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How To Freeze and Thaw Your Pound Cake

How To Freeze and Thaw Your Pound Cake

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When it comes to classic desserts, pound cakes are bound to make an appearance. Dense, moist, and delicious, these baked goods are also very versatile.

Whether you serve it for breakfast, brunch, dinner, or even a home party, you can pair a pound cake with just about any topping you want to make everyone happy.

But what if you end up whipping up more pound cake than you need for the day? Or what if you’re trying to make pound cake in advance to save time when you need a quick dessert? Whatever the reason, you can keep pound cake in the freezer.

Today, we’re sharing a complete guide on how to freeze pound cake both before and after baking. So keep reading to learn the right way to store pound cake for use later on!

Does Pound Cake Freeze Well?

If you went on a baking frenzy and ended up with too much pound cake on your hands, you’re probably wondering if you can keep the extra cake in the freezer to eat some other time.

Luckily, the answer is yes.

Not only can you freeze a pound cake, but you can even freeze it as batter before baking or as slices/whole after baking.

If you’re storing pound cake as slices or whole, you won’t need to worry about its flavor, texture, or consistency changing due to freezing.

Pound cake is among the baked goods that freeze extremely well after cooking.

In fact, pound cake tastes so good after freezing that many people prefer to keep their cake in the freezer for some time before eating it!

The same goes for the pound cake batter. It’ll bake very nicely and won’t lose any of its flavor or richness as long as you freeze it correctly within 1 to 2 days after preparing it.

One of the reasons why freezing pound cake batter works so well is that it typically doesn’t contain a rising ingredient such as baking soda or baking powder.

The effect of leavening agents starts once the liquid components are added. As such, a frozen batter will yield a denser cake since the rising action is more aged than in a fresh batter.

The recipe for pound cake doesn’t call for a leavening ingredient. It calls for eggs with extra egg yolks because it’s meant to come out dense.

How Do You Freeze Pound Cake?

You can store pound cake in the freezer before or after baking.

Before Baking

Storing pound cake in batter form is a handy way to cut down on preparation time whenever you’re in a hurry to whip up a quick batch of fresh dessert.

To get the best results possible, make sure to add all the ingredients to the pound cake batter before freezing it.

Combining new ingredients into the batter after defrosting can disrupt the baked cake’s consistency and texture.

Also, be careful not to overmix the pound cake batter since you’ll mix it again after thawing. Over-mixing the batter can cause the cake to become too tough after baking.

In Bags

Storing your pound cake batter in freezer bags is an excellent solution if you don’t have much room in your freezer because bags allow for ergonomic organization.

Freezing batter in bags is also an advantage if you want to make portions or if you’re not sure how big of a cake you want to bake at once.

That said, here’s how to freeze pound cake batter in bags:

  • Prepare the batter according to your favorite recipe.
  • Portion out the adequate amount of cake batter for a single bake.
  • Transfer the batter into a freezer bag using a scoop.
  • Lay the bag(s) flat on the counter and spread out the batter to fill it.
  • Squeeze as much as possible of the excess air out of the bag.
  • Leave some space inside the freezer bag to allow for the expansion of the batter upon freezing and thawing.
  • Seal the bag tightly.
  • Place the bag inside a second freezer bag for extra protection against freezer burn and seal tightly.
  • Place a label with the date on it on the bag.
  • Stick the bag(s) into the freezer, laying in a horizontal position.
  • After about 2 hours, the batter should be solid enough to stand upright if you store the bag(s) in a vertical position.

In Pans

Freezing cake batter directly in a baking pan is a great idea if you’re storing it for a short time.

With the pan ready to pop into the oven, you get a prep shortcut especially if you’re baking for many people.

The biggest con to this method is that it takes time to defrost large pans of batter.

That said, here’s how to freeze pound cake batter in a baking pan:

  • Prepare the batter according to your favorite recipe.
  • Choose a freezer-safe baking pan.
  • Grease the baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
  • Transfer the batter to the pan.
  • Cover the pan tightly with plastic/saran wrap.
  • Wrap the pan with a layer of aluminum foil to further protect the batter from freezer burn.
  • Place a label with the date on the foil.
  • Put the pan in the freezer.

After Baking

Storing the pound cake after baking as a whole or as slices in your freezer is a major time saver whenever you’re in a hurry or don’t feel like baking but you’re in the mood for a baked dessert.

Whole

Here’s how to freeze a whole pound cake (or a large chunk):

  • Wait for the pound cake to cool down after baking to avoid sogginess and prevent bacterial growth.
  • When the pound cake reaches room temperature, tightly cover it in 2 or 3 layers of plastic wrap and make sure no part of the cake is left exposed.
  • Wrap the cake in 2 or 3 layers of aluminum foil also making sure that no part of the cake is left uncovered. This helps prevent freezer burn.
  • Transfer the pound cake to a freezer container or bag.
  • Place a label with the date on the container or bag and put it in the freezer.

Slices

Freezing pound cake in smaller portions is more convenient because you get to defrost just the amount you’ll use, so it’s quicker and less wasteful.

Here’s how to freeze pound cake slices:

  • After the baked pound cake cools down, cut it into slices of the desired size.
  • Tightly wrap each slice in plastic wrap and make sure no part of the slice is left exposed.
  • Wrap each slice in aluminum foil.
  • Transfer the slices to a freezer container or bag.
  • Place a label with the date on the container or bag and put it in the freezer.

How Long Does Frozen Pound Cake Last?

Baked pound cake can last between 4 to 6 months in the freezer without changing taste, consistency, or color. Freezing it longer than 6 months can comprise the flavor.

As for pound cake batter, you can freeze it safely for up to 3 to 4 months.

How To Thaw Frozen Pound Cake

The best way to thaw baked pound cake is to place it in the fridge.

The thawing duration depends on the size of the frozen portion. A whole pound cake can take up to 24 hours to thaw thoroughly whereas a slice can take about an hour to thaw completely.

Don’t remove the wrapping for the thawing process so that the condensation forms on the wrapping, not the cake.

As for thawing the batter, you’ll simply let it sit in the fridge overnight while in the pan or bag.

Can You Refreeze Pound Cake?

Technically speaking, you can freeze pound cake again after thawing. But you should avoid refreezing after thawing as it can negatively affect the consistency and flavor of the pound cake.

Can You Keep Pound Cake in the Fridge?

Yes, you can store pounds in the fridge for up to 7 days. But if you want to keep it for a longer time, freezing it is the better option.

To refrigerate the pound cake, wait for it to cool down to room temperature then wrap it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

After that, place the wrapped cake in an airtight container or freezer bag and stick it in the fridge.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, an easy guide on how to freeze pound cake.

You can store pound cake after baking or as a batter in the freezer for months without worrying about changes in the cake’s taste or consistency.

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