those kept cold in the fridge. – Don't leave cake out for more than two hours. Cakes left out in the open air will dry out quickly, so make sure to store them in an airtight container within two hours of being prepared.

If, however, in your eagerness for cake that you forget this all-important step and remove the cake before it's completely baked through, you'll have an underbaked cake that's more lava cake than a tall and risen chocolate layer. That's not a cake you'll want to serve.

What happens if you cover a warm cake? ›

So, next time you bake a cake, don't forget to wrap it in plastic wrap while it's still warm. It will make a big difference in the moistness and texture of your cake. It only takes a few extra seconds and just might save an otherwise dry cake.

A buttercream made with a recipe consisting of butter and shortening can generally sit out at room temperature for up to 2 days. We suggest covering your treat with plastic wrap or placing it in a cake carrier to prevent your buttercream from crusting too much.

Ideally, make an iced cake the day to keep it fresh. Refrigerated: Your cakes will last longer in the fridge, but for an event you won't want to push it longer than about 3 days. Make sure you wrap them carefully, and take them out for an hour to return to room temperature before you serve.

Please bring out the cake to sit out at room temperature 45 minutes to an hour before slicing and serving. When sitting out at room temperature, make sure it is not exposed to heat because the buttercream frosting can soften and melt.