Im making my first 3 tier cake for a good friends big birthday bash. I want to give myself pleanty of time to decorate it so want to know how far in advance I can make and cover the cake without them spoiling. How long do they keep?

My plan is to make a fruit cake for the bottom tier, then a vanilla then chocolate.

Any advice or tips much appriciated!!

Fruit cake will keep for weeks marzipanned and iced. Your other two tiers I would be looking to ice at most a couple of days in advance because if there is left overs you want them to be ok for a while afterwards.

Normally I bake and crumb coat sponges one day, decorate the next and it is either delivered that day or the following, certainly no later. Having said that I have eaten sponge I have made that is decorated 7 days later and it was still ok as the icing does keep it fresh.

HTH Jx

Thanks......very useful info!

No problem x