Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi Paul, do you store your finished fondant cakes in the fridge? I’ve heard that the cake would go gooey and sticky, I have never tried this before, I dont want to take the risk ,since I’m using buttercream filling, can my cake sit on the counter overnight? What about ganach?? Please help!!

From your question Zeina you say you want your cake to sit out overnight, that’s just fine if you fill it with butter cream or ganach, and fondant is definitely fine to leave out. Butter cream does not have to be refrigerated and neither does the ganache. You can make all different flavours with butter cream, you don’t have to be restricted there. What would not be good is if you use fresh cream, cream cheese fillings and anything else which is a quick perishable. What type of filling would you have liked? If you could make a few suggestions I’ll definitely help you out with different non dairy type fillings. x

Hi Zeina

Fondant decorated cakes are not normally stored in the fridge because the fondant attracts moisture which softens it. If you put in the search box ‘freezing decorated cake’, there is an answer which might help. There is also another answer on the site which I’ve tried to search but can’t find, perhaps if you have a search you may be able to find it. In extreme cases fondant will ‘melt’, spoiling all the decorations. I know some people do successfully store iced cakes in the fridge but it is something to be done with caution. I have read cakes decorated with Satin Ice fondant can be placed in the fridge. Your cake can certainly sit on the counter (safest place) and so can a ganached cake. The sugars in the cake, the fondant and ganche act as preservatives and will keep the cake fresh. It might be worth storing a small decorated trial cake as an experiment. I hope this answer helps.

Hi Paul
Just about to ask the same question, will take your advice and leave out.

A friend recently asked me to bake a 60th birthday cake for Friday – no pressure!

I’ve only recently taken out a membership, but have found the information provided has helped me to make this cake more confidently than I ever thought I would.

Thank you

Hello Pixie

Paul may have another view, the answer I have provided is what I believe to be the general consensus. I have never stored fondant covered cakes in the fridge and can not comment first hand. I have however, made the mistake of storing fondant decorations which did become sticky and very gooey. Fondant is sugar and as with all sugars it will attract moisture, with that in mind, I avoid storing anything with fondant in the fridge. A ganache only decorated cake can be stored in the fridge. So very pleased the site has given you confidence and encouragement to tackle your forthcoming celebration cake. We are all here to help. G’d luck with it.

Thanx for the advice “madeitwithlove” the only thing is that I feel totally constricted for i have to use non- perishable fillings, and those are few, but I guess fondant is worth it after all .

We like whipped creams, custard, Italian, and French buttercreams…..What is the maximum shelf life of such fillings, I would be grateful for the tip. Thanx

The fillings you like have very short shelf life. Whipped cream is like normal cream and cakes filled with it should not be left out on the counter. Custard can be left out for a short period and French butter cream should really be refrigerated because it contains eggs. I’d be very wary of leaving custard made with egg yolks out on the counter for any more than a couple of hours, the same with French butter cream which also contains eggs. The shelf life of whipped cream would be the same as the use by date on the carton, custard will be good in the fridge for about four days as will French butter cream.