ok, will a cake keep better once it's covered with fondant, or should I store the cake unfondanted (!) and do the icing the day before I need it? (will be actually 2 days before, I think)

pound/madeira cake, with buttercream filling

I wish I could help purely for the reason you said unfondanted. I say things like that all the time. Hope you get the answer soon. I, too, am interested in the answer.

I made a fondant cake a while back a couple of days ahead of time. It was chocolate cake with buttercream icing and fondant on top. I left it uncovered because I was told NOT to put it in the icebox. The cake tasted fine...but I think if I were to do it again...I would wait and put the fondant on the day before. You could do the buttercream part and stick your tiers in the icebox...then take them out for a little while...then put the fondant. However...I am one of these people that gets nervous that the frosting will spoil if it is not in the icebox!!! Hopefully someone else can help you too!
traci

anyone?

I have the cake layered, with buttercream, in the fridge, but I'm worrying about it, and the fact that it is VERY moist....almost like it's not fully cooked (but not doughy)....

I'm half tempted to do a new cake wiht the 3D cake recipe from this site, but there's a dozen eggs and a couple of hours invested in the cake I have now.....it's not going to be used til Saturday....was this stupid beginner thing to do?

I think you should keep it in the refrigerator and then put your fondant on Friday. Keep it out overnight and then it will be ready to go on Sat. I think it is good that the cake is moist...better that way than dry!
traci

thanks for the reply, that's about what I'm going to do, although I may fondant it tomorrow afternoon....it has to be done for Sat am, and I'm thinking I will have better time to do it tomorrow.

The cake seems to have "dried" a bit, which would be a disaster if it were dry to start with, but actually I think the cake is better now than it was. Got it well "shrouded" with cling film and in the fridge for now.

Good luck...I hope it all works out for you!!!
traci

finished cake is up in the gallery now.

I don't take as long as I think I do, so any future cakes will be made closer to the day they're needed! LOL!

He was fine, though