Can You Leave a Cake Out Overnight? [Tips for Proper Storing]

You have made the perfect cake, and now what? You may be a real fan of desserts, but you cannot eat a whole cake at once, meaning you need to store it properly to preserve the flavors. So, how do you store it properly, and can you leave a cake out overnight? 

You should leave a freshly baked cake out overnight since refrigerating might quickly lead to drying out and hardening. Cakes with fondant or ganache can stay at room temperature for up to five days. But if your cake is primarily made of eggs and dairy products, it is better to keep it in the fridge once it cools completely.

Following a cake recipe and achieving your dream cake is not enough to enjoy it for a longer time. That is why I will further explain how to store your cake properly and include some tips that might make this task easier. Here’s what useful tips you will find here:

Can you leave a cake out? 

The most common question related to baking and storing cakes is whether or not to leave your cake out. 

When it comes to freshly baked cakes, it is recommended that you leave them out at least for the night because refrigerating them immediately might affect their texture and taste. Namely, if you put your cake in the fridge right after baking, you risk it becoming hard and dry. 

Therefore, once your cake is done, cover it with something you find fit for your cake and leave it overnight. This also refers to cakes with frostings, fondant, and ganache. You may think these kinds of cakes might get spoiled over the night, but the ingredients used in cakes are created to endure room temperature. 

In fact, cakes can last at room temperature for longer than one night. If you keep it covered, your cake can stay out of the fridge for up to five days. Refrigeration is usually necessary if your kitchen gets really hot during the day, or you will not serve the cake in the following days. 

How do you store a cake overnight? 

As I mentioned earlier, it is recommended that you leave a freshly baked cake out overnight. Also, your cake can last longer at room temperature. However, how you store the cake is very important. 

This means you have to cover it and keep it away from dust and other particles in the air. When your cake is well covered, you do not risk environmental influences affecting its texture or taste. However, you also need to think about how you made it. 

In other words, if you have baked your cake properly, you might leave it out overnight. If the texture of your cake is made completely according to the recipe, then it will stay safe over the night at room temperature. 

Accurate preparation and baking allow your cake to cool off successfully without letting the layers slide onto each other. This also helps your cake not fall apart while still warm. Letting it cool off overnight is important, but the cake’s preparation must be spotless. 

Nonetheless, keeping the cake out on its own is not enough. You need to have a good cover for it to protect it from dust and other particles in the air. You can do it really simply by using plastic wrap, or you could use some utensils that will make the storage easier. 

Therefore, I have included some ideas that you might find helpful.

• Plastic wrap and aluminum foil – these will keep the cake layers moist enough, but the cake needs to be cooled off first. 
• Cake pans – these usually come with lids, so you just have to put the lid on and safely leave your cake to cool off. 
• Countertop – this can be a convenient place to store your cake overnight. 
• Cake keepers – these look nice, but are also some of the safest options you have for storing cakes. 
• Oven – it is a good solution if you do not have any lids or proper utensils that can keep your cake away from pests or dust. 

If you provide good cover, you can be sure your cake will stay safe during the night. Some cakes can even stay for more than one night this way, as long as your kitchen does not get really hot during the day. 

How to store cake before frosting? 

Before you proceed to frost, you should first let the layers cool off completely. You can do this by leaving the cake for a couple of hours, or be on the safe side, leave it overnight. Whichever way you choose, make sure that you wrap or cover the cake layers. 

You cannot proceed to frost if your layers were not covered before that. Dust and other particles will definitely get all over your cake, so it would be completely unsafe to put frosting on that. That is why you need to let the cake cool off with a suitable cover on top. 

How to store cake with buttercream frosting? 

Believe it or not, you can leave a cake with buttercream frosting at room temperature even for three days. However, you will need to cover it. But, you cannot put the cover immediately after finishing the frosting process. 

As you know, when the frosting is fresh, it is very soft and light. After you apply it to the cake, it needs some time to harden. Therefore, when it comes to storing a cake with fresh buttercream frosting, you will have to wait for a couple of hours and then store it. 

This also refers to storing the cake in the fridge. The frosting needs air to harden and become as you desire. After you have achieved that, you can put some kind of cover, such as plastic or aluminum foil, a lid, or a cake keeper. 

How long can frosting sit out? 

The average time for frosting and icing to stay unspoiled at room temperature is around three days. 

However, if your buttercream is pure white without butter and only shortening, the recommended safe time is up to two days. Also, you should not forget about covering it because you limit the possibility of crusting with an appropriate cover. 

How do we know if a cake is spoiled?

Several signs might show you that your cake is spoiled and no longer edible. The most obvious sign and also the most visible one is the appearance of mold. Usually, when mold appears, you will see it on top of your cake, where the frosting is, or around the sides. 

Another sign can be the hard and dry texture of the cake. When moisture evaporates from baked goods, it leaves the texture quite dry. This usually means that your cake is no longer suitable for eating. 

In addition, spoiled cake usually has a sour odor, so don’t forget to check the smell before serving a few days old cakes.

If your cake includes some fruit fillings, you might also notice mold on them. Another possibility is for them to become slimy. 

You should always check for these signs, especially if the cake has been kept for a long time. Spoiled cakes can put you in danger because they might induce food contamination, which is definitely not something you are looking for. 

Should a mirror glazed cake be refrigerated? 

Since mirror glaze is a delicate detail on a cake, you should always refrigerate it. Wrap it up with a cling wrap, ensuring that the cling is not touching the glaze.

Can you leave a sponge cake out overnight? 

Sponge cake is the easiest cake to store because its texture is resistant to environmental changes. Therefore, leaving it out overnight would be completely safe, especially if the cake has just been baked. 

How long can cream cheese frosting sit out? 

Cream cheese frosting is quite delicate and can easily get spoiled. That is why it is important to store it in the fridge. However, if you do not want to eat a cold cake, this frosting can last safely for about two hours at room temperature. 

In conclusion, it is important to point out, once again, that leaving your cakes to cool off after baking is crucial. You may leave them for a couple of hours or overnight, but make sure that you do not skip this part. Properly storing cakes is as important as properly baking them.