A sweet tradition many couples take part in is saving the top of their wedding cake to enjoy on their one year anniversary. While the thought is meaningful, if you don’t take the right steps, you’ll end up with a stale or freezer-burned cake that you’ll likely just throw in the trash. If you’re planning on freezing your wedding cake on your own to enjoy on your anniversary, follow these steps to maintain the freshness for the special milestone.
Think of Where You’ll Store the Cake
Before actually getting into the process of freezing, you need to consider the best place to store the cake. Ideally, you’ll be able to put it in your own freezer, but if you are planning on moving within the first year, that logistically might not be possible. If you can’t store the cake in your own freezer, see if anyone in your area would be able to help out. Maybe your nearby parents or a sibling can help, or perhaps a close friend. If you don’t have a good place to store your cake, preserving the cake top might not be the best option for you. But don’t worry, you can still enjoy your wedding cake on your anniversary – there is more on that below!
Steps-by-Step Guide for Freezing Your Wedding Cake Top
Once you know where you’re actually storing your cake, you’re ready to preserve it. Follow these easy steps:
- Remove Decorations: You want to have an airtight wrap on the cake, so remove any decorative elements that will get in the way, like the cake topper or flowers. If you’d like, you can save any decorative elements that will last and put them back on your cake on your anniversary.
- Chill the Cake: Prior to wrapping it up, put the cake in the freezer to allow it to set. This will make the wrapping process much neater (you won’t want to deal with soft icing!). Leave it in the freezer for around 30 minutes to three hours, taking it out once it is firm.
- Wrap it Up: Once the cake has firmed up, it is time to wrap it with both plastic wrap and tin foil. Don’t be conservative with your use of these wraps. You’ll want to be super generous to avoid freezer burn, stop any other smells from seeping into the cake, and to maintain the moistness of the cake. Start with a layer of plastic wrap, wrapping it tightly around the entire cake. Then, wrap it up with at least two layers of tin foil. For extra protection, you can also store it in an airtight container, but keep in mind that this will take up more valuable freezer space. You could also store the wrapped cake in a plastic airtight bag for maximum protection that doesn’t take up too much space. Once it is wrapped, store it in a safe area of the freezer.
- Add a Box of Baking Soda: This step isn’t absolutely necessary, especially if you’ve wrapped your cake well. However, in order to avoid the flavors of other freezer items from seeping into your cake, put in a box of baking soda to absorb the unwanted smells.
- Defrost and Celebrate: The night before your anniversary, take the cake out of the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge overnight. The next day, approximately 5 hours before you’re ready to eat the cake, unwrap it and leave it out on the counter to finish defrosting. Cut and enjoy!
Alternative to Freezing: Buy a Fresh Cake on Your Anniversary
Maybe the cake was just too good that every last crumb was eaten by guests, or maybe you simply don’t have the space in the freezer for your cake top. Don’t worry – you can still get a fresh cake to celebrate your anniversary. There are actually many wedding cake bakeries that offer a freshly made anniversary cake in the same flavor as your wedding cake as part of their package. If your baker doesn’t offer this service, you can still check to see if you’d be able to order a fresh cake for your anniversary. Sure, it’s not the exact cake you enjoyed on the special day, but the delicious taste will transport you right back to your celebration.
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