Hi eveyone,

I found this recipe and thought you might be intersted in making one.

I have a question though. It says to store the covered cake in an airtight container. I have read that all fondant covered cakes must be stored in a cardboard box NOT have any contact with plastic. If this is correct, then what's the best way to store a covered cake? (in this case, I'll be covering a fondant-covered christmas cake)

Your answer is appreciated.
thanks
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Easy decorated Christmas cake
http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/ARTICLE.aspx?id=42166

Serving size: unspecified
Cooking time: Less than 30 minutes



A rich fruit cake can be covered 6 months ahead while a boiled or melt and mix fruit cake can be covered 1 month ahead. Store the covered cake in an airtight container in a cool dry place.

INGREDIENTS


2/3 cup (150g) sugar
1/3 cup (80ml) water
22cm round or 19cm square fruit cake
Covered board
2 x 500g packets almond flavoured cake paste
pure icing sugar
2 x 500g packets soft icing (fondant)
75cm ribbon
silver cachous

ROYAL ICING
1 egg white
1 cup (160g) pure icing sugar
¼ teaspoon lemon juice




METHOD


1. To make the sugar syrup, combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan, stir over a low heat, without boiling, until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil then remove from the heat.





2. Trim the top of the fruit cake flat and turn upside down on the board. Fill the holes in the cake with small pieces of the almond flavoured cake paste.

3. Knead the cake paste until smooth on a surface dusted with sifted icing sugar. (If cake paste is too firm, remove the foil and microwave on HIGH for up to 15 seconds.) Roll the paste on a surface dusted with sifted icing sugar until large enough to cover the top and sides of the cake.




4. Brush the cake all over with the warm sugar syrup then gently lift the cake paste onto the cake with a rolling pin. Smooth the icing onto the cake with sugared hands.

5. Trim the excess paste from the base with a sharp knife. Stand the cake at room temperature for several hours or until firm to touch.




6. Knead the soft icing until smooth on a surface dusted with sifted icing sugar. Roll the icing as for the cake paste, brush the cake with sugar syrup and cover with the soft icing as before.

7. Royal Icing: Beat the egg white in a small bowl with a fork until frothy; discard half of the egg white. Beat in the sifted icing sugar, about 2 teaspoons at a time, with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms very firm peaks; stir in the juice. Keep the surface of the icing covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.

8. Attach the ribbon to the cake with a small amount of the Royal Icing at the join. Attach the cachous to the top of the cake with tiny amounts of icing. Stand until set.
Not suitable to freeze.

Sugar syrup suitable to microwave.

COOK'S NOTE: Covered boards are available from cake decorator's supply shops, some health food stores or cake shops. You can also use a large flat plate. Cachous (small round cake decorating sweets), cake paste and soft icing are available from most supermarkets and health food stores.

very pretty cake. Unfortunatly, I have no idea about the storage question.

aizuodangao

my mum used to always store her christmas cakes in an airtight container.
she used to put it on the bottom shelf of her pantry.
as long as it is dark and cool there shouldnt be any problems.
good luck.

kelli

I always use a carboard cake box. In airtight boxes there is a chance that the icing can 'sweat' and colours can run. They should be stored somewhere reasonably cool and dry. Mine are on top of a wardrobe in an unheated spare bedroom

Well mine are still maturing, but once covered, like MissB, they'll be kept in cake boxes. I was reading through the instructions, and it made me chuckle that most of the ingredients (sugarpaste, marzipan, silver balls etc), can be bought in health stores in Oz !

thanks for your replies. ah, so i did read correctly about not putting in plastic containers (not letting it sweat).

I have not notice sugarpaste etc on sale in helthfood stores here in Oz, i must check. Yeah, funny they are sold there if it's true..........but if it is, it's more convenient for me. thanks for letting me know though. i will check.