Fruit cake is a classic Christmas recipe. As the season of hosting family gatherings, you might be inclined to make too much cake.
We’ve all been there. We make large quantities of food only to have half of it left after the gathering is over.
So, what do you do with leftovers? Should you throw them away? Can you freeze fruit cakes?
Well, in this article, we’ll answer this question, and more, so you can keep the freshness and flavor of your cake for a long time.
How Long Can You Freeze Fruit Cake?
Luckily, fruit cakes can stay in the freezer for a long time. On average, you can leave them for 3-4 months while maintaining their freshness and texture.
That’s because of the preservative effects of freezing. While it doesn’t kill bacteria, freezing puts these bugs to sleep and reduces the spoilage effect of yeast in your cake.
If you do it right, freezing can preserve your cake’s fresh texture for a long time. They can even stay for up to six months, but we can’t guarantee how good they’ll taste.
The longer they’re frozen, the more quality they lose.
Keep in mind that the freshness of the cake when you freeze it factors into how long it can stay in the freezer. So, if you want to make sure your cake stays fresh in the freezer as long as possible, your best bet would be to freeze it the moment you realize you won’t eat it anymore.
Can You Freeze Fruit Cake Without Alcohol?
While alcohol-soaked fruit cakes last longer in the freezer, freezing virgin fruit cakes is an effective way to preserve their texture.
While they won’t last for years, you’ll get up to 6 months of fresh flavor.
In fact, virgin cakes have an advantage, as their flavor is not affected by alcohol. So, if you’re wondering how to get your toddler to eat more fruit, you have a new option.
Can You Freeze Fruit Cake Mix?
It’s a versatile cake in every sense. So, yes, you can even freeze the mix.
The process of freezing is similar to that of a baked fruit cake. Place the mix in a container or a freezing bag.
Make sure it’s sealed tight to prevent air from coming in. Whenever you’re ready to prepare your cake, take it out of the freezer and leave it in the refrigerator.
The fruit in the cake’s mix won’t keep its freshness, though. It might solidify, which would affect its taste.
So, it’s better to not leave your mix in the freezer for too long.
Can You Freeze Fruit Cake With Icing?
Freezing a fruit cake with icing is not that hard. The problem with iced fruit cake is that plastic wrap sticks to the icing.
So, when you pull it out, the icing comes off. To prevent this, put your cake in the fridge for a few hours.
It won’t affect the taste of the cake. It would just solidify the icing so it wouldn’t stick to the plastic wrap.
All that’s left is to follow the regular freezing procedure, and your cake is ready to be frozen.
Freezing Procedure
Yes, there’s a right way to freeze your cake. It’s not as simple as placing it in the freezer. Remember, you don’t want it to dry out.
Wrap It in Protective Paper
The first step is to wrap your cake in protective paper. However, it’s crucial to let it cool first, as wrapping it after you had just taken it out of the oven would make it soggy.
We prefer using resealable bags, as they’re reusable and can seal the cake tight, preventing any air from coming in.
If they’re not available, though, you can use aluminum foil on top of plastic wrap instead.
When you store food in the freezer, it usually absorbs the smell of other ingredients in there. There’s an advantage to using plastic wrap and foil together.
Not only will it prevent your cake from absorbing unwanted scents, but it’ll also prevent air from coming in. This helps maintain the freshness of your cake.
Keep in mind that using plastic wraps has its risks.
They won’t stick to the cake very tightly. So, they allow more air to come in, making your cake more susceptible to drying out.
While it’s not a big deal to everyone, not being reusable also makes them a huge waste.
Place It in a Container
Place your wrapped cake in a plastic bag or container. All that’s left is to put it in the freezer and take it out whenever you want a piece.
If you don’t want to risk catching bad smells, clean your freezer before placing your cake and take out any source of weird scents.
Pro tip: Sprinkling some fresh baking soda is enough to take care of bad scents in your freezer.
We recommend writing the freezing date on the foil or plastic wrap so you can keep track of how long the cake has been in the freezer.
Can You Freeze Fruit Cake With Icing and Marzipan?
Yes, you can. Made from almonds, sugar, and honey, Marzipan can last up to six months in the freezer.
All you have to do is flash freeze your fruit cake so it wouldn’t stick to the plastic wrap, then follow the same freezing drill.
Can You Freeze Candied Fruit for Fruit Cake?
Yes, you can. However, it’s not necessary.
Candied fruit is fresh fruit soaked in sugar syrup and heated so that the water evaporates and the sugar content remains.
While it’s a viable option, freezing candied fruit can crystalize the sugar in them. We can’t guarantee that the taste will stay the same.
A more practical storing method would be sealing them in a container. They can last for more than a year.
The sugar prevents bacterial growth, preserving the fruit’s texture. If, however, you end up with frozen candied fruit, you can defrost them by leaving them in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours.
You can also pour some heavy corn syrup on them to restore their fresh flavor.
Can You Eat Frozen Fruit Cake?
Yes, you can eat frozen fruit cake. However, the frozen texture might change your perception of the flavor.
For the most enjoyment, we recommend letting the cake thaw for a little bit after you take it out of the freezer.
Is It Better to Freeze Fruit Cake With Alcohol?
Yes, it is! Think of alcohol as an extra layer of protection. Unlike freezing, alcohol kills bacteria, slowing down the spoilage process.
While virgin fruit cakes can last for months in the freezer, alcohol-soaked fruit cakes can last for more than a year.
However, that doesn’t come without a price, as the storing process is quite different.
How to Freeze Fruit Cake With Alcohol
As with virgin fruit cakes, your first step is to let them cool down. Then, you want to soak a cheesecloth in whatever alcohol you like. You can choose whisky, brandy, rum, etc.
Put the cake in the cheesecloth and brush/spray the cake with an extra layer of alcohol (optional). Use a fork to make holes in your cake before you put it on the cloth or spray it so that the cake absorbs as much alcohol as possible.
Wrap the cake with the cloth and then add a layer of foil for extra protection. However, make sure the cheesecloth is wrapped tightly around the cake, as the reaction between alcohol and aluminum can affect the cake’s taste.
Now comes the tricky part. Occasionally, take the cake out, resoak it with a fresh beverage, and put it back in.
There isn’t a specific time to do this, but you should resoak it at least once a month. You can either spray/brush the cake itself or the cloth it’s wrapped in.
How to Defrost Fruit Cake
Defrosting fruit cakes isn’t as simple as taking them out of the freezer and placing them in a cooling rack. To preserve the texture and flavor of the cake, put it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
Keep the cake in its container to prevent it from drying out. Then, take it out and let it reach room temperature.
Whatever you do, don’t put your cake in the microwave. It might seem like an efficient way to defrost it.
It’s not. Not only will it change the texture, but it’ll also overcook the edges of your cake as it thaws the center.
Can You Refreeze Fruit Cake?
Refreezing a fruit cake isn’t a good idea. You see, defrosting tampers with the structure of fruit cakes, as it evaporates the moisture inside them, causing them to dry out.
We don’t recommend refreezing a cake in this state. Besides, it can cause ice crystals to form, which can mess with the cake’s structure.
Pro tip: If you’re worried that you might not eat the whole cake when you defrost it, you can cut it into small pieces before you freeze it.
Don’t worry. The freezing process is the same.
You’ll just apply it to smaller pieces. That way, you can only take a couple of pieces whenever you get a craving.
Final Thoughts
So, can you freeze fruit cake? Yes, you can. Freezing is a great way to maintain the cake’s texture and flavor.
Luckily, fruit cakes can stay for months in the freezer, maybe even years if soaked with alcohol.
It’s all about how you store it in the freezer. So, make sure you cover it with more than one layer of protection and put it in tight containers or freezing bags.
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.