Cake is delicious, but sometimes leftovers get thrown out before they go bad. What should you do with them?
If you’ve ever had a slice of cake or two, it’s pretty tasty.
But did you know that you can also eat the rest of the cake after it’s been a few days? In fact, some bakeries even sell leftover cakes.
Leftover cakes aren’t necessarily bad for you.
But if your recipe calls for enough batter to make multiple servings, there are some things to keep in mind when deciding whether to make extra or not.
Be Careful About Gluten
If you want to bake more and are gluten intolerant, check your recipes carefully, so you don’t eat something that contains gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. It can cause serious health problems for people who are sensitive to it.
Don’t Overdo It
Because leftovers are usually smaller than the original cake, you might think that having one more won’t hurt anything.
You may find yourself overeating, though, leading to weight gain.
Avoid Too Much Butter
Butter added to a cake during its preparation will melt into the batter and contribute to its flavor.
However, adding extra butter during storage to moisten it could make it taste disgusting.
Keep In An Airtight Container
Baking soda absorbs odors, so storing leftover cakes in sealed containers keeps their flavors from getting stale.
Save For A Special Occasion
While leftovers are rarely “bad,” they’re not suitable every day either.
For example, a leftover birthday cake would likely taste better on someone else’s birthday than yours.
So save your leftover cakes for special occasions like birthdays, Valentine’s Day, and holidays.
Freeze Them
This is especially useful if you make a large cake. Simply portion out the frozen pieces and enjoy whenever you please.
Bake Again
If you didn’t use all the dough in the first place, it might be worth trying again later. Some cakes freeze well, while others can actually improve with age.
Use It To Make Muffins
Muffin batters tend to hold together better than cake batter, making them perfect for using leftover cake as a base.
Plus, since muffins usually have a lot of eggs and milk, they can already be naturally low in fat.
Wrap It
You can wrap leftover cakes tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap for long-term storage. Or, try freezing them in individual portions.
Make Cookies
Cookies are essentially mini cakes, so you shouldn’t have any problem recreating a cookie by baking with leftover cake and adapting the recipe.
Just be sure to store the dough in an airtight container to prevent drying out.
Stash Them Away For Future Use
When you buy bakery items, many packages include instructions telling you how to store them properly.
Follow those recommendations, and you’ll never need to worry about wasting food again!
Food Storage Tips – How to Store Food Safely
The best way to ensure safe food storage is to plan ahead. The key is planning ahead to have plenty of time to prepare food for unexpected occasions.
By following these simple food storage tips, you can avoid wasting valuable resources and keep your family healthy throughout the year.
The best way to ensure safe cake storage is to pre-prepare in advance.
Many essential steps should be taken before a disaster occurs. This includes:
- Having a backup generator.
- Having enough fuel to power it.
- Knowing where your supplies are located.
- Make sure there is no gas leakage or fire hazards.
When preparing your cake storage, label it clearly with a permanent marker.
You will want to know which item goes into which jar when you start stocking up. Be careful not to put things together that don’t belong together.
Also, be sure to rotate your supplies frequently. Your pantry needs to constantly change, but you don’t want to end up with expired canned goods.
Tips For Baking With Leftover Cake
Read on if you want more ideas on what to do with leftover cake. To bake with leftovers, you need to make sure that the cake is cooled completely.
Then line the bottom of a springform pan with plastic wrap, then grease and flour the sides.
According to the package directions, bake using just the amount of shortening is called for. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Run a knife around the edge of the pan, release the sides, and slide it onto the wire rack. Peel off the plastic.
Now slice and serve in slices, or turn the whole thing out (with the side intact).
How To Freeze Cake
Before freezing, cover your cake with plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
The next day, remove the plastic wrap, wrap the cake tightly in aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer until needed.
Ensure you time removing your cake from the freezer properly. For example, the icing could melt if you take the cake out of the freezer too early.
So if you feel very hungry after enjoying the cake, wait a few minutes longer.
Or you may want to add another tablespoon or two of butter or oil to the batter beforehand – this helps prevent sticking.
Another good rule of thumb is to check the consistency of the frosting against the back of your spoon, as it should spread quickly across the top of the cake.
How Long Does A Cake Last In The Refrigerator?
The answer depends on how moist or dry the cake recipe was.
Moist cakes, like birthday cakes, tend to hold their shape better than dry cakes, so they won’t crumble as much over time.
And even cakes like those made with egg yolks can be kept fresh for several days in the refrigerator if stored properly.
Dry cakes, such as angel food cakes and pound cakes, often have very little moisture content, making them especially prone to drying out.
Most cakes will keep for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
Learn How To Perfectly Freeze A Cake
This guide covers three steps that help ensure great results every time:
1. Use The Right Pan
Use a sturdy 8″ x 12″ rimless cake pan to create a perfectly domed layer cake.
2. Prepare The Pans
Line each pan you want to use with parchment paper. Grease and flour the inside of the pan.
Then dust the outside of the pan lightly with powdered sugar to ensure a smooth crust upon cooling.
3. Cool The Cake Layers Well In Advance
When baking a layered cake, it’s best to start preparing the other layers while the first one bakes.
When the second layer cools, you’re ready to assemble the cake.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are many things you can do with leftover cake. Remember to always thaw a frozen cake out entirely before serving.
Thawing the cake at room temperature is fine as long as you remember it needs to be completely defrosted before being sliced.
If you are transporting the cake in an insulated container, place it back into the container after removing it from the icebox.
You can then store the cake in the refrigerator again once it reaches room temperature.
