With its soft texture and spicy flavor, carrot cake is one of the most popular and lovable cakes. The carrots add moisture, while the earthy spices complement the sweetness of this delicious dessert.
But what if you bake too much cake and end up with leftovers? What if you prepare too much mix that you want to keep for later?
Can you freeze carrot cake? I’m here to answer your question in detail, so keep reading.
Can You Freeze Carrot Cake?
Yes, you can freeze carrot cake to serve it later. You don’t have to throw away any leftover cake after spending money, time, and effort to prepare it from scratch.
Isn’t this wonderful? You can enjoy carrot cake any time you like after thawing it.
Even if you use a store-bought cake mix, you can still freeze it and bake it later.
Frozen carrot cake can be thawed to make another dessert like cake pops. That’s another way to indulge in the richness of carrot cake.
But it’s all about following the proper steps of freezing and thawing this popular cake.
Can You Freeze Baked Carrot Cake?
It’s possible to freeze your carrot cake after it’s baked. If you follow all the right steps, your cake will be good for up to two or three months.
The best part? It will taste delicious when it’s thawed.
This is great news if your occasion got canceled after you’ve already started preparing your carrot cake. But remember that you shouldn’t rush the freezing process.
Let the cake cool completely before trying to freeze it. Warm cake will become too soggy when you freeze and this will damage the cake’s structure.
If you have leftover cake, slice it and wrap each slice in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Put the wrapped slices in an airtight container after squeezing out the excess air.
You can also wrap an entire baking tray with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge. But I prefer freezing individual slices to use as much as you need without having to thaw the entire cake.
When it’s time to enjoy your cake, thaw the slices for a few hours in the fridge or at room temperature.
You can microwave your cake for 30 seconds before serving it to restore freshness. Once it’s cold, apply your favorite frosting and decorate as usual.
Can You Freeze Carrot Cake Mix?
Yes. You don’t have to throw away your leftover batter.
You can freeze a carrot cake mix that you prepare ahead of time. The batter will remain good for about three months, whether it’s store-bought or made from scratch.
However, if you have fruit pieces in the batter, keep it in the freezer for only one month.
It’s best to mix in any ingredients before freezing the batter and giving it a good stir to make sure that it won’t separate.
After the cake mix is frozen and thawed, adding more ingredients will be challenging.
Make sure that the batter is cool, and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Leave some space to allow the mix to expand a little.
You can also pour the mix into a cupcake or muffin tray and let it freeze.
Once ready to bake, thaw the mix overnight in the fridge and stir everything to ensure all the ingredients are properly incorporated.
If you notice that the liquid is separating or that there’s a bad smell, throw your cake mix away.
Bake your cake as usual. Then, let it cool and frost it as usual.
Can You Freeze Carrot Cake Layers?
You can freeze carrot cake layers. It’s better than freezing an assembled cake and will allow you to put it together easily when it’s time to serve your tasty dessert.
Cake layers will cool down faster after baking because they’re thinner than a whole cake. It’s crucial to wait until your cake is cold because the warm cake will become soggy when you freeze it.
Wrap each cake layer in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent the layers from sticking together. Store those layers in a sealed container.
When you’re ready to serve your carrot cake layers, allow them to thaw in the fridge overnight. Assemble the cake layers, stick them with frosting, and decorate your carrot cake with some nuts.
Can You Freeze Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting?
What if you end up with leftover cake after decorating it with the delicious cream cheese frosting? You can still freeze it for up to two months without issues.
Freezing a frosted carrot cake means it’s ready to be eaten right after it’s thawed. Moreover, it won’t dry or become crumbly because the frosting helps seal the moisture and keep it fluffy.
But, this is exactly why I wouldn’t recommend freezing a frosted cake.
It’s OK to keep some leftover frosted carrot cake in the freezer, but you don’t want to prepare a whole cake and frost it in advance because it will become soggy. The frosting soaks into the cake, making it too wet over time.
Moreover, the frosting will crack, and you might need to reapply it to restore the cake’s appearance.
So, this shouldn’t be your go-to baking strategy. Nothing beats the taste and texture of a freshly baked and frosted cake.
How to Freeze a Frosted Carrot Cake
Ideally, if you want to store a frosted cake, pick a rather dry carrot cake and a frosting that will hold its shape. Freezing a cake with whipped cream won’t be a good idea.
Here are the correct steps to follow.
- Allow the cake to cool down before applying any frosting.
- Use thick cream cheese frosting to coat the cake.
- Chill the cake for an hour, as this will help maintain the shape of the frosting and prevent cracking.
- Wrap your cake in plastic wrap and freeze in an airtight container.
- When ready to eat the cake, remove the wrap and thaw it in the fridge overnight.
- Check the frosting and re-frost the cake if needed.
Can Carrot Cake Be Refrozen?
After thawing frozen carrot cake, I don’t recommend refreezing it one more time.
It might seem like a good idea to avoid waste and enjoy every last bit of cake. This is why it’s best to freeze sliced carrot cake and only thaw it as needed.
Refreezing causes loss of moisture, leading to a crumbly, dry cake that lacks the carrot cake’s signature texture. Here’s what happens when you refreeze it.
- Ice crystals form during freezing, damaging the structure of the cake.
- With each freezing cycle, the texture changes and becomes drier.
- When the cake thaws, it loses moisture and becomes even drier.
- If the cake is frosted, the frosting will crack and deteriorate with freezing and thawing.
- After thawing, bacteria can multiply in the cake, making it unsafe to eat and increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
When Should You Discard Frozen Carrot Cake?
Even with the best precautions, your frozen carrot cake won’t last forever.
This is why I highly recommend labeling your frozen food containers, mentioning the date and all the ingredients used. It will help you sort food and discard the bad batches that are no longer safe to use.
But how can you tell that it’s not safe to eat your frozen carrot cake? Here are some signs it’s time to throw it away.
- After three or four months, throw away the cake even if you don’t notice anything wrong with it. The quality deteriorates over time, and it becomes unsafe to consume.
- If you’re using fresh fruits, discard the cake one month after freezing it.
- When you notice ice crystals or freezer burn on the cake, it shows that it wasn’t properly frozen. You shouldn’t eat this cake.
- Check for discoloration or webbing, which indicates spoilage due to mold growth.
- Sniff your thawed cake and discard it if it smells off.
- Examine the cake and look out for overly dry or soggy spots that indicate that the cake has gone bad.
Final Thoughts
Freezing carrot cake is a good way to avoid waste when you end up with leftover cake. You can even freeze a batch of cake mix to use it when needed.
It’s crucial to follow the proper steps while freezing and thawing cake because you don’t want it to go bad. If you notice any changes in the texture, look, or smell, it’s time to discard your cake.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.