Making a Cake in Advance: A Complete Schedule

It's Saturday, and your best friend, knowing you've been dabbling in cake decorating, calls you up with a special request. She asks if you could make her little one's first birthday cake for the party next Saturday.

What's a first birthday without a cake, right? Plus, you don't want to disappoint that cute little face, so you say, "Yes, definitely!" But inside, you're secretly freaking out because you have a full-time job and tons of other deadlines and obligations.

Instead of trying to bake, decorate, and deliver this cake all in one day, or worse, pulling an all-nighter, I'm going to show you how to pace yourself over the next several days to create this birthday cake and forego the stress. So, let the countdown begin!

Sunday

 It's been almost 24 hours, so you'll want to get a handle on what cake design you would like to make. This is a great time to scroll through Instagram or Pinterest for cake ideas that match your skill level. You'll want to end the day with a pretty good idea of your final cake design. Sketching is a great way to help you visualize the final cake.

Monday

After a full day of work, take the opportunity of already being out and about to shop for everything you need. This includes all of your ingredients and all of the cake decorating supplies you'll need to complete the cake. Don't forget the cake box! If you couldn't find certain items in the store, you definitely want to get those online orders in this evening. Be sure to request second-day shipping to avoid any further delays!

Tuesday

It's time to finally get baking! Yes, you heard me right. You're going to bake all of your cake layers today. Whether you're baking from scratch or using a box mix, once your cakes are baked and completely cooled, you can wrap them in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and freeze them.

Wednesday

You're halfway through the week! Today, you're going to spend about an hour making all of your icings, fillings, and syrups. American buttercream, Swiss meringue buttercream, ganache—they can all be made ahead of time and stored until you're ready to use them.

Thursday

With two days until you deliver the first birthday cake, allow your cake layers to thaw and whip your icing to the proper consistency. You're able to level your layers, apply syrup, assemble, and ice your cake. Be sure to place your cake on a base that is 2 inches in diameter larger than your actual cake. Don't worry about your cake drying out at this point; applying the icing seals the cake and locks in the moisture. Once you've completed this process, you can place the cake in the refrigerator until the next day!

Friday

You finally get to transform this blank slate into a work of art by decorating it. Start by coloring your icing, then prep your decorating bags and pipe away. The party is less than 24 hours away, and you've managed to finish the birthday cake the day before.

Saturday

Party day is finally here! You got a good night's sleep, woke up, and had your coffee. Now you can take your time getting ready. All that's left is to box up that gorgeous first birthday cake and drive it to the party. She's going to love it!

If you are not a full-time baker, do you typically bake, decorate, and deliver all on the same day, or have you tried making a cake in advance? Comment below which one you prefer.