I friend wants me to make a cake for her son's birthday Saturday. I am using a buttercream with 50/50 butter & crisco. I will also be using mmf. I have to shape it into Lightning McQueen and do detail work. I have to drop it off Friday because Im going out of town but the party is Sat. How far in advance can I make the cake,icing,fondant? Can it be left out? When I give them the cake Fri do I tell them to just leave it out until the party? I also work so I cant just plan to do it all in a day or two. THANK YOU!!

Hello and Welcome to CC!

You can certainly make everything in advance. Many people here will even bake the cake days in advance and freeze. So I think you could probably bake today, freeze, and pull it out Wednesday for a crumbcoat and settling, then decorating on Thursday.

I make all of my icing (usually up to a week in advance) and fondant (also up to a week) in advance to give the fondant time to firm up.

I always leave my icing, fondant and cake "out". I hardly ever fridge unless its something very perishable. (like IMBC or a filling needing refridgeration)

I also never fridge a fondant covered cake, because where I live I can never get it to look right when they come out of the cooler. But some people here can do it with ease!

Good luck and have fun!