I have to make a two tier birthday cake for sunday but not sure what I can start on. Can I make the batter and keep it in the fridge till I bake the cake .... should I bake the cakes tonight ... what about the icing??? I have a million questions ... can anyone help????

You can bake the cakes and put them in the freezer and you can make the icing and put it in the freezer depending on what kind of icing you are making. I do a whipped buttercream that can sit on the counter for 3 months and still be good. i have never left it there for 3 months but it can be. then take them out on Sat, ice and decorate. you can then put in the fridge till Sunday or leave it out on the counter so that it is not cold from the fridge. I dont like a cold cake so I like to leave mine out if at all possible. hope i helped.

Cake batter needs to be baked shortly after mixing because of the leavening agents, so I wouldn't make that now for Sunday. You can however bake the cakes tonite and freeze if you want to get a head start.

Make sure you wrap well with saran - I generally use three sheets and then put into a large freezer bag. When thawing, leave the bag/wrappings on until completely thawed or the cake will absorb moisture.

You can make icing ahead of time. Which icing are you using? Shortening based icings last for weeks.

Carla beat me to it, LOL!

I'm using the wiltons buttercream recipe ... last time I made it though when I got it out to use it it was really really stiff and wasn't sure what to do with it so I threw it out.

You can start right now Cakes can be baked well in advance and frozen. Since you need the cake for Sunday, you could just leave them covered at room temp though. The icing can be prepared and colored ahead of time too. It doesn't need to be refrigerated, just well covered. If you've refrigerated it, you'll need to let it come to room temp otherwise it will be really stiff.

Couldn't you add milk or water--whatever you used originally--1 teaspoon at a time & beat with your mixer until of the desired consistency? I usually do that after I've let the buttercream come to room temp.

Next time its really stiff, add water or milk until your get the right consistency..

oh sure it is no secret. it is in the recipes section it is here.


http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-2019-Whipped-Cream-Buttercream-Frosting.html

can the whipped buttercream be frozen? Does it hold up well to heat?

This whipped buttercream that i use i have not froze it so i am not sure but i live in central TX where it is still in the 80's for Christmas and it holds up here. hope this helps.

Thanks for the link.

You can color the whipped buttercream can't you? I usually use Wilton paste colors.

yep that is what i use too although i would like to try those america colors i think is what they are called. i cant remember. someone knows what i am talking about.

it is called Americolor...and the cake experts here at CC say that is does red/black and burgundy very well.....

oh yes, the good ole wilton recipe. When I was teaching...we would make fun of that icing...it's a great student icing but it will be around long after we are particles of dust!

We always said that if there was ever a Nuclear bomb, the only thing left would be the bugs and this Wilton icing..lol

I have been in bakeries where this is all they use, they keep it in large bucketfulls, that they make the color that is needed...and transfer it to smaller containers to keep on hand.

One bakery was sooooo long they had allthe smaller containers on a wheeled cart to make it easy for their designers to get access to it!

I use this recipe to make all my flowers and I let them air dry and then put them in clear plastic boxes with lids that I get from the dollar store. I always have decorating elements for any last minute cakes!

I've even pared down my wilton recipe to ..one pound crisco and 2 pounds powdered sugar...few teaspoons of water to get the consistency I need.

Since all my customers money goes into making Meringue butter cream and yummy fillings..lol

Thats right Americolor, thanks Randa.