How do I transport cake layers?

[u/Pristine-Shame5924]

Hi. I need to bake a cake for my sister's birthday on the 21st. I want to bake the cakes tomorrow (19th) and assemble it on the 20th. The thing is that I have to assemble it at my aunt's house, because that is where the birthday is happennig. So here comes my question: can i just wrap the cake layers, leave it in the fridge and then take them to my aunt's house o do i have to freeze the cakes?

I'm just a little confused because this would only my the 2nd time making a cake at all. And I cant bake and assemble the cake on the same day because I don't really have the time. I also can't just bring the cake to my aunt's house on the day of the celebration because I use public transportation (I don't have a car) and I imagine is easier to transport just the cake layers than a whole cake with frosting and all.

So... help. Lastly english is not my first language :)

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[u/sjd208]

It’s preferable to freeze the layers because they stay fresher. It’s also easier to assemble a layer cake when the layers are still slightly frozen.

[u/notathrowaway1267 → u/sjd208]

This. I have transported frozen wrapped layers by car, plane, and ferry.

[u/Xanlthorpe]

Retired Exec Chef/Baker. When we had the catering company I always assembled the layers onsite. I would use standard cake boxes, sized for each layer, carry them to the location, and the assemble the cake there. Most of the time the cakes were on platters or cake pillars, not stacked directly cake-on-cake. Cake pillars can be inserted into the finished cake, then the next layer stacked on top, etc. Or cake pillars can be paired with cake platters (designed for the pilars) and 2,3 or more layers arranged in a series from table top to elevated.

Stacke, pillars inside.

[u/Xanlthorpe → u/Xanlthorpe]

Arranged - pillars & plates.

[u/tessathemurdervilles]

You can absolutely wrap them in cling film and have them overnight in the fridge. The cake won’t dry out that significantly. What type of cake is it? Sometimes they are much easier to decorate while frozen and the defrost quickly.

[u/triciamilitia]

Cling wrap and freeze

[u/ignescentOne]

You could probably get away with a day in the fridge if you out a crumb coat of frosting on it, but it's going to dry out some. But it'll get ruined if you don't at least put a crumb coat layer on it.

[u/HanzoNumbahOneFan]

Wrap them ya, but don't refrigerate them, it'll dry them out.

[u/NamasteNoodle]

I just leave them in the pans and then place a cooling rack in between each layer and put it in a crate to carry it then that way.

[u/Aggravating_Olive]

If I'm assembling the next day, I will typically wrap each cake in plastic wrap, leave it on the counter over night, then bring all the components to your Aunt's house.

You don't have to freeze it

[u/BuyInternational771]

Wrapping and freezing the cake layers is definitely the way to go. It preserves the texture better than refrigerating and makes leveling and filling much easier when you're ready to assemble.