I have a cake I'm making for a contest, which is due at 6:30 AM this Friday.

Today is Monday, and my oven is broken (oh, love Monday, don't you). My friend has offered to let me use her oven, but today is the only day I can use it (long story).

Is Monday too early to bake a cake that will be decorated on Thursday?

How can I keep it moist, tasty, & fresh that long?

Thanks!!!

Well, if I was forced to bake on Monday - then I would freeze it after it came out of the oven, especially since it is for a contest.

I always bake my cakes on Monday for Saturday

I don't decorate until the kids are in bed, so I have a routine that lets me get some sleep: Bake MO, fill and frost TU, cover in fondant and stack on WE, decorate TH and FR. It comes in and out of the fridge this entire time and my cakes always stay moist. (I am very careful not to overbake!)

I would bake and freeze. Then take it out to thaw on Wed night. I'd probably decorate Thurs and turn it in Fri morning.