Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hi everybody
I have a wedding cake to make for the 29th December it is 4 tiers 2 sponge and 2 fruit. How long in advance can I cover the fruit cake with marzipam and ivory sugarpaste,
Julie

Months.it will keep

Hi Julie

I usually cover and decorate two or three weeks in advance, the cake continues to mature under the icing. If you’d like to decorate well in advance there are a few things to remember. Don’t over knead the marzipan as it will release oils which could seep into the icing and spoiling it. Don’t use cornflour with marzipan when rolling out as it can cause problems with fermentation if the cake is not for immediate consumption. Once covered in marzipan leave the cake to dry for two or three days before applying fondant. Use a clear alcohol to make the marzipan sticky for the icing to stick and to act as sterilant. I usually stick a round of parchement paper on the foil cake board and stick the cake on that. Sometimes the fruit can have an acid reaction with the foil if a cake is to be stored or eaten at a much later date. Some leaching of aluminum could occur into the cake, the parchment just acts as a barrier. Hope this helps.

A big thank you for your advice it’s my first wedding cake but just happens to be between Christmas and new year, also family Christmas day for 16 aswell lol. Once again thank you. Julie

I also meant to say wash the rolling pin out well after using on the marzipan because of the oils. Good luck with all of it Julie!