Fruit cake is a delicious cake made with dried fruits, often with the addition of nuts and glace cherries. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, it is especially enjoyed at Christmas, usually covered in marzipan and royal icing. It can last for a while, especially if it has alcohol added, but what if you don’t want to eat it within a few weeks?
Is there a way of preserving it to stop it from going stale? Yes, there is and that is to freeze it. It freezes particularly well and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze and defrost it.
How To Freeze Fruit Cake
1. Remove decorations from the cake.
If the fruit cake was for a special occasion, it might have decorations on it. If so, remove them before freezing.
2. Wrap the cake in cling film.
You need to make sure that it is wrapped securely to make sure that air doesn’t get in. If air does get in, freezer burn can occur, and while the cake may still be safe to eat, it will lose taste and texture. To be doubly sure, wrap the cake in two layers of cling film and then a layer of aluminum foil.
3. Put the cake in a freezer bag.
Squeeze the air out of the bag to stop freezer burn from happening. Put a label on the bag with the date the cake was frozen and the contents.
4. Freeze.
How To Freeze Iced Fruit Cake
1. Flash freeze the fruit cake.
If you wrap the cake in cling film without flash-freezing it, the cling film will stick to the cake. You’ll struggle to defrost it without pulling the icing off the cake (see also Can You Freeze Icing?). To flash freeze the cake, put it on a baking tray and put it in the freezer for an hour or two. If you think that you won’t be able to eat the whole cake at once, freeze it in portions.
2. Wrap the fruit cake in cling film.
Use two layers of cling film to prevent freezer burn. Then wrap it in aluminum foil.
3. Put the fruit cake in a freezer bag.
Put a label on the bag with the date frozen and the contents.
4. Freeze.
Tips For Freezing Fruit Cake
- Double wrap the cake in cling film and add a layer of aluminum foil to stop freezer burn.
- Fruit cake freezes better without icing but if you have leftovers with icing, freeze them in the way we have described. If you are baking a fruit cake, especially for freezing, don’t put on any icing. You can always add it when you defrost the cake.
- If when you come to defrost the cake, it seems a little dry, you can slice it and toast it. Add lashings of butter and it will be delicious.
For How Long Can You Freeze Fruit Cake?
You can freeze fruit cake for between three and four months. After this time, it will still be safe to eat but the taste and texture may deteriorate.
How Do You Defrost Fruit Cake?
It is best to defrost your fruit cake slowly to stop bacteria from forming. Put it in the fridge and leave it overnight. The following day, the cake will be ready to eat. Don’t try and defrost it in the oven as the chances are high that you will overcook the outside while the center remains frozen.
Can You Refreeze Fruit Cake?
We don’t recommend that you refreeze fruit cake. Every time you freeze, defrost, and refreeze, the texture changes because moisture is lost. The cake can end up dry and tasteless. In addition, refreezing also encourages bacteria to form and you could end up sick.
The best thing to do if you don’t think that you will eat all the fruit cake is to divide it into slices and wrap each slice with two layers of cling film and a layer of aluminum foil. Put them in a freezer bag, squeezing out all the air, or you can use an airtight container. Then you can take out just as many slices as you think you will be able to eat.
Is It a Good Idea To Freeze Fruit Cake?
Yes, fruit cake does freeze well. In fact, most cakes do freeze well (even cake batter), except those overburdened with dairy. In addition, it’s so easy to freeze fruit cake. It will take you hardly any time at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing fruit cake but if you want to know more, we have answered a few questions here.
Can you freeze fruit cake that is covered in marzipan?
Yes, you can, and, in fact, marzipan lasts longer in the freezer than a fruit cake, so you don’t have to worry about it losing taste and texture. We do recommend that you flash freeze marzipan-covered fruit cake so that the cling film doesn’t stick to the cake.
For how long can I freeze a fruit cake with royal icing?
You can freeze a cake with royal icing for up to three months. It might not last quite as long as freezing a fruit cake without icing, so we advise you to defrost it within a couple of months.
What are the best ingredients for fruit cake?
For the best fruit cake, use a mixture of sultanas, currants (see also Can You Freeze Blackcurrants?), and raisins. Add candied fruits like orange, lemon, and pineapple as well as glace cherries. Nuts are also a good addition. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts are good choices. To have a traditional dark fruit cake use molasses and brown sugar. Add a bit of whiskey or brandy (see also Can You Freeze Brandy Butter?) and feed the cake intermittently.
What is a light fruit cake, and can I freeze it?
A light fruit cake is made with such ingredients as granulated sugar, light corn syrup, almonds, golden raisins, pineapple, and apricots (see also Can You Freeze Apricots?). You can definitely freeze a light fruit cake. Just follow the instructions we have given you.
