Can You Freeze Sponge Cake?

Sponge cake is very popular and is a staple for dinner parties and special occasions. It is made from butter, eggs, sugar, and flour. It is usually in two layers and sandwiched with raspberry jam and whipped cream. The question is can you freeze such a light and fluffy sponge? The answer is a resounding yes. Sponge cakes freeze well (see also How To Freeze Carrot Cake).

If you keep your sponge cake in the fridge, it can last for up to two weeks. However, if you freeze it, it will keep for up to six months, even longer if you keep the temperature at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. However, like most foods, it will taste better the earlier you eat it. That’s not to say that it’s going to taste awful. It might just lose a little of the fluffiness.

Some people make sponge cakes without butter (see also How To Freeze Angel Food Cake) or any sort of fat. In fact, these cakes don’t last as long in the freezer as cakes made with fat.

A good tip is to go for natural ingredients when making your sponge cake rather than using artificial ingredients (see also Can You Freeze Fruit Cake?). This also helps to extend the shelf life of the cake in the freezer. Use real vanilla pods instead of vanilla essence for example. 

It is best to freeze the different layers of the sponge cake separately (for another way, see Freezing Cake Batter) to stop them from sticking together. It is also advisable to add the filling when you have defrosted the cake (see also Can You Freeze Cake Pops?). Whipping cream for example doesn’t have that long a shelf life in the freezer, although jam does.

Freezing Sponge Cake

It is highly likely that you will be baking the sponge cake from scratch (see also Can You Freeze Scones). If so, then you need to cool the layers down completely before freezing. If you put warm food into the freezer, it will probably bring the temperature up in the freezer allowing other food to start to defrost. It isn’t a good idea for food to defrost and then freeze again as it can lead to bacteria developing which can cause food poisoning.

Once the layers of the cake are cool, wrap each layer separately in cling wrap. Then get heavy-duty plastic bags and put each layer into a separate one. Make sure that the bags are resealable. Squeeze out all of the air from the bags. If you don’t, freezer burn may occur and, while not detrimental to your health, can change the taste and texture of the cake. It probably won’t be as tasty. Don’t be fooled into using thin plastic bags as they won’t stand up to the freezing temperatures and your cake will be ruined.

The final step is to put the storage date on the bag with a marker. This is important as you may forget the date you put the cake in the freezer, especially if you freeze lots of items. 

You might want to freeze some leftover sponge cake (see also Is Freezing Lemon Drizzle Cake A Good Idea?) if you don’t intend to eat it within the two weeks it would keep in the freezer. The process is a little different. First, wrap the cake in aluminum foil and put it in a rigid plastic container or a large heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Mark the storage date on the bag or container. Leftover cake won’t last as long as simple layers of cake if it has whipped cream (see also How To Freeze Whipped Cream) in it.

Defrosting Frozen Sponge Cake

To defrost sponge cake you need to take it out of the container or the bag, but leave the cling film or aluminum foil on.  Put the cake into the fridge and allow it to thaw overnight. The following day, remove the cling film or foil so that condensation doesn’t occur. That will ruin the texture of the cake. Once the cake is completely thawed, you will be able to sandwich the layers with raspberry jam (see also Can You Freeze Jam) and whipped cream. Of course, you might want a change and put in buttercream or ice the top (see also Can You Freeze Buttercream Frosting).

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that a sponge cake is a great addition to a party or to a wedding. Dress it up for a special event. However, you can also just make a simple one for every day. Your family will love you. However, if you think you won’t have the time to make them for an event, why not make one in advance and freeze it. It won’t take long to put together once defrosted.  

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