Cream cakes are delicious and indulgent. They make the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee mid-afternoon when the hunger pangs set in.
However, what if the bakery has them on sale or you have made too many to eat before they spoil? Is it possible to freeze them? The answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze cream cakes and how to defrost them.
How To Freeze Cream Cakes
It’s not difficult to freeze cream cakes as long as you use cakes made with double cream. This is the way to do it.
1. Wrap the cakes in cling film.
Wrap each cake individually so that they don’t stick together. In this way, you can remove just as many as you want and don’t end up wasting any. Double-wrap them so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of your cakes.
2. Put the cream cakes in an airtight container.
This gives them extra protection against freezer burn. It also stops the cakes from getting squashed in the freezer. If you put them in a freezer bag, the chances of them being damaged are high. Put a label on the container with the date and contents. You don’t want to keep the cakes in the freezer for longer than is safe.
3. Put the container in the freezer.
Tips For Freezing Cream Cakes
- Only freeze cakes that have been made with double cream which has been whipped. This is because single cream doesn’t freeze well and tends to split (see also Can You Freeze Cream?).
- Always double-wrap the cakes in cling film as extra protection against freezer burn.
- Store the cakes in an airtight container to protect against freezer burn and to stop them from getting squashed.
- If you have made the cream cakes yourself, don’t top them until they have defrosted. Not all toppings freeze well. Chocolate is fine but delicate decorations such as sprinkles are best left to be added after defrosting. If decorations are fragile, there is a chance they may get damaged.
For How Long Can You Freeze Cream Cakes?
You can freeze cakes for around a month. After this time, they may spoil, or the cream could split. To ensure that they taste fresh, it is a good idea to freeze cream cakes on the day you make or buy them. If you freeze a stale cake, it will still be stale when you defrost it.
How Do You Defrost Cream Cakes?
The best way to defrost cream cakes is slowly and steadily. This helps the cakes retain taste and texture. Take the number you want to eat out of the freezer and put them in the fridge. Depending on the type of cake, it will take between four and six hours for them to defrost. Don’t defrost the cakes at room temperature. This is because dairy can spoil very quickly if defrosted on your worktop. Dairy products, in the same way as meat, are prone to bacteria forming very easily. Also, don’t defrost the cakes in the microwave as the cream will probably become watery and the pastry will lose its crispy texture.
Can You Refreeze Cream Cakes?
No, you should never refreeze cream cakes. When you freeze cream cakes, ice crystals are formed and while they will cope with this the first time, with a second freezing, the pastry will probably end up soggy. In addition, there is a chance that bacteria will form, particularly in the cream, and the cakes then won’t be safe to eat. If you wrap your cakes individually, you will be able to remove only as many cream cakes as you want to eat. This gets rid of the problem of refreezing or wasting them.
Is It A Good Idea to Freeze Cream Cakes?
As long as you wrap the cream cakes tightly to prevent freezer burn, they will freeze well. Also, ensure that you only freeze cream cakes made with double cream as single cream has a tendency to spoil and split.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing cream cakes but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here.
Cream cakes will keep in the fridge for up to five days before they start to spoil. If you want to keep them for longer, you will have to freeze them.
Yes, you can freeze Krispy Kreme doughnuts for up to a month. They only keep for 24 hours without freezing, so it is a good idea to freeze them if you decide to stock up on them. Always make sure that they are double-wrapped in cling film and stored in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.
Yes, you can but it is best to flash-freeze them first to stop the chocolate from sticking to the cling film. Get a baking tray and line it with parchment paper. Lay out the chocolate eclairs, making sure that they aren’t touching each other. This will ensure that they don’t stick together. Freeze for a few hours. Once they are frozen, put them in either an airtight container or a freezer bag. If you are using a freezer bag, squeeze out the air so that freezer burn doesn’t occur.
Yes, you can, and the good news is that they can be frozen for longer than cakes made with double cream. You can keep these cakes in the freezer for up to three months. As usual, you must ensure that they are kept airtight so that freezer burn doesn’t occur.
Yes, you can, and they can be frozen in the same way and for the same length of time as homemade cream cakes.
