I have done a search on CC and could not find the answer to my question, although I know it's been asked numerous times before so I apologize for this repost.

If I bake and freeze a cake this week (needed for Sat July 28th) can I then defrost and decorate it next Thursday (July 26) or about 2 days in advance?
Will it stay fresh? I am planning on a 1 layer cake with buttercream and some cupcakes. I might be away on the Friday/Saturday of that week and not able to decorate closer to the date.

Thanks

I should say that I don't freeze my cakes, so I have no experience.

What I have read is that you should wrap your cakes in Saran/Cling Wrap really good, then wrap again in foil. I would want to use a freezer bag also if I were doing this.

I have frozen a cake before but it was for cake balls and this is how I froze the cake.

darkchocolate

I think it depends on the cake. This weekend I have baked and decorated a Cinderella carriage that will go with a Castle wedding cake for a wedding next Saturday (21st). However, that cake was Madeira cake covered with fondant, so I know I have a 2 week window to work with for that type of cake. For normal cakes due at the weekends, I generally bake Thursdays, decorate Friday. I've never had a complaint about dry cakes, and I scratch bake too - so if you box bake the preservatives in the mix will help keep it even more fresh tasting. For the actual castle part of the cake, I am baking the cakes now and freezing them until Weds/Thurs then defrosting and decorating, but again they will be fondant covered (which I think helps create a better air-tight barrier than buttercream). Personally, I think you will be fine doing what you are planning, just wrap the cakes well before freezing. Hope that helps!

I bake on thursday, wrap in saran wrap while still warm and it makes it really moist, then decorate Friday for a Saturday cake.........they have always been very moist.