Will you pay me Tuesday for a cake I bake today (Read details)?

I like bake today – frost tomorrow; are we soaking the layers in anything (rum, orange liquor or plain? ?

@Tropical_Willie No, it’s banana layer cake so fairly moist already.

You can definitely bake today and frost later. I would probably let the layers of the cake cool completely, and then I would probably refrigerate them, in plastic wrap. My best friend just did this (and traveled with the cake layers in a cooler) for her boyfriend’s birthday at the end of December. The cake was a surprise, and they were going on a driving trip. So 3 days passed between secretly baking the layers, and hauling the cooled cake in a cooler 300 miles, then secretly frosting the cake, while her boyfriend was out of the relative’s house for a bit. It all worked out splendidly.

Here is some more info about Keeping Cake Fresh

Banana bread / muffins seem to me often to last for quite a while, and possibly to be at least as good or better (if a bit different, denser, and lacking the “just baked” aspect) a few days after baking.

Gladly!

Sorry. It had to be said.

@janbb Usually the birthday person doesn’t make their own cake.

@chyna I’ve been doing it for years. This is my favorite cake from childhood. My Mom used to bake it for me and while my Ex baked, he wouldn’t make this one because he didn’t like it.

But if anyone else wants to send me cakes anonymously, I’ll put them in the frizzer.

@LuckyGuy, good one. ;-)

What, no cookies?

@cookieman If you’re coming to the party, I’ll bake cookies!

No one should be required to bake their own birthday cake, but I fully understand when “nobody does it better”. I would order a cake shipped to you, but I have been terribly disappointed with mail order cakes from outfits like Harry & David

Will you share the recipe with your banana-loving Jelly pals?

I am not a baker, but what would happen if you baked and frosted it today, then stuck it in the frizzer until Tuesday morning?

@Love_my_doggie It’s kind of long and handwritten so sorry – no.

You need to scan it for safekeeping. I have a lot of old handwritten recipes scanned and saved. I also subscribe to Carbonite so it’s all nice and tucked away in a back up cloud.

Happy Birthday Penguin!

@Harper1234 Thank you!

Happy Birthday Janbb.

I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Wellington_Wimpy

@Pinguidchance Well yes, that was the reference. And thanks.

The layers are baked and I put them in a Tupperware cake holder I had. Will frost tomorrow afternoon.

@janbb your risibility is up there with the cake, and thank you.

Well have a shot of rum or whatever adult beverage on your B-Day ! <3

Bake and frost, then wrap it and put in the refrigerator
It will be out of eyesight, and refrigerated cake are better!

It’s done now. What doesn’t get eaten tomorrow will be sliced and put in the freezer.

Ha! I love this reference.
Happy early birthday, little penguin!

@raum The Bears and I may have an early pre-celebration tonight!

You could stalk someone with it now.

I think @Zaku has to stalk me from the look of that question.

If you pre-party with the bears, you’ll be too hungover for your actual birthday.

I read it you pre-party with the beans…and I kind of stopped right there!

Professional cake decorator here.
Freezing cake keeps it fresh.
Ice the cake while it is frozen. It is easier that way, and the icing keeps the cake from drying out as it thaws.
You can also make decorations on plastic wrap or wax paper, freeze them, then they are easily peeled off and placed on the cake. When doing this, make sure lettering or decorations are not too thin, so they won’t break. Just do it with the paper or plastic on a cookie sheet, so the whole thing can go in the freezer. Easy peasy!

Never wrap, freeze or put in container cakes, or any baked item while still hot, or warm. The steam will make them soggy, and prone to mold quickly.

I’m sorry I saw this too late, but keep the info for another occasion.

GREAT TIPS!

If we are talking a day ahead I’d just make the cake and put it in my microwave or a cake container to keep it fresh.

If it’s 2 or more days I’d freeze the cake layers, and ice it the day of the party. If there is no time on the party day and you can fit the whole cake in a container in the freezer I would make the entire cake all put together ahead of time, and freeze it in it’s completed state.

Fellow Capricorn here, and I ordered my cake and made my own party. I can’t be waiting around for other people, and they can’t read my mind. My husband did call to try to get me my favorite cake, which was very nice, but they aren’t making it this time of year anymore.

@JLeslie Yes, one of the perks I think of being an adult is doing your birthday the way you want. Of course, the cards and well wishes from others are lovely.

@all The cake is delicious and fresh. I made the layers on Sunday as I said and put them in a Tupperware cake container, and filled and frosted it yesterday. I have done it that way before and it stays fresh for several days; however, I will freeze several slices for later consumption.

@janbb I think Capricorn’s are supposedly very practical.

^^ Sometimes! (Plus, we like cake.)

That too.

@Patty_Melt Splendid information! Thank you so much.

One thing I forgot to clarify; when freezing cake, do it plain. Freezing it iced will make the icing sweat as it thaws, and cause runny puddles. Colors will bleed.
Frosting the cake while it is frozen, but ready to thaw is best. The cake won’t break apart while you ice it.

If you have the common hump, that can easily be cut when it is frozen. Use a serrated knife.
There is a way of baking them without getting the center hump, but that is kind of a bother.

I’m glad you had a good birthday and a happy cake! :-D

Or leave the hump and turn it into a camel. Or a tortoise.

Penquin, have you ever considered typing/saving/printing your favorite recipes and keeping them in a loose-leaf binder? I do so for all of my own; I don’t have a mess of handwritten pages, and I never worry about misplacing or damaging a recipe. Over the years, my binder has grown into a unique and personal cookbook.

You can buy a binder, a compact hole-punch, and some protective plastic sheet covers at any stationery store.

I scan mine and save them on my computer. The paper ones are cast hither and yon.

@Love_my_doggie Since I’ve been collecting recipes for nearly 50 years, I have all kinds of storage systems. Some are in loose leaf binders, some are in a metal box and this one is in the Cookery Book I got when I was just married and writing things down in it from my mother and mother-in-law. Not likely to change systems (the many) now.

Happy Birthday Pengy!

Happy Birthday, sweet Penguin. <3

[Mod says] Moved to Social with OP’s permission.