When you order a cake for pick up, you probably aren’t thinking too much about how you’re going to get that cake home and what you’ll do with it when you get there. Let’s be honest. All you’re thinking about is eating it. I get it.
But I want your cake to be in perfect condition until you’re ready to make that first cut and lift that first forkful into your mouth. So here are some tips for transporting your cake and storing it until you’re ready to serve it.
Tip #1 - You have 2 hands for a reason
Pick up and carry your cake in its box from the bottom using both hands. Our cakes are heavier and harder to balance than you might think. If you grab the cake on the sides you're likely to squish the cake, or worse, drop it. Plus, if you trip on something, you have a better chance of keeping control of the cake with two hands. The last thing you or I want is for your cake to end up on the floor instead of in your mouth.
Tip #2 - Turn up the AC
The frosting I use for my cakes is buttercream and it contains a lot of (you guessed it) butter. Butter melts in the heat, right? So if it’s summer and you put a cake into a hot car or put it on a table outside, it’s going to melt. The frosting can even melt inside next to a window or a heat vent. When the frosting starts to melt, the entire cake will become unstable, and this is especially true if it’s a tiered cake. Think of all cakes like ice cream cakes - keep them cool and you’ll be in good shape.
Tip #3 - Keep it level
Cakes are not immune to gravity. If you place a cake on an uneven, unlevel surface, the layers or tiers of your cake may slide. This goes for transporting your cake in the car, storing it at home and serving it. Your instinct may be to put your cake on a car seat to take it home, but your instinct is wrong! Car seats are tilted and may cause your cake to fall over. Always place your cake on a flat, level surface. In a car that usually means on the floor. If you don’t like the sound of putting your food on the floor, well, I hear you. Bring a towel with you when you come for pick up and you can put that on the floor of your car and your cake on top of it. It’s also best if your cake doesn’t have a lot of room to slide around in the car. I often use a piece of non-slip shelf liner when I’m transporting cakes. You only need a small bit and if you come pick up your cake and you’re in desperate need, I will probably be able to help you out.
Tip #4 - The fridge is your friend
See tip #1. A great way to keep your cake cool and stable until you’re ready to serve it is to store it in the fridge. Leave the cake in the box it came in and pop it right in. If you’re low on fridge space, then here in New Jersey, you can get away with not putting the cake in the fridge for most of the year, but in the summer it’s a MUST! No one wants to eat soupy cake. Take your cake out of the fridge 1 hour before serving for small cakes and about 2 hours for larger, tiered cakes. If you see condensation on the cake when you take it out of the fridge, don’t worry. This is completely normal. Leave the cake in the box and the condensation will disappear as it warms up to room temperature.
Tip #5 - Save those leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have cake left over after your event, you can save it for leftovers. Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Keeping it in an airtight container will help to keep the cake from drying out where you cut it. Another way to help keep the cake from drying out is to smooth extra frosting over the cut areas of the cake. The frosting works to seal in the cake’s moisture. But if you don’t keep the leftovers in an airtight container or use the frosting trick, there’s still hope! Just slice off a quarter inch or so of the cake from where the last slice was made. Beyond that the cake is likely still pretty moist. Unfortunately, the cake will not last forever, though.
I hope these tips help you out the next time you’re transporting and serving cake. And I hope they prevent you from ever having to call your baker and say something terrible happened to your cake. Once the cake leaves the baker’s hands it’s your responsibility to look after it and you’ll likely be out of luck if disaster strikes.
Let us know if you find these tips helpful or if you have any questions! And of course, let us know how we can help you celebrate your next event with one of our delicious custom cakes.