Defrosting a Cake - The Definitive Guide

The cake is a delicious dessert, which is very good at any time of the year. It’s a quintessential Christmas dessert dish, but it’s also a treat when you have fresh fruit or just want something sweet. Surely we will agree that the cake is the best.

Whether you make pies ahead of time and freeze them or buy pies that come frozen, there’s a constant art to defrosting and defrosting pies before heating (or in some cases reheating) them.

It’s not too difficult to defrost and defrost a pie, but it’s good to know the tips and secrets to turning your frozen pie into a delicious thawed pie.

So how do you defrost and defrost a cake? That’s why we’re here!

From chocolate pie to cherry pie to apple pie or any other type of pie, there are a few simple steps to follow to ensure that when you thaw your pie, it doesn’t become soggy or taste less than fresh. . 

We’ve put together an ultimate guide that will walk you through thawing and reheating your pie.

If there’s a special step you need to know for certain types of cakes or a specific trip to defrost, you’ll find it here!

Read on to get one step closer to having the most amazing cake ready to go!

The cake guide

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re familiar with pie and types of pie, but you may not really be.

The tart can be made with almost any type of filling. The cakes usually have fruit, but there are also cakes that have pudding. There are even shepherd’s pies that are usually the main course at dinner.

In this article we are not going to talk about shepherd’s pie. Our tips and secrets will be related to baking cakes that are usually served as dessert dishes.

Many of the things we share here will be universally usable in all of these dessert cakes.

Here is a list of different types of cakes, to give you an idea of how broad the category of cakes is. Please note that this list may not include every type of cake out there.

• cherry pie
• pumpkin pie
• Nuts Tart
• peanut butter tart
• milk chocolate cake
• Apple pie
• Lemon and Meringue Cake
• key lime pie
• Forest fruit tarts
• Coconut cream
• banana cream

Many of these cakes have numerous collections and types within the category itself. There are also filled pies (such as pecan pie) and fruit pies, as well as pudding pies. Honestly, the list could be endless, but this gives you a basic idea of how broad the category of cakes is.

Homemade cake

The homemade cake is the best cake there is. It is so fresh and always has that homemade taste that many people like and enjoy. Homemade pie can take a long time, depending on how much you make from scratch.

Many homemade pies also require making a crust.  There are two-crust pies that have the base crust and then the filling covered by a top layer of crust. (If you do a top coat, don’t forget to brush it on with a pastry brush.)

There are also pies that simply have the base of the crust and then the filling and toppings without covering the crust. This can be based on preference or can vary depending on the type of cake.

Homemade pies can be made ahead of time and frozen to save time in your busy schedule. You can also completely prepare and bake your pie, then freeze the remaining pieces to thaw and use later.

Store bought cake

Store-bought pies fall into two basic categories: frozen or pre-made. If you buy the pie frozen, you can pop it in your home freezer and then thaw it when you’re ready to use it.

You don’t have to worry about the hassle of making it at home and the pies are usually quite delicious.

If you buy a pre-made pie at the store, it’s usually fully cooked and ready to serve. However, you can plan ahead and freeze that cake if you don’t need it or aren’t ready to use or serve it right away.

Whether you use a store-bought pie or a homemade pie, they all freeze well and can be thawed for future use.  The thawing and thawing process is fairly straightforward, but it does take time to properly thaw and thaw.

Failure to defrost and defrost properly can cause disturbances in the pie when reheating or serving. Not all cakes need to be reheated after freezing, this varies depending on the type of cake.

Right now, this may seem like a tricky one because you’re probably wondering “How do I know which cake needs to be heated and which one can just be defrosted?”.

Don’t worry, in this guide we will make sure you have all the pertinent details to fully understand the thawing and thawing process.

preparation and baking

When you make a cake from scratch, the preparation is quite different than if you buy a ready-made cake, but it’s generally the same concept.

For the purposes of this article, we’re going to cover most of the steps with the cake in mind. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s baked, but rather that it’s assembled and ready for whatever steps you take from there, regardless of whether you bought a cake at the store or made it at home.

We mainly focus on defrosting the cake, but the intention is that this ultimate guide will cover the basic details as well.

To this end, we feel it is important to give you the information surrounding the thawing and defrosting of your cake, including preparation and baking.

If you plan to use a frozen cake for an event or a dessert, it is best if you can plan it in advance. The best result occurs when you allow adequate time to defrost the cake.

A cake can be defrosted in the microwave or even using the oven, but we strongly recommend that you make an effort to allow adequate time to do it correctly for the best results.

When the tart has completely thawed, you can bake it as needed.

Chances are, a store-bought pie will have heating instructions you need to follow, even if it’s pre-made and then frozen.

However, if you don’t have them, keep in mind that you are baking to heat and not baking to cook.

Your Ultimate Guide to Defrosting Cake

Don’t try to bypass the planning phase and don’t take the time to defrost your cake. This is an important element in making sure your cake turns out delicious when you serve it.

Whether you are serving frozen leftover pieces of pie, preparing to serve pre-made frozen pie, or homemade frozen pie, there are steps you need to follow and time is needed to properly thaw the pie.

If you are going to use a cake for any reason and it has been frozen, take the time and effort to do things correctly.

We promise you’ll thank us later, and so will your guests or whoever else might be enjoying that delicious pie when you serve it!

We are going to share with you a defrosting method that is a quick fix if you need something and you don’t have several hours to defrost. 

This is your ultimate guide to defrosting and defrosting your cake to ensure the best results when you do so. Let’s start by covering some ins and outs of freezing and thawing your pie.

Advantages of freezing, thawing and defrosting the cake

• Make the pie ahead of time to avoid mess and build-up, then freeze and take it out to use at your convenience.
• A simple solution when you need that unexpected dessert
• A relatively straightforward process that you really can’t mess up
• More than one method, including a full defrost process or a faster defrost process when necessary
• The cake will taste like it was fresh out of the oven and made the same day.
• Pies keep well in the freezer and the ingredients will still taste and look good

Cons of Freezing, Defrosting, and Defrosting Pie

• It takes some time to defrost and/or thaw the cake properly, even with the faster thawing method we provide later in this article.
• If you don’t defrost or thaw well, you can end up with a soggy cake.
• The cake could be stale or mushy if the steps are not followed correctly
• If you’re not careful with your storage methods, you can cause the cake to fall apart or break during freezing.

Now that we’ve covered some of the basic information and what you can expect from the process of freezing, thawing, and thawing your cake, let’s get down to business and discuss the general process of thawing and thawing your cake!

freeze the cake

Keep in mind that you can freeze a store-bought pie. Many of them come frozen, but you can also freeze pre-made pies that you buy at a bakery or grocery store. These procedures and details will refer to the steps as if you were working with a fresh pie. If you are buying a frozen pie, you can skip this section as it would not apply.

When freezing a pie, it is recommended to freeze a pie that has not yet been baked.  However, you can freeze a cake that is already cooked. The reason is that by freezing a fresh cake, the final result will be fresher.

These are the steps to freeze your cake:

1. If your tart has been baked, be sure to let it cool completely before freezing it.
2. Wrap the tart tightly in plastic wrap or seal in an airtight freezer bag
3. If you prefer, you can tightly wrap the cake in a double layer of aluminum foil. Plastic wrap is recommended because it seems to prevent freezer burn and seal the pie better.
4. Freeze the tarts for 6 months or less for the best results.
5. A fresh cake can take up to 24 hours to completely freeze.

Freezing is an easy step. The most important aspect to remember when freezing your cake is to wrap it airtight to maintain its freshness. Also, keep in mind that you need to make sure that you are freezing a cake that is completely cold and not hot from baking. 

Detailed instructions for defrosting and defrosting a tart

The pies freeze very well, allowing you to bake ahead and have pies in the freezer for when you need something for events, holidays, or a tasty dessert later. The holidays, in particular, can be a very hectic time, making it difficult to spend time baking.

Prepare your tarts ahead of time during downtime, pop them in the freezer, and that brings you to the guide to defrosting the tart so you can serve it. When you serve it, no one will know you made it 3 months ago!

Your cake will taste as if you made it fresh and slaved away for hours in the kitchen. Let’s face it, chances are you did, it just wasn’t on the same day. We are sure that you will like how easy it is to defrost the cake.

We are going to describe the defrosting and defrosting of the cake in two different methods. You can choose the method that suits you best.

These methods will allow you to defrost and defrost your cakes and get delicious cakes at the time that suits you.

Option 1: Defrost and defrost

This particular option requires a bit of planning ahead because you’ll be letting your cake fully thaw on its own rather than starting the process. If you choose this option, make your plans at least 24 hours in advance so that the process works smoothly as you go.

1. Take the cake out of the freezer
2. Place in the fridge and let the cake thaw overnight or about 6-8 hours, leaving the cake wrapped.
3. Alternatively, you can leave the cake out to thaw on the counter for 3-5 hours. Be careful not to leave it overnight, as you don’t want any of the ingredients to go bad.
4. Unwrap the tart from the plastic wrap or remove it from the freezer bag.
5. If the tart does not need to be heated, it is ready to serve.
6. If the pie needs to be warmed, preheat the oven to 300 degrees and bake on a cookie sheet for about 30 minutes or until the pie is heated through and the crust is golden brown.

This method can be used universally with any size pie. There are some pies that are served cold or at room temperature, such as various cream pies.

These pies will not need to be cooked in the oven. You can simply follow the thawing instructions and proceed to serve.

Be sure to store the tart in the fridge if there is any tart left over after serving. Your tart will keep fresh in the fridge for 5-6 days if it is well covered.

Option 2: Defrost and defrost

If you’ve forgotten to plan ahead or have determined on short notice that you need dessert and have decided to pull that pie out of the freezer, this option is for you! You can also use this option if you simply don’t want to worry about defrost times.

This is your quick go-to when you’re in a pinch. This method does not work for pies that do not require or use heat before serving. Unfortunately, the only option for such cakes is to wait for the defrost time.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Unwrap the tart or remove it from the freezer bag.
3. If your pie has accumulated frost during freezing time, be sure to brush it off to avoid extra moisture in the crust. You should be able to remove the frost by hand or with a paper towel.
4. Place the tart on a baking tray and put it in the oven.
5. Baking time may vary depending on the size and filling of the pie. For example, 5-inch pies require 20-30 minutes to bake, while 10-inch pies require 50-70 minutes to bake.
6. You can check the temperature of the cake by inserting a knife or fork into the center and then pulling it out. Check the heat of the filling in your utensil. When it is hot in the center, the tart is ready.
7. Allow the tart to cool slightly before serving.

Resume

As you can see from the information provided in this guide, defrosting and defrosting your cake is a pretty straightforward process. The main concerns you’ll need to be aware of are extra moisture in the bark and proper timing.

Keep in mind that working with a frozen pie is not usually a “grab it and go” option. You will need a minimum of a couple of hours to make sure your cake is fully defrosted and ready to serve.

Each of these methods gives you the option to choose what works best for you. When considering your pie options, keep in mind that if you are using a pie that does not need to be heated to serve, you will need to allow the full defrost procedure detailed in option 1.

We hope that this ultimate guide to defrosting your cake has been useful and informative and that you now feel prepared to deal with any cake situation. Don’t be afraid to make your pies ahead of time to avoid the stress of the process on a busy schedule. 

We are sure that, with the planning and following the steps that we have provided in this guide, your cake will be delicious and everyone’s stomachs will thank us later.

Related questions

We invite you to take a look at the common questions we have listed below. We hope this clears up any other concerns or questions you may have about defrosting and thawing your cake.

Do certain cakes freeze better than others?

Most of the pies are freezer safe and thaw and thaw with no problem. Whether your pie is the custard type or the crumble top type, results may vary. These tarts can be frozen and then thawed, but are best served fresh.

Also, keep in mind the pies with meringue frosting. Meringue ingredients can sometimes separate when frozen. However, if you store the cake so that the wrapper doesn’t stick to the frosting, you’ll get better freezing results and it’s less likely to separate.

Should I freeze my cake in a specific type of pan?

We recommend using an aluminum mold to freeze the cake. Aluminum stores well and does not break in the freezer. It can also be transferred directly to the oven without changing sources.

We strongly recommend that you do not use a glass cake plate to store in the freezer . This could cause the dish to crack when put in the oven, but also the pie plate is subjected to the harsh environment of the freezer, which is not ideal for glass.

If my cake is already cooked, do I have to cook it again?

If you decide to freeze a cake that has already been cooked, don’t worry. You can follow the same guidelines as provided above for defrosting and defrosting, as well as reheating the pie. Keep in mind that you are not cooking the pie a second time, but simply reheating it for serving.