I'm working on a Debbie Brown design - it's my daughter's 8th birthday (which is a REALLY big deal in our world...LOL ) and I have a lot to do to prepare for Saturday. I've got all the cakes baked and filled (just buttercream icing) - and I've been making a lot of the molded pieces...I'd like to be able to cover the cake with Fondant and begin the labor intensive work of painting and placing all the molded pieces - but I'm nervous about covering with fondant this soon. (It's Tuesday, party is Saturday Morning around 11.)

So my question is ... what is the earliest you've ever covered a cake with Fondant and then left out at room temp. I'm in Arizona - and I know freezing is absolutely NOT an option (what with all the sweat and ick that will ruin the work we are doing) - and I'm heavily immersed in cake and party land so my head just can't think!!!

Any suggestions? What's the soonest you've covered a cake in fondant before serving? I've heard up to a week at room temp, but that seems odd to me...

I'm no expert but I won't cover a cake more than 3 days in advance.

I cover mine the day before delivery.

I had two large (11x15 each) cakes that i had to travel with. I covered them Thurs and we ate them Sat. I used simple syrup on the cake before frosting them, and it was perfectly moist and delicious when we ate them. That's about as far in advance as I will do it though. Your cake may not be as fresh. IMO.

I tested what I read once about fondant cakes being fresh for up to five days. I tested it with a cake class cake that I made on a Wednesday night and ate on Sunday afternoon. It was moist and perfectly fine. I would NEVER do that for someone buying a cake. For them I usually bake Wednesday and cover Thurs to allow Thurs and Fri for decorating a cake due Saturday. Bump it all up one day for a cake due Sunday. I just tested it that one time because I was curious and it was a throw away cake anyway.

I think your Saturday cake will be just fine if you start it today. This is assuming you bake a moist cake to start with, of course... : )

hth

Thank you everyone! I decided to start it tonight - turns out tomorrow we have a field trip, Thursday we have a parent night and Friday is the night before and I'm not going to stress myself out!

I do make a moist cake, so, I think we should be okay...Thanks! I might post pictures - depending on if it turns out or not! (tee hee...)

If you're worried that your daughter's BD cake will be stale before you eat it, it won't... not as long as the cake is covered with buttercream/fondant--the air can't get to the cake to dry it out. It will grow mold before it goes stale, and that usually takes two weeks. (Hasn't everyone seen that last piece of leftover cake that nobody wants to eat because they're sick of eating more cake?)!

IT was the mold I was worried about, but you are right, I think it'll be fine. I've gotten it started - looks terrible right now, but here it is, in all it's naked glory...

Wow! That was quick.... and it's not room temp, so no worries! Good job, can't wait to see it when it's finished.

Thanks! Fingers crossed that it'll turn out. My 8 YO is already thrilled with it, so it's all up from here, right?

Ok, everyone thanks for your help. It's done - and currently freezing. I know, bad idea bad form...but the castle at the top already started to slip and I'm worried that the weight is too much for it. So - in the freezer it went - it was room temp and totally covered before I froze it so we should be okay.

Now, cross your fingers Pics in the gallery too BTW. Thanks again!!!!

Your cake is beautiful!! I bet your daughter loved it!!! Good job mom!

Cake looks awesome !!!!!!!!! good luck Sat !