Today, almost nobody has time to make cakes or cupcakes on short notice, especially with our extremely busy schedules!
In conclusion, what are you always doing? Exactly! Pick up a bunch of old bland and boring cupcakes from the supermarket! There’s no worse feeling than realizing late at night that you have to have it by tomorrow morning!
If there were already made and frosted cupcakes already made and in the freezer, what would be so easy? There are no stores open, you barely have time to bake, and the ingredients are scarce. It would be impossible!
But, can you even freeze frosted cupcakes? Our experts recommend freezing your frosted cupcakes instead of storing them at room temperature, since it is not only possible but also recommended. You will save time, prolong the shelf life, and develop flavor when you freeze them!
We’re going to look at just how to freeze cupcakes today. Various methods and helpful tricks will be discussed, as well as the shelf lives of different frostings and the effects of freezing cupcakes.
The final topic we will talk about is frozen cupcakes. We will get started now!
Can You Freeze Frosted Cupcakes?
Cupcakes don’t freeze as well if they aren’t frosted, so if you do it, you can save yourself time and effort.
The method we follow is the best method for freezing cupcakes due to a few reasons.
It is a proven method of preventing icing from being crushed by the plastic wrap by freezing the cupcakes before wrapping them.
You can easily wrap each cupcake with frosting once it freezes in the correct shape.
How to Freeze Frosted Cupcakes
- Set aside your baked cupcakes so they can cool completely at room temperature after they have been baked. Frost your cupcakes after they have cooled. Don’t decorate them further.
- Ensure the container you choose has enough depth so that the lid will not touch the tops of your frosted cupcakes. In the freezer, place the cupcakes one at a time, not touching each other, until they have completely hardened.
- Using plastic or saran wrap, wrap the cupcakes gently once the frosting has frozen. Be sure to wrap the cupcake immediately once it has frozen to prevent it from defrosting.
- Place the cupcakes, this time touching sides so that there is room for more, back into the container, and then keep them covered in the freezer. Don’t let the temperature in the freezer fluctuate.
Tips & Tricks
- We recommend decorating plain cupcakes with frosting, but no other decorations unless you are sure they will freeze well.
Cookie dough, candy floss, and sugar garnishes, for instance, will not freeze well if they do. Even fondant decorations can be frozen when properly prepared, such as chocolate shavings or nuts chopped.
- To protect cupcakes and their frosting, if you do not have an appropriate container, you can place them on a baking tray and cover them.
In addition to preventing the cake from drying out while freezing (especially during the pre-freezing period), the plastic also prevents the cake from absorbing freezer odors.
- During the frozen stage, you can layer the cupcakes, but it is not recommended. They should always be layered as one.
Label your batch after you have prepared and frozen your cupcakes. If you want to write on the container, you can either wrap it in plastic or label it with a sticker or tape.
You should also write the batch information on the container.
We recommend that you include what the actual items are when they were made when they were frozen, and by when you expect to use them (we recommend four to six weeks).
You should always put your oldest batch on top and your newest at the bottom of your freezer. So that you do not have to hunt around for food, you can grab the oldest first.
Health and Safety
If you have an odor in your freezer, make sure that it doesn’t linger. When the cake is defrosted, you will taste the odors from the cake, as it is very porous.
Coffee beans, vanilla essence, or vinegar can be used to eliminate odors from the freezer.
A constant temperature should also be maintained in your freezer. This will cause the food inside to constantly freeze and defrost, which will directly affect the shelf life.
| Do | Don’t |
| Each cupcake should be wrapped separately. They will be less likely to stick together and break when thawed. | The frosting and cake will dry out if you refrigerate them after freezing. Rather let the cupcakes cool completely at room temperature before frosting. |
| Be sure to tightly wrap your pre-frozen cupcakes so that moisture will not affect their textures. | Aluminum foil should not be used to wrap cupcakes. Cakes and frosting may taste metallic and have a greyish color when foil is in contact with them. |
| You should layer your cupcakes into a container to prevent other items from damaging them. Also, they will stay fresh for longer if they are in a container. | When storing cake (or frosting), make sure that the container or freezer does not smell of other foods. |
| Garnish your cupcakes or frosting. Defrost them first and then decorate. |
Do Different Frostings Affect the Freezing Process?
There are multiple methods of freezing cupcake frosting, so you’ll find virtually every type. Further, all of the defrosted foods retain their original shape, flavor, and texture after they are defrosted.
There are three different kinds of meringue buttercreams in this category: Italian, Swiss, and French.
The classic buttercream frosting, cream cheese frosting, ganache-based frosting, and cream cheese frosting also keep well.
Frosting made from whipped cream is the only frosting that is not recommended for freezing. The fluffy texture of these will be lost when they are frozen, and they will lose much of their original structure.
A container or freezer filled with whipped cream will absorb even the tiniest tastes or scents, especially if it’s been there for months.
Why Freeze Frosted Cupcakes?
It can take up to a whole day to make any type of baked good. Cupcakes, in particular, require numerous steps to occur at various times.
The cupcakes need to be baked, cooled, decorated, and frosted, and that’s without considering any additional decoration!
The sooner you start making and freezing baked goods, the sooner you’ll get them done and enjoy them!
You can correct any baking mistakes if you prepare your cupcakes in advance.
You will not need to worry about forgotten salt or sugar, or overbaked and burnt cupcakes, if you forgot to add any of it or forgot to bake a new batch!
Likewise, cupcakes need to be decorated. When making a lot of cupcakes at once, frosting them can take a lot of time – even more so if you have no experience with frosting or are attempting something new.
Take some time to relax before your event so you don’t feel any unnecessary stress! You can finally enjoy baking and decorating as therapeutic activities.
Another reason to make and freeze your cupcakes is that they develop a much better taste over time, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Frosted cupcakes are more protective from freezer burn than unfrosted cupcakes. This is because of the fat in the buttercream.
If you defrost the cake with this fat, it will remain moist and soft once it has defrosted.
The last benefit of this is that it’s a great way to store leftover cupcakes after an event. They may not all be eaten at once. This way, it can be served as a dessert or other treat on any other day.
You also need to visit Can You Freeze German Chocolate Cake? to make sure you are not going to mess the cake taste.
Effects of Freezing on Frosted Cupcakes
Freezers help keep food moist, while refrigerators tend to dry it out. For this reason, frozen cakes and cupcakes are always better than those stored in the fridge.
Thus, avoid placing your cupcakes in the refrigerator prior to or after freezing, in order to keep them moist.
In addition to the frosting not melting, your cupcakes will also have no effect on their flavor – they will even taste better!
A smelly freezer, smelly food, or even smelly containers should be kept out of their reach. Afterward, you will inevitably taste the cupcake and frosting!
You should expect some changes in your cupcakes after a few months, due to the effects of time.
Over a period of 2-3 months, both the frosting and cake will experience the significant texture and flavor changes.
To begin with, the buttercream flavor will be bland and watered down. As a result, most of the flavor of the cake will be lost, and you will eventually be left with just a sponge.
It may become crumbly and coarse for the cake part, while lumpy or grittier buttercream may develop for the buttercream.
Frozen frosted cupcakes should be used within four to six weeks after freezing. By doing so, you’ll ensure they stay fresh and that the freezer won’t affect them.
Shelf Life of Frosted Cupcakes
Most types of cupcakes will maintain their shelf life, but different types of frosting will have varying freezer life. It is for this reason that frozen foods should be consumed 4-6 weeks after they are made.
Before the cake itself becomes affected and undergoes changes in taste and texture, it lasts up to three months. Frosting generally lasts between two and three months in a refrigerator.
Buttercream frosting in the form of Italian and French varieties lasts roughly two months, whereas Swiss meringue buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or ganache-based frosting lasts three months.
The best and longest-lasting buttercream is one made with just butter and icing sugar. It will last about 3-4 months.
How to Store Frosted Cupcakes
Cupcakes that will not be frozen can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator for long-term storage.
Make sure that the food is stored away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and any odorous foods at room temperature.
Make sure they are in an airtight container to keep them moist. After 2 to 3 days, cupcakes will become noticeably different at room temperature.
The cupcakes can also be kept in a refrigerator in an airtight container. Keeping cupcakes in the fridge for too long or uncovered can cause them to dry out.
There will be no noticeable flavor or texture change in your cupcakes after 3-4 days in the fridge. Avoid storing them near anything that has an odor.
Related Questions
Here are some more questions you might have regarding your frosted cupcakes while they are in the freezing process.
Can you freeze filled cupcakes?
Any filled cupcake can be frozen. Using fresh fruit fillings will not allow the cupcakes to last as long as ones without. They last about 1 month less than unfilled cupcakes.
The exact same method you used to freeze our frosted cupcakes can be used to freeze cupcakes with filling.
Can You Freeze Cupcakes in Their Paper Cases?
In fact, we recommend freezing your cupcakes inside their paper cases. Paper casings are similarly protective, as are buttercream and buttercream-based frostings.
In addition to helping to keep the moisture inside, they also protect the cake from other odors.
How do you defrost frozen frosted cupcakes?
If you’ve frozen cupcakes, believe it or not, they are easier to defrost. Then remove the plastic wrap or saran wrap from the frozen foods. Make sure they are kept at room temperature inside their airtight container.
In about one to two hours, cupcakes should be ready from frozen. Similarly, do not place cupcakes in the refrigerator to defrost, as this will cause the cupcakes to dry out.
They can be continued to be decorated with additional garnishes once they have been fully defrosted.
Can you defrost frozen cupcakes in the oven or microwave?
Microwave or bake frozen cupcakes before removing them from the freezer! The butter in the frosting will melt in the oven quickly and completely!
Also to consider is the drying effect of a heating element, so the cake won’t be moist and soft.
