My workforce and I’ve frozen our justifiable share of muffins and have made sufficient errors to know what actually works. Let’s study learn how to freeze muffins in order that they style the freshest and that you just’re the one one who is aware of the cake was beforehand frozen!

I initially printed this tutorial in 2019 and have since added new photographs, a video tutorial, and extra success ideas.

Making muffins upfront and freezing them is a good way to get forward and have much less to do on the day of a celebration or celebration. At this time I’m sharing my tried and true methodology for freezing muffins.

I’ve tried many strategies over time, and the way in which I’m exhibiting you immediately is the easiest way to make sure the cake tastes contemporary and scrumptious after freezing and thawing. Earlier than we get into the nitty-gritty, let me let you know…

My #1 Tip for Freezing Truffles

My number-one tip for the best-tasting outcomes is to freeze the cake layers earlier than frosting, and make the frosting contemporary the day you propose to assemble and serve the cake.

You can freeze a cake with frosting, however the texture is simply by no means fairly the identical after thawing. Plus, a very embellished cake will contract and increase throughout the freezing/thawing course of, ruining a few of your exhausting work. That’s why I like to recommend freezing the cake by itself, after which making frosting (contemporary frosting actually does style finest!) and assembling the cake after it’s been thawed.

That mentioned, it’s positive to freeze leftover frosted cake. It’s simply left over and doesn’t have to impress anybody! And clearly, ice cream cake is an exception to this rule as effectively.

The right way to Freeze Truffles

First, right here’s a full video tutorial so you possibly can perceive the tactic:

The cake pictured right here is my vanilla cake, however you may as well freeze one thing with add-ins, comparable to carrot cake, or this darkish chocolate peanut butter cake (which has chocolate chips within the cake batter).

STEP 1: Bake and funky your cake(s). It’s vital to verify the muffins are utterly cool earlier than you wrap them to freeze. In any other case, the steam from the cooling cake will condense on the within of the wrapping, leaving you with a really soggy cake after thawing. Let’s keep away from that!

If you happen to’re making a layer cake and the layers require leveling, stage them off now earlier than you freeze them. (Be taught extra about learn how to stage muffins on this tutorial on The right way to Assemble a Layer Cake.)

STEP 2: Wrap every cake layer individually in a layer of plastic wrap. I like to make use of Glad Press & Seal to wrap muffins for freezing. I’m not working with this model, however that is really one of the best product I’ve tried for wrapping muffins.

STEP 3: Write the kind of cake and use-by date on a big piece of aluminum foil. For finest style and texture, don’t freeze muffins for longer than 3 months. You possibly can stretch it to 4 or 5 months, however the sooner you serve it, the more energizing it tastes. I write on the aluminum foil earlier than wrapping the cake simply in case the ink seeps via. (It has earlier than!)

STEP 4: Wrap every cake layer in a layer of aluminum foil.

The double layer of wrapping is essential to preserving taste and texture.

The primary layer retains the cake tight and contemporary and the aluminum foil ensures no condensation will seep in. That is additionally how I wrap banana bread and different fast breads, too. Double layer = most freshness and no freezer burn.

You possibly can place your labeled, double-wrapped muffins within the freezer now, however for even extra safety, place them inside an hermetic freezer-safe container.

STEP 5: Place the cake(s) in a freezer-safe container. Or for those who don’t have a sufficiently big container, wrap in one other layer of aluminum foil. After all make sure that the foil with the date on it’s what’s on the skin.

Be at liberty to stack the individually wrapped cake layers on prime of each other if that works finest to your freezer area:

STEP 6: Freeze for as much as 3 months. Once more, I like to recommend writing the “use by” date on prime of the foil, 3 months from now.

Bear in mind, the earlier you thaw and benefit from the cake, the more energizing it can style.

You should utilize this identical freezing methodology for spherical or sheet muffins, any measurement or form. Bundt muffins and loaf muffins, too! For cheesecake directions, see “The right way to Freeze Cheesecake” in my basic cheesecake recipe.

The right way to Thaw Frozen Cake

To thaw the muffins, switch them from the freezer to the fridge a day upfront to present them time to thaw. Or you possibly can thaw them at room temperature for a number of hours.

Both means, go away them of their wrappings to thaw, to stop condensation from forming and making the muffins soggy.

The period of time it takes to thaw depends upon the dimensions of your cake, however you’ll want to permit not less than 8 hours to thaw within the fridge.

As soon as they’ve thawed, you possibly can merely unwrap the layers and proceed along with your cake recipe‘s instructions for frosting, assembling, and adorning.

How about cookies? See my put up on The right way to Freeze Cookie Dough for extra. Since you ought to ALWAYS have chocolate chip cookies on the prepared 🙂

Print

---

Description

Use this video tutorial and step-by-step information to freeze your muffins so that they style as contemporary as doable.

---

---

1. Bake and utterly cool a cake/cake layers. These step-by-step photographs present spherical muffins, however you possibly can freeze sq., rectangle, Bundt muffins, and so forth. See my 10 finest Cake Baking Ideas for finest practices on baking and cooling muffins.
2. As soon as the cake(s) cools utterly, wrap it in Press & Seal. That is one of the best product for wrapping muffins. Skinny plastic/saran wrap is extremely clingy and irritating. Common plastic wrap positively works, however Press & Seal is a lot simpler to make use of and I’ve truthfully discovered that it retains my meals more energizing. (Not working with this model, simply actually adore it.)
3. Write the kind of cake and use-by date on a big piece of aluminum foil. I write on the aluminum foil earlier than wrapping the cake simply in case the ink seeps via. It has earlier than!
4. Wrap the cake within the aluminum foil.
5. Place the cake(s) in a freezer-safe container. Or for those who don’t have a sufficiently big container, wrap in one other layer of aluminum foil. (Ensure the foil with the date on it’s what’s on the skin.)
6. Freeze for as much as 3 months. For finest style and texture, don’t freeze muffins for longer than 3 months. You possibly can stretch it to 4 or 5 months, however the sooner you serve it, the more energizing it tastes.
7. When able to thaw: Switch the wrapped muffins from the freezer to the fridge sooner or later earlier than adorning/serving. Take them out of the freezer container to thaw, however go away them wrapped in Press & Seal/aluminum foil. The muffins take not less than 8 hours to thaw utterly within the fridge. Ensure you’re thawing the muffins whereas they’re nonetheless within the wrapping. Condensation varieties as meals thaw. This manner the condensation will type on the wrapping, not the cake.
8. Assemble, adorn, and serve cake.

Notes

1. Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Press & Seal | Aluminum Foil | Freezer-Protected Container
2. Don’t Freeze Adorned Cake: For finest style and texture, assemble and adorn the cake as near serving as doable. A totally embellished cake will contract and increase throughout the freezing/thawing course of, ruining a few of your exhausting work. You can also make the frosting forward of time and refrigerate it for 1 day, however contemporary frosting actually does style finest.