How long will these keep for?

catherineblack

Hi,
Going to bake fudge, tablet, coconut ice, peppermint creams for my Christmas fair. Oh and also, homemade truffles. Wondering how long these keep for - I need to give use by dates on labels. I would be storing them in airtight containers, then on the day, in cellophane bags. Any advice would be great.
thanks!

Addiscomber

They will all have a very high sugar content, so should keep well if wrapped and then stored as you propose. So making in advance to notch up the quantity shouldn't be a problem, but as to what to put on the label as a use by date ... that's tricky. Whenever I made these sorts of thing as a child they were never around long enough to find out when they went off I seem to recall that they crusted over as they dried out, but that is not unsafe - just makes them look slightly less attractive.

I suggest you take a leaf out of manufacturer's habit and cover yourself well, but you will presumably want to put a date beyond Christmas or it will put people off buying as presents. What date is the Fair, and how far in advance are you planning to make them? Could you find website selling similar handmade lines and see whether they have dates as a guide, I wonder?

catherineblack

That's very helpful thanks! there are two fairs, one 18th November, one 16th December. I hope to be really organised and make them two days before thefair. That give me enough time the day before to make cakes that will keep for a few days only.
I'm really looking forward to my test run this week - I'll make a batch of everything and distribute amoung friends for criticism! I'm sure I'll be popular!
thanks!

mikeywills

Do you need anymore friends catherineblack, I am always available and willing to be a tester, guinea pig for food.:D :rotfl:

catherineblack

haha! i'll certainly let you know!

Addiscomber

So your first Fair is about 5 weeks and a couple of days before Christmas and that is the more problematic one. What about putting 31 December on those, and 31 January on the stuff you make for the second one? In the unlikely event of having stuff left over from the first Fair you could maybe offer that slightly cheaper. I have absolutely no scientific basis for these dates but my gut instinct (if you will excuse the phrase) is that the sugar content should keep them that long. It must comparable to jam, where the fruit is quite perishable but preserved by the sugar content and keepable for months if not years (as some jars from my past have shown).

Presumably you have your recipes but just in case have a look here http://www.fetesandfestivals.co.uk/recipes.htm

catherineblack

Thanks again - MSE's are so helpful. Will let you know how my test run goes.

MrsTinks

Might be worth thinking about the contents of the individual treats... like does any of them contain milk or eggs?
If not then I would have thought they'd keep for QUITE some time

springtide

I think that if you are using cream to make the truffles they may only last a few days in the fridge. I think that there are some recipes about that don't use cream though!!!

Addiscomber

Good point. I have never made truffles - only some of the things in the first line of the original post. Don't think I could eat them now.