Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Carrot Cake?
Yes, you can freeze carrot cake, and it can last in the freezer for 4 to 6 months. The key to freezing them is making sure that they are double-wrapped and well-insulated to keep the moisture locked in. You can freeze carrot cakes with or without icing on them.
If you want to freeze carrot cake, this is the most comprehensive guide for home cooks everywhere.
These methods and tips have worked wonderfully for me.
Let’s dive right into it.
Can You Freeze Carrot Cake Without Icing?
If you have freshly made carrot cake, it is best to freeze them without adding the icing.
Materials
- Carrot Cake
- Cling Wrap
- Aluminum Foil
- Freezer-Safe Air-Tight Container or Ziploc Bag
Tools
- No special tools needed
Instructions
- Cool and Portion: Let the carrot cake cool down to room temperature before you prep to freeze it.
Once it's cooled, cut the cake into portions you can easily manage in one sitting. - Double Wrap: Using the cling wrap, cover the individual slices of cake and make sure that no part is left exposed.
Then take some aluminum foil and double wrap it to make sure that the moisture gets locked in. - Pack and Seal: Transfer the wrapped carrot cake into a freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag and seal them.
If you are using a Ziploc bag, squeeze out all the excess air before sealing them. You could use a straw to make this easier. - Label and Freeze: Add a label with the name of the contents and the best-before date, and you are ready to freeze the carrot cake without frosting on them.
Freezing Carrot Cake with Icing
Time Taken: 10 – 15 minutes
What You Need:
- Carrot Cake
- Cling Wrap
- Baking Sheet
- Aluminum Foil
- Freezer-Safe Air-Tight Container or Ziploc Bag
If you have already frosted your carrot cake and want to freeze them, you could follow this method instead.
Prep and Portion
Once you have made the cake and added the icing, cut out the amount you plan to eat and then portion the rest into manageable pieces you can eat in one go.
Flash Freeze
Lay the pieces of carrot cake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and then let it sit in the freezer for an hour or so.
Flash freezing the cake ensures that the icing does not get damaged when you wrap them later on.
Double Wrap
Wrap each piece of carrot cake with some cling wrap, making sure to leave no part of it exposed to air.
Using some aluminum foil, double wrap the cake for an added layer of protection.
Pack and Seal
Place the wrapped carrot cake into a freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag and then seal them.
Label and Freeze
Add a label on the container or bag with the name of the contents and the best-before date.
Now, you are all set to freeze the carrot cake with icing on them.
How to Freeze Carrot Cake Batter?
Time Taken: 5 – 10 minutes
What You Need:
- Carrot Cake Batter
- Freezer-Safe Air-Tight Containers or Ziploc Bags
- Cling Wrap (Optional)
If you want to freeze carrot cake in its batter form, this simple and hassle-free method can help you out.
Prep and Portion
Prepare the carrot cake batter and portion them into measures that you can easily consume in one go.
Pack Into Containers
Pour the portioned batter into a freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag.
If you are using a container, make sure to leave an inch space at the top to accommodate the expansion of the batter when it freezes.
You can also take an added step of covering the cake batter with come sling wrap, with the wrap touching the batter.
Seal, Label, and Freeze
Seal the container or Ziploc bag and then add a label on them with the best-before date.
Then you can freeze them till you are ready to bake.
How Long Can You Freeze Carrot Cake?
You can freeze carrot cake for 4 to 6 months.
But it tastes the best when consumed within 2 to 3 weeks.
The longer the cake stays in the freezer, the more it loses its moisture once it thaws.
Carrot cakes without icing can stay for longer in the freezer than ones with icing on them.
Although in both cases the cake stays fresh, the icing can drastically change in texture over time.
Though it is safe to eat, it may not be as appealing as a freshly frosted cake.
If you are freezing carrot cake in its batter form, it would be best to use them up within a couple of weeks so that the batter can rise well when you bake it.
How to Store Frozen Carrot Cake?
You can store frozen carrot cake in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag.
The key to storing carrot cake, or any cake for that matter, is to make sure that they are double-wrapped and completely protected from being exposed to air.
Though it can take up more space in the freezer, an air-tight container would be better than a Ziploc bag.
A container can keep the cake upright and offer better insulation, locking in its moisture.
It can also protect the cake from being damaged by other things kept over them.
If you are storing carrot cake batter, the Ziploc bags would be a better option as they are compact and save freezer space.
How to Defrost Carrot Cake?
The best way to defrost a carrot cake would be to leave the portion you need in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight and let them thaw gradually.
The same method is ideal to defrost the carrot cake batter.
If you are in a hurry, you could let the cake thaw on the kitchen counter.
But if you choose this method, the cake must be consumed immediately, as bacteria can build up and spoil the cake if left out for too long.
You could microwave the cake after it defrosts to reheat it.
Keep in mind that if you have frozen carrot cake with frosting or icing on them, its texture can change once it thaws.
So, it is best to consume cake with frosting as soon as it defrosts.
Can You Refreeze Carrot Cake?
No, it is best recommended not to refreeze carrot cake.
Each time the carrot cake defrosts, it loses its moisture, and with the moisture, its flavor, and quality.
Moreover, if it is a carrot cake with frosting or icing, the texture can change as well.
So, if you wish to avoid refreezing carrot cake, the best solution is to portion them beforehand into slices that you are sure you can manage in one sitting.
Wrap these portions separately so you can easily take them out when you are ready to eat them.
Does Carrot Cake Freeze Well?
Yes, carrot cake freezes well and can last long in the freezer.
Some people prefer to have the chilled version of the cake.
Carrot cake without frosting or icing freezes better than ones that have the added sugary covering. But it is completely fine to freeze carrot cake with icing on them.
The icing acts as an added layer of insulation and can help lock in the moisture.
But it would be best not to keep them in the freezer for longer than a couple of weeks.
FAQ
Yes, you can freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. You can use the same steps mentioned above to freeze them. But keep in mind that the cream cheese frosting can change in texture once it thaws.
Though it is safe to eat, the texture might be unappealing. So, it would be best to freeze the frosting and the cake separately and assemble them once they thaw.
Bottom Line
I hope this article helped you freeze and store carrot cakes.
If you have any doubts or would like to share some freezing tips, it would be great to hear from you.
Feel free to share this article with your friends and loved ones.