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Can Fondant Go in the Fridge? Storing Fondant Cakes Overnight
Hi Paul, do you store your finished fondant cakes in the fridge? I’ve heard that the cake would go gooey and sticky, I have never tried this before, I dont want to take the risk ,since I’m using buttercream filling, can my cake sit on the counter overnight? What about ganach?? Please help!!
Need more Important Information on Baking and Cake Decorating?
Learning about how to make and store ganache is just one of 39 lessons covered in the CakeFlix Diploma, which, along with 1,800+ tutorials from 100+ of the world’s top cake artists, comes as part of your CakeFlix membership from only £5.17 a month (billed annually).
CakeFlix Guidance
Yes, fondant can go in the fridge, but moisture can affect its finish. Whether you should refrigerate a fondant-covered cake depends mainly on the filling and the fondant manufacturer’s instructions. A cake that needs chilling for food safety must be refrigerated, even if its decorations require extra care.
Does fondant need to be refrigerated?
Unused fondant, also called sugarpaste, usually needs a cool, dry storage place rather than a fridge. Keep it tightly wrapped and sealed, following the instructions on its packaging.
Once fondant covers a cake, the cake and filling determine the storage requirements. The icing does not make a perishable filling safe to leave at room temperature.
How to store a fondant cake overnight
If your cake and filling are suitable for room-temperature storage, place the finished cake in a clean cake box in a cool, dry room. Keep it away from sunlight, radiators and kitchen steam.
Madeitwithlove’s original answer highlights why decorators often prefer this approach: moisture can soften fondant and make decorations sticky. However, the advice that all buttercream and ganache can stay unrefrigerated needs qualification. Recipes vary, so follow reliable storage guidance for your particular filling.
Fresh cream, cream cheese, custard and other perishable fillings generally require refrigeration. If you are unsure, choose chilled storage rather than relying on the sugar content.
Can you put a fondant cake in the fridge overnight?
Yes, when the cake needs refrigeration. Check that your fondant is suitable for chilled storage and protect the cake in a clean, covered cake box or suitable container. Keep it away from uncovered foods and strong smells.
Condensation may form when a cold cake meets warmer, humid air. Avoid touching or wiping a damp fondant surface, as this can mark the icing. Allow moisture to evaporate naturally, while keeping any time outside the fridge within the filling’s safe serving limits.
Test your decorations before a special occasion
A small trial cake can help you see how your chosen fondant, colours and decorations respond to refrigeration. It tests appearance, though, rather than proving a filling is safe.
For related advice, visit our ganache and cake shelf-life discussion. For food-safety guidance, see the Food Standards Agency’s advice on storing and serving cakes.
Need more Important Information on Baking and Cake Decorating?
Learning about how to make and store ganache is just one of 39 lessons covered in the CakeFlix Diploma, which, along with 1,800+ tutorials from 100+ of the world’s top cake artists, comes as part of your CakeFlix membership from only £5.17 a month (billed annually).
CakeFlix Diploma – Certified Learning
Hi Paul, do you store your finished fondant cakes in the fridge? I’ve heard that the cake would go gooey and sticky, I have never tried this before, I dont want to take the risk ,since I’m using buttercream filling, can my cake sit on the counter overnight? What about ganach?? Please help!!
Need more Important Information on Baking and Cake Decorating?
Learning about how to make and store ganache is just one of 39 lessons covered in the CakeFlix Diploma, which, along with 1,800+ tutorials from 100+ of the world’s top cake artists, comes as part of your CakeFlix membership from only £5.17 a month (billed annually).
CakeFlix Guidance
Yes, fondant can go in the fridge, but moisture can affect its finish. Whether you should refrigerate a fondant-covered cake depends mainly on the filling and the fondant manufacturer’s instructions. A cake that needs chilling for food safety must be refrigerated, even if its decorations require extra care.
Does fondant need to be refrigerated?
Unused fondant, also called sugarpaste, usually needs a cool, dry storage place rather than a fridge. Keep it tightly wrapped and sealed, following the instructions on its packaging.
Once fondant covers a cake, the cake and filling determine the storage requirements. The icing does not make a perishable filling safe to leave at room temperature.
How to store a fondant cake overnight
If your cake and filling are suitable for room-temperature storage, place the finished cake in a clean cake box in a cool, dry room. Keep it away from sunlight, radiators and kitchen steam.
Madeitwithlove’s original answer highlights why decorators often prefer this approach: moisture can soften fondant and make decorations sticky. However, the advice that all buttercream and ganache can stay unrefrigerated needs qualification. Recipes vary, so follow reliable storage guidance for your particular filling.
Fresh cream, cream cheese, custard and other perishable fillings generally require refrigeration. If you are unsure, choose chilled storage rather than relying on the sugar content.
Can you put a fondant cake in the fridge overnight?
Yes, when the cake needs refrigeration. Check that your fondant is suitable for chilled storage and protect the cake in a clean, covered cake box or suitable container. Keep it away from uncovered foods and strong smells.
Condensation may form when a cold cake meets warmer, humid air. Avoid touching or wiping a damp fondant surface, as this can mark the icing. Allow moisture to evaporate naturally, while keeping any time outside the fridge within the filling’s safe serving limits.
Test your decorations before a special occasion
A small trial cake can help you see how your chosen fondant, colours and decorations respond to refrigeration. It tests appearance, though, rather than proving a filling is safe.
For related advice, visit our ganache and cake shelf-life discussion. For food-safety guidance, see the Food Standards Agency’s advice on storing and serving cakes.
Need more Important Information on Baking and Cake Decorating?
Learning about how to make and store ganache is just one of 39 lessons covered in the CakeFlix Diploma, which, along with 1,800+ tutorials from 100+ of the world’s top cake artists, comes as part of your CakeFlix membership from only £5.17 a month (billed annually).
CakeFlix Diploma – Certified Learning
From your question Zeina you say you want your cake to sit out overnight, that’s just fine if you fill it with butter cream or ganach, and fondant is definitely fine to leave out. Butter cream does not have to be refrigerated and neither does the ganache. You can make all different flavours with butter cream, you don’t have to be restricted there. What would not be good is if you use fresh cream, cream cheese fillings and anything else which is a quick perishable. What type of filling would you have liked? If you could make a few suggestions I’ll definitely help you out with different non dairy type fillings. x
Hi Zeina
Fondant decorated cakes are not normally stored in the fridge because the fondant attracts moisture which softens it. If you put in the search box ‘freezing decorated cake’, there is an answer which might help. There is also another answer on the site which I’ve tried to search but can’t find, perhaps if you have a search you may be able to find it. In extreme cases fondant will ‘melt’, spoiling all the decorations. I know some people do successfully store iced cakes in the fridge but it is something to be done with caution. I have read cakes decorated with Satin Ice fondant can be placed in the fridge. Your cake can certainly sit on the counter (safest place) and so can a ganached cake. The sugars in the cake, the fondant and ganche act as preservatives and will keep the cake fresh. It might be worth storing a small decorated trial cake as an experiment. I hope this answer helps.
Hi Paul
Just about to ask the same question, will take your advice and leave out.
A friend recently asked me to bake a 60th birthday cake for Friday – no pressure!
I’ve only recently taken out a membership, but have found the information provided has helped me to make this cake more confidently than I ever thought I would.
Thank you
Hello Pixie
Paul may have another view, the answer I have provided is what I believe to be the general consensus. I have never stored fondant covered cakes in the fridge and can not comment first hand. I have however, made the mistake of storing fondant decorations which did become sticky and very gooey. Fondant is sugar and as with all sugars it will attract moisture, with that in mind, I avoid storing anything with fondant in the fridge. A ganache only decorated cake can be stored in the fridge. So very pleased the site has given you confidence and encouragement to tackle your forthcoming celebration cake. We are all here to help. G’d luck with it.
The fillings you like have very short shelf life. Whipped cream is like normal cream and cakes filled with it should not be left out on the counter. Custard can be left out for a short period and French butter cream should really be refrigerated because it contains eggs. I’d be very wary of leaving custard made with egg yolks out on the counter for any more than a couple of hours, the same with French butter cream which also contains eggs. The shelf life of whipped cream would be the same as the use by date on the carton, custard will be good in the fridge for about four days as will French butter cream.
