Carrot cake is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be enjoyed all year round. But what if you don’t have time to bake a cake from scratch, or you want to make a large batch ahead of time? Can you freeze carrot cake? Let’s discuss if any version of this cake can be frozen, including vegan carrot cake, and how to go about it.
The good news is, yes, you can freeze carrot cake. In fact, it freezes very well. Let’s discuss two ways to do this.
Freeze the cake for decorating later
If you’re making a cake early so you can decorate and serve it later, you’ll want to follow a different protocol for freezing it.
Have you ever wondered if freezing cakes makes them dry? The good news is that there is no difference in texture between a frozen cake and a fresh cake. This means it’s a great idea to make your cake before a big event and freeze it to decorate and serve later.
To achieve this, you’ll want to freeze the cakes completely. Here are the steps to do this:
- Let the cake cool completely.
- Do not frost the cake because frosting it before it is frozen can cause the cake to become soggy when thawed.
- Wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap. You can wrap it in a layer of aluminum foil for extra protection.
- Place the wrapped cake in a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Label the bag or container with the date.
- Freeze the cake for up to two months.
Freeze leftover frosted cake
If you’ve already served your cake and want to freeze the leftovers, here are my favorite tips:
- If you are frosting a frosted cake, be sure to let the frosting set completely before wrapping the cake.
- If you are freezing individual pieces of cake, place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe bag or container.
Thaw frozen carrot cake
Now that your carrot cake is frozen, you may be wondering what steps to take to thaw the cake. Here are some ways to do this:
- Refrigerate the wrapped frozen cake overnight, where it can slowly thaw. The cake will still be cold, but you can open it and frost it.
- For faster thawing, place the frozen cake on a counter at room temperature. Remove the wrap and let it thaw for two to three hours.
- To thaw individual frosted slices, follow the steps above, or you can use the microwave’s defrost setting to speed up the process.
Conclusion
With these tips, you can enjoy delicious carrot cake all year long, even if you don’t have time to bake it from scratch.
