How to Store a Christmas Cake

Christmas cakes are often made well ahead of the Christmas season. Not only does this save time when the busy season descends upon us, it also serves to improve the taste of the cake. As with wine, fruit cakes improve in taste as they age. And often not all of the Christmas cake gets eaten at Christmas time and this leaves the need to keep it longer. This article explains how to store a Christmas cake, whether it be prior to or after the Christmas occasion.

Steps

1
Wrap your cake in cheesecloth/muslin that has been marinated in brandy, rum, wine or fruit juice.
2
Wrap it in aluminium foil.
3
Place the wrapped cake into an airtight container. If you do not have an airtight container, you can substitute plastic wrap if necessary.
4
Keep the cake in a dry and cool place.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I keep my Christmas cake from going moldy?

Macey R.

Community Answer

You can try to wrap it up in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer. When you want to eat it, take it out and let the cake sit for about 30-40 minutes to thaw out.
Question

Can I freeze a fruit cake?

The Hungry Bites

Community Answer

Yes. For best results, wrap it well with cling film, then put it in a Ziplock bag or wrap it again with foil and store it in the freezer (usually for up to 6 months, though this dependes on the temperature of your freezer).
Question

Does this apply to an iced cake?

Community Answer

Yes, it does.
Question

What is grease proof paper?

Community Answer

It is also known as parchment paper or baking paper depending on what region you are in.
Question

Can Christmas cakes be frozen?

Community Answer

If you plan to freeze it right after you make it, go for it. But, don't keep it there for too long, because even a frozen cake will go old.
Question

Can you keep a partially eaten Christmas cake with almond paste and icing for over 6 months? If so which method is best?

Community Answer

Yes, you can keep it for over 6 months. The best method is freezing after wrapping it well. Follow the steps outlined in the article above.
Question

I soaked my fruit in brandy, could I feed it with whiskey as I've run out of brandy?

Isolde

Top Answerer

Whiskey is quite strong and the flavor is very different from brandy, so it's not recommended to mix the two. You'd probably be better off adding something like sherry, Grand Marnier, Muscat, Masala or a desert wine, as these would mix nicely with the fruit cake flavors and would go well with brandy. Remember that you've spent a lot on the cake ingredients already, you don't want to risk spoiling the cake.
Question

I want to make my cakes ahead of time, so need to keep them fresh without freezing. Do I store them either in cling film or tin foil, which is best?

Isolde

Top Answerer

Tin foil is definitely better for longer storage and to prevent odors from contaminating the stored cakes. As explained above, the best approach is to wrap the cakes in a muslin cloth that has been soaked in brandy, wine or fruit juice first. Then wrap each muslin-covered cake really well in tin foil. Store in an airtight container, such as a cake tin. Keep the cakes in a cool, dry place until they are needed.

Warnings

Avoid the refrigerator! This can result in crystallised sugar.

Thanks!
Helpful 19 Not Helpful 7
Keep an eye on the cake as the months go by; whenever it seems to be drying out, follow the Tip on adding more liquid or you may end up with a very dry and undesirable cake.

Thanks!
Helpful 12 Not Helpful 6
Be careful not to let the aluminium foil touch the cake directly; if the cake has alcohol in it, it will pit the foil and cause reactions that can affect the cake's flavour.

Thanks!
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1