Can you freeze carrot cake? Carrot cake is a classic dessert made from grated carrots, walnuts, and spices. This cake freezes well regardless if it’s dressed in cream cheese frosting or done without the trimmings. In fact, freezing the cake seems to make the cake even more moist and flavorful.
But if you want to extend the shelf life of carrot cake, we recommend making the cake ahead of time and freezing it without covering it with cream cheese. Cream cheese has a shorter shelf life than the cake itself so the degradation of ingredients may affect the flavor of the cake. That being said, the frosting may insulate the cake, protecting the dessert from freezer burns.
How to Freeze Carrot Cake?
If you made the cake from scratch, leave the cake to cool completely prior to freezing. once the cake cools, you can either apply the frosting or leave the cake bare. At this point, you can either freeze the whole cake or cut it into serving slices.
Place the cake in a freezer-safe, airtight container then stick the uncovered container in the freezer. Let the cake freeze for at least two hours. If the carrot cake is covered in frosting, freezing it allows the frosting to set and harden. After two hours, remove the container from the freezer and start wrapping the cake or the individual slices in cling wrap. Wrap the cake tightly to prevent moisture or freezer burns from seeping in.
Next, wrap the cake in heavy-duty aluminum foil. This extra layer will preserve the dense, moist consistency of the cake. Place the cake in a large, heavy-duty plastic bag and seal. Write the storage date then stick in the freezer.
Baking Tips for a Freezer-Friendly Carrot Cake
It’s important to freeze any type of cake that contains frosting or filling made from eggs or dairy products immediately. This includes cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting, and custard frosting.
To extend the shelf life of carrot cake in the freezer, we recommend skipping the cream cheese frosting prior to freezing. Just make the cream cheese frosting a few hours until you’re ready to serve. Once the cake has been defrosted, you can start adding the frosting so it is freshly made.
For a freezer-friendly carrot cake, try using unsweetened and unflavored applesauce or pureed carrots in place of vegetable oil so the texture of the cake is denser, moister. Dense cakes are less likely to dry out in the freezer.
Use finely grated carrots instead of chunky carrot bits to create a moist and dense texture. To create an even denser and velvety texture, mash the grated carrots to release the vegetable’s natural juices.
Shelf Life, Thawing, and Reheating Suggestions
When kept in the freezer, carrot cake will keep for 4 to 6 months in the freezer. It will keep longer if the temperature is kept at a steady 0 degrees Fahrenheit. To defrost the cake, simply remove the cake from the freezer and leave it to thaw overnight in the fridge. If you are pressed for time, remove the wrapping of the frozen cake and leave it to thaw on the counter for an hour or two. Once the cake is completely thawed, you can enjoy it as is or warm it up in the microwave on low.
Summary
Can you freeze carrot cake? Whether dressed in cream cheese frosting or frills-free, carrot cake keeps so well in the freezer! You can improve the texture of the cake and make it even more freezer-friendly by keeping all the baking tips we’ve outlined in this guide!