A Guide to Preserving Your Wedding Cake for Your First Anniversary
Enjoying the top tier of your wedding cake on your first anniversary is a sweet tradition. To ensure it tastes as delicious as you remember, proper storage is key. Here’s a step-by-step guide to perfectly preserving that precious cake.
Start with Realistic Expectations
Before you begin, it's important to know that a year in the freezer will change any cake. Modern frost-free freezers, which work by circulating dry air to prevent ice buildup, can slowly dehydrate it. Standard sponge cakes with buttercream fillings tend to faire better than fresh fruit fillings.
The Four Steps to Perfect Preservation
Flash Freeze to Set the Icing Before wrapping, place the unwrapped cake tier in the freezer for about an hour, or until the icing is firm to the touch. This crucial step prevents the plastic wrap from sticking to your beautiful decorations. If your cake has large sugar flowers or other ornaments, it's best to carefully remove them now.
Wrap It Right Once the icing is hard, take the cake out and wrap it tightly in several layers of plastic wrap. Be generous here—you want to create a barrier against air and moisture. Avoid using aluminum foil directly on the cake, as it can contribute to freezer burn. But a layer of foil on top of a layer of plastic wrap works well.
Create an Airtight Seal For maximum protection, place the wrapped cake inside an airtight container. If you don't have one that fits, you can use the original cake box, but be sure to wrap the entire box in another few layers of plastic wrap or a large freezer bag. Finally, add a label with the date so you don't mistake it for anything else.
Thaw with Patience When your anniversary is approaching, transfer the frozen cake from the freezer to the refrigerator. Let it thaw for 24 to 48 hours. After it has thawed in the fridge, move it to the counter and allow it to come to room temperature for 2 to 3 hours before serving.
The No-Fuss Alternative: Order a Replica
If the process seems too daunting or you're worried your cake won't withstand the freeze, there's a simple solution: order a small, fresh replica. You'll get to enjoy the same delicious flavor without any of the hassle, perfectly recreating a sweet memory from your wedding day.
Alternatively, you could individually wrap 12 slices of cake in airtight containers. Each month on your anniversary, take out one container of cake to enjoy throughout your first year of marriage.