Storing Devil's Food Cake

Asked by dzap19. Answered on 12th October 2013

Full question

Hi, I am planning to make Nigella's 'Devil's Food Cake' for a Birthday at work. As I work full time, I will bake and ice the cake on the night before the birthday. I am also planning on putting some strawberries and fresh cream in between the two layers. So I want to know if it is OK to store the frosted Devil's Food Cake in the fridge overnight? Do you think the frosting will set hard? Thanks.

Our answer

Nigella's Devil's Food Cake (from Kitchen and on the Nigella website) has a chocolate fudge-type frosting both on the outside and as a filling. This frosting can be kept at room temperature but if you are using fresh cream and fruit as an alternative filling then you will need to refrigerate the cake.

In our experience the frosting for the cake does go quite firm if it is refrigerated, which makes it difficult to spread. However if the frosting is already on the cake then this should matter less and the frosting does not go completely hard when it is chilled so you would still be able to cut the cake. The only other thing to remember is that the frosting may not be as shiny if it is refrigerated.

We would suggest, if possible, to remove the cake from the fridge 30 minutes before you serve it. This will allow the frosting to soften slightly, but without spoining the filling. Also the Devil's Food Cake is this month's (October 2013) Cookalong recipe so you could look at the current entries for some decorating ideas.