Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A
Shelf life of chocolate sponge
I use Mrs Jones Victoria Sponge recipe all the time and have never had anything but positive feedback from customers. I love Paul’s moist cake for carving e.g the teddy Bear cake, but find it expensive to do for a run of the mill birthday cake, especially kids. I have now used 2 different chocolate sponge recipes, with buttermilk in, and twice now, I have been told that it is dry…….both times they have been cut 3 days after they have been made……surely it should last longer than that?….losing confidence in offering chocolate cake, unless I just stick with Paul’s and charge more?…….any help would be much appreciated…thanks you x
I use Mrs Jones Victoria Sponge recipe all the time and have never had anything but positive feedback from customers. I love Paul’s moist cake for carving e.g the teddy Bear cake, but find it expensive to do for a run of the mill birthday cake, especially kids. I have now used 2 different chocolate sponge recipes, with buttermilk in, and twice now, I have been told that it is dry…….both times they have been cut 3 days after they have been made……surely it should last longer than that?….losing confidence in offering chocolate cake, unless I just stick with Paul’s and charge more?…….any help would be much appreciated…thanks you x
Hi Mrscloudy1
Some chocolate cake recipes do better wrapped up or frozen for a couple of days, they soften. Adding a simple syrup drench to each layer of your cake will also make it moist. I usually cut all my cakes into three and brush simple syrup to both sides of each layer. To make simple syrup boil equal quantities of sugar and water/ fruit juice for one minute, cool and apply with a pastry brush. The syrup soaks down into the sponge keeping it moist and can extend the shelf life for a few more days.
I would keep Paul’s recipe for special occasions, it’s a bit too grown up for children’s cakes. x
