Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

Hello
I will be making a madeira sponge for carving and and would like to know how far in advance I can make it. I have a competition to enter and would like to get ahead timewise. The cake will not be cut open or eaten. I do not want to use RCT.
I am worried about mould on the inside or anything else that may cause leaching on the surface of the sugarpaste and spoil the look of the sugarpaste.
Regards
Sandra.

Hi Sandra

Madeira cake can last up to 2 weeks depending on the recipe and on how it is stored. Covering it in marzipan/ganache/ fondant , will all help with keeping it preserved.

A good recipe which I have used often is Mrs Jones’ as follows:

Baking a Madeira

As long as the actual cake is not left open to the elements it will last longer but will obviously, eventually stale.

Good luck with your competition. 🤞🙂

Thank you MIWL,
I will make it 3 weeks before and fingers crossed it travels well. Yes, I was going to use Mrs Jones as not tried her recipe yet.
Just one more question please, I was going to cover it with ganache but was wondering if I should fill inbetween the layers-would this make it more stable for travelling?
It will be 4 layers approx 7″ high and I will have dowels in.
Thank you
Sandra. x

Hi Sandra

I think ganache in between the layers will probably stabilise the structure because it does set to a certain degree. However, the dowels will definitely hold it together.

Best of luck 🙂

Hi MIWL,
Just a few lines on the outcome relating to the above post. My Regal Teddy sitting on a cushion – using Pauls tutorial held up fine. I used two small dowels to hold the head on and one central dowel through the body and into the polystyrene cushion. I was worried the head would fall off as it was placed on the side during the two and a half hour journey as it was placed at an angle as Paul had done, but as it was ganached, covered in sugarpaste then royal icing-it wasn’t going anywhere. It was for a british sugarcraft guild branch table competition and we won Gold which was exciting. I had good feedback for Teddy which pointed out an error so I can learn from this going forward. Mrs Jones madeira cake recipe was a lovely taste and great for carving – shame it couldnt be eaten as it was two weeks old, I did try it once I had returned home as well to see how much moisture had been lost and I was surprised that it wasn’t very crumbly so I think it would be a lovely cake even 1 week later especially if a little sugar syrup is added.
Thankyou for your advice and Thankyou to Mrs Jones and Paul for the tutorials. x

Hi Sandra

Thank you for getting back with your exciting feedback, it is so kind of you to take the time.

I am so pleased about the outcome of your Regal Teddy contribution to the British Sugarcraft Guild. Many congratulations! I hope you enjoyed the process of the competition and basked in the glory of the gold award for your branch table. Well done X 🙂