Too much cake batter? You don’t have to throw it away. Here you’ll find 3 ways to store your leftover cake batter for later use.
Quick disclaimer, I will always recommend using your cake batter as soon as you can. Freezing or refrigerating a baked cake is a much better alternative. It’s not always possible though, so here’s how to properly store your cake batter to extend its shelf life.
Can your cake batter sit out overnight?
No, it cannot. Considering cake batter tends to contain dairy products and/or raw eggs, the bacterial growth risk is way too important. While you’d be fine leaving your cake batter for an hour or two at most, I personally wouldn’t do it at all. Always prefer storing your cake batter in the fridge, even if you plan on using it soon.
Check out my easy lemon cream cheese pound cake recipe.
Store your cake batter in the fridge.
If you’re planning on using your cake batter very soon, refrigerating it is your best option.
Can you refrigerate your cake batter?
The answer is mostly yes. As long as your cake recipe doesn’t rely only on baking soda as a leavening agent but also requires baking powder. Indeed, contrary to baking powder, which is activated a second time when it encounters heat, baking soda is only activated with an acidic liquid (such as vinegar or buttermilk). Therefore, by the time you bake your batter the activation window will be long gone, and your cake might not rise properly.
Moreover, you have to take into account what kind of cake you’re baking. Butter-based and oil-based cake batters can easily be refrigerated, but that’s not the case for egg whites-based cakes such as chiffon and sponge cakes. In fact, if left unbaked for too long, egg whites-based cake batter will inevitably deflate resulting in a completely ruined cake.
How long does cake batter last in the fridge?
You can refrigerate your cake batter for a few hours up to 48H. I personally wouldn’t leave my cake batter in the fridge any longer than overnight. If you need more time, your best option is to freeze it.
Keep in mind that when refrigerated overnight, your cake batter might result in a denser cake than if it had been baked right away.
Finally, you’ll need to add a few minutes to your baking time considering your cake batter will be cold.
Check out my chocolate chip pound cake recipe.
How to refrigerate your cake batter?
For best results, you have to store your cake batter in an airtight container :
- You can simply seal your mixing bowl with your cake batter in it with plastic wrap.
- Or, if you’re planning on baking your cake very soon, you can pour your cake batter into your prepared cake tin and seal it with plastic wrap. When you’re ready to bake it, you’ll only have to pop your baking pan into the oven.
Also, if your cake batter contains any hot ingredients such as melted chocolate, you want to make sure it has cooled before refrigerating it.
Freeze your cake batter.
If you need to store your cake batter for longer than 48 hours, freezing it is your best option.
Can you freeze your cake batter?
Once again the answer is mostly yes for the same reasons as mentioned earlier. Whether it’s from a cake mix or a homemade recipe, you can store your cake batter in the freezer for up to three months. But to be honest, the longer it stays in the freezer, the more the texture of your cake will be altered.
How to freeze your cake batter?
To freeze your cake batter properly:
- Scoop your cake batter into a sealable freezer bag.
- Don’t fill it entirely to allow the cake batter to expand during the freezing process.
- Write the date (and the flavor if necessary) down on them so you can make sure not to keep your cake batter too long.
Once again, if your cake batter contains any hot ingredients such as melted chocolate, you want to make sure it has cooled before refrigerating it.
Check out my red velvet pound cake recipe.
How to thaw your cake batter?
You’ll need to thaw your cake batter before baking it in the oven. You should always do so in the fridge, which will take an entire night (around 8 hours). Then, cut the corner of your freezer bag and pour your batter into your baking pan.
Finally, you’ll need to add time to your baking time considering your cake batter will be cold when you start baking it.
How long can your cake batter last?
If your cake is egg whites based or only contains baking soda as a leavening ingredient, you’ll need to bake it as soon as possible.
If your cake batter contains baking powder and is fat-based (oil or butter) :
- You can store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
- You can freeze it for up to 3 months.