I'm going to be making two cakes for Valentines on Tuesday, one is going to my mother's work as a surprise(I wanted to do something nice for her, and she'll get to share ) and one for my husband's family. One will be a single layer 6 inch, the other a double layer 8 or 9 inch rounds.

When should I bake the cakes? I of course want them to be fresh and moist for Tuesday, but I also want to pace myself. I am making the WB chocolate cake, which I have read can tear easily, so it will have to sit for a couple hours after it comes out of the oven for the texture to settle. Would baking them tonight be too far off, or should I do it tomorrow morning and then do the decorating tomorrow evening/night?

Thanks for any help you can give!

anybody?

You should be fine doing them tomorrow morning.Then let the one sit a little longer to "settle' as you said, while working on the other cake.They will be fresh and ready for Valentine's! But if you feel you would be crunched for time, I think they would still be fine and fresh baked tonight and covered with platic wrap.

haste makes waste

so, I'd advise bake tonight and deco tomorrow.

(hopefully your in some western time zone and still have an evening left instead of staying up all night!)

i believe it would be fine to bake tonight as long as the are kept covered until you decorate

Thank you for all the replies! Hey Doug, its 11pm here right now...I am still contemplating doing the cakes tonight. (guess that means I should get my butt in the kitchen, LOL )