After a proper Christmas and New Year celebration, you have a huge amount of festive cake leftover, right? Yet, you have no idea what to do with it or by the time you have come up with an idea, the cake has dried, lost all its flavour and is as dry as you can imagine a stale piece of cake would be. Yes, you can refrigerate your favourite cakes, but that is not a good solution.
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When exposed to this environment, the moisture in festive cakes evaporates more quickly than it would at room temperature. This leads to the cake becoming stale and the texture becoming crumbly and less enjoyable to eat. In the fridge, the fat in the cake is also affected. Butter and oils, common ingredients in cakes, tend to harden when chilled. As a result, cakes that are meant to be soft and tender end up feeling dense and firm. This is particularly true for cakes like pound cakes, butter cakes, or any cake with a rich, moist crumb.
The change in fat texture in the refrigerator compromises the cake's intended flavour and mouthfeel, making it less satisfying. But, don’t worry, to ensure your festive rich fruit cakes and plum cakes don’t meet the same fate, here are a few hacks you can use to keep your cake tasty and fresh even after storing it.
Freeze Your Festive Cakes
Freezing is a much better option for storing cake, especially if you plan to keep it for more than a couple of days. The key advantage of freezing is that it preserves the cake’s moisture by essentially locking it in. When the cake is frozen properly, it prevents the water in the cake from evaporating, keeping the crumb soft and tender. This helps maintain the cake's original texture and flavour for a longer period.
Also Read: Kitchen Tips: How To Freeze Cookie Dough
Store Festive Cakes In Air Air-Tight Containers
When it comes to plum cakes and rum cakes for the festive season, begin by wrapping your cake in parchment paper, followed by aluminium foil. This approach keeps moisture while preventing mould formation. Place it in an air-tight container. Make sure you're using a premium-quality container. Every two weeks, add a touch of alcohol such as brandy or rum to the cake after piercing its surface with a stick. This not only enhances the flavour but also functions as a natural preservative.
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Choose The Right Storage Spot
Even after placing the festive cakes in air-tight containers, you need to find a place for them where they can stay, and it’s shelf life increases. Look for a cool, dark place, like a kitchen cupboard. Avoid areas prone to temperature fluctuations or humidity, such as near radiators or kitchen windows. Also, you need to ensure the spot is dry and well-ventilated. Your Christmas cake will remain delicious and fresh for months if you follow these fundamental procedures.
Get A Cake Stand & Cake Dome Lid
While the other tips and tricks are easy to follow and readily available, you can also try purchasing a cake stand and a cake dome lid. You can store the cake at room temperature with the help of it. It might be helpful for you to put a piece of plastic wrap up against the exposed, sliced section of the leftover festive cake before covering it with the cake dome lid, since the exposed side of the cake will start to dry up after cutting. A cake dome is often suitable if you’re preserving a fully frosted, uncut Christmas cake at room temperature for up to three days. If you don't have this, use your largest mixing bowl and plate from your kitchen.
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Avoid Wet Topping For Festive Cakes
On festive cakes, wet toppings are typically avoided because too much moisture quickly seeps into the sponge, making it unstable and mushy. Runny sauces or juicy fruits might shorten the cake's shelf life, dilute tastes, and cause frosting to slide. Moist substances also spoil quickly at warm or room temperatures. Using dry or glazed toppings helps the cake stay fresh, solid, and visually appealing for longer, as and when you store it.