Urgent Question: Is My Cake Still Fresh?
Decorating By pattiverde Updated 10 Jun 2006 , 3:40pm by Phoov
Hi all!
I made a cake for Wilton Course 3 on SUNDAY night of this week. I filled and iced it that night (white cake with pistaccio pudding filling, buttercream icing, then covered with Satin Ice fondant), and decorated it with borders and fondant roses the next night (Monday). The cake has been in the refrigerator the entire time, except for the few hours it was out on Monday night to decorate. Each layer (2) is in a cake box, then in an unscented garbage bag, tied, in the fridge. Now it's FRIDAY and I plan to donate the cake to a 5th grade graduation party. Is the cake still okay to eat??? I'm most concerned about the pudding filling. I had leftover pudding in the fridge and tasted it just now: it tasted and smelled just fine. It was starting to get slightly watery, but again, the smell and taste were great.
HELP! I need to know if I should scratch this whole idea and just buy the 5th graders a cake from Costco! I need to act pretty soon... I'm hoping the turnaround time on this site is quicker than Wilton. Help please! I don't want any kiddos getting sick on my account.
Thank you!
patti
In my personal opinion I would not serve the cake. 5 days is to long for me. I would not want to take the chance on someone getting sick.
Good luck!
How does your fondant look? I've been told that it shouldn't be refrigerated.
5 days old.....I wouldn't serve it or want to eat it. I'd head to Costco
Thanks for the quick replies! The fondant looks great - it looks exactly the same as it did the day I made it. I have heard that Satin Ice fondant is one that does well in the fridge, and that's what this is...
But I do hear a loud and clear: don't serve this cake! 
I am so sad about this, but I'd be sadder if people got sick on my account. Thanks for the advice. If anyone knows the science of pudding and can say Go For It then please chime in. 
patti
It is not just the pudding but the fridge will cause the cake to get drier and stale also. It just won't taste very good. Sorry!
5 days with a pudding filling - I would probably dump it. Better safe than sorry. Who knows what's going on inside that cake.
Denise - I refrigerate mmf covered cakes all the time with no problem. Biggest problem is taking them out into a humid room and the cake sweats - so I take that into consideration if I choose to keep it in the fridge.
Waaaaahhh! 
But, I am SO grateful for your replies (and so quick!), and I am heeding your advice. It's 2:00 and the cake isn't due until 8:00 tonight, so I am baking another one and here's my plan: I will bake and decorate, but if by 6 pm it looks like I just can't get it done in time, I will hop over to Costco (they close at 8!) and buy a cake for these graduates. I think I can put together a simple (?!but I'm new!?) stacked cake with buttercream roses and a shell border. I'm pretty quick with the buttercream roses.
Grrrrr, but grateful!
patti
Who knows what's going on inside that cake.
...this caused a total Howard Hughes lock myself in the closet OCD moment for me!!!
I just pictured creepy crawly creatures!!!....I have to go wash my hands!! 
thanks for the laugh twinsline7! I wasn't seeing anything that bad - till now. Thanks a lot!
.....I did the second you said that!!! I pictured the poltergiest chicken!!! 
If anyone knows the science of pudding and can say Go For It then please chime in.
patti
When in doubt....
... Throw it out.
I personally would not eat a cake with filling that has been in the fridge that long. I certainly would not serve it to anyone let alone kids.
it's probably too late to add my two cents but, DONT FORGET TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR CAKE!
(then toss it....) 
I baked a cake Tuesday, Wed torted with pudding/mousse and brought it to decorate in class on Thursday (in the fridge except for Thursday for classs) when we had a piece on Sunday it was past it's prime although we didn't get sick.
This was buttercream icing.
Repeat above without the pudding, served the cake on Saturday and it was fine.
My conclusion: pudding isn't a great choice for a cake that sits.
I hope you took a photo!
Pudding is a dodgy one, not really good for more than a couple of days - next time use a preserve or buttercream and it will be fine. Sorry you had to rebake!
I'm the naysayer here! LOL Though I wouldn't serve it to the kids~ I would not be afraid to serve it to my family. I've had cakes in airtight containers refrigerated for up to two weeks........they've remained moist and actually inprove in flavor. The pudding will have soaked into the cake layers and be yummy. We live in the age of preservatives!
Cut it and take a look/smell/taste. I say it's great!
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