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Time to ice the cake

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kah22
kah22 Posts: 1,830 Forumite
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in Old style MoneySaving
Each year I bake a Christmas cake for family members.

To date I’ve iced the whole of the cake but this year I’ve had a few requests to only ice the top, but I’m not sure. My thinking is that the icing stops the cake from drying out and by only icing the top the drying out and long term life of the cake will deteriorate Any thoughts?

If I thought it would, and I do, affect the long term quality of the cake then I will ice the whole cake and let them discard it if they wish

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  • VfM4meplse
    VfM4meplse Posts: 34,269 Forumite
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    IME regularly feeding the cake with 37%+ spirit and wrapping well does a brilliant job of stopping the cake from drying out and deteriorating. But the success of this strategy is also contingent on finding a very good hiding place for the cake.
    Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!

    "No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

    Hope is not a strategy :D...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!
  • kah22
    kah22 Posts: 1,830 Forumite
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    Mine has had plenty of brandy over this past few weeks and I don’t have to hide for everyone knows what they are getting - and it is well appreciated
  • VfM4meplse
    VfM4meplse Posts: 34,269 Forumite
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    Seriously, I think icing a good Christmas cake is rather like gilding a lily, and mine keeps for ages well wrapped.

    The hiding bit is necessary otherwise it gets scoffed in a trice.
    Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!

    "No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

    Hope is not a strategy :D...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!
  • Prinzessilein
    Prinzessilein Posts: 3,257 Forumite
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    I am another voice in favour of a well-fed as opposed to well-iced cake!

    When I have been gifted a cake then it rarely lasts long enough to dry out!...also I like a little bit of boozy cake with cheese....or with a big mug of tea...both of which go better with just top icing (if that!)

    If stored in an air-tight tin the cake should last a good few months without ANY icing....so I would go 'top only' if that has been requested.
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 9,988 Forumite
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    Nooooo! Wasting the side cover of marzipan........
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  • horsechestnut
    horsechestnut Posts: 1,446 Forumite
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    For the past 20 years I have only iced the top of the cake; fewer calories!!!
    When you are ready to ice the cake, put a firm band of grease-proof paper around the side. The marzipan and icing will hold it in place and it keeps the moisture in until it is cut. (At that point it acts just the same as cutting into a fully iced cake, as the actual cake is then exposed). Store in an air-tight tin or plastic cake-container. I then put a large ribbon around the cake which adds to the decoration and of course the grease-proof paper stops the ribbon from getting stained (so can be reused)
  • VfM4meplse
    VfM4meplse Posts: 34,269 Forumite
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    OMG I am really craving Christmas Cake now, which I normally save until after Christmas Day.

    Unfortunately I cannot forget where I hid it, so its officially on the risk register :o
    Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!

    "No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

    Hope is not a strategy :D...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!
  • kah22
    kah22 Posts: 1,830 Forumite
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    Thanks for the detailed repky
  • THIRZAH
    THIRZAH Posts: 1,465 Forumite
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    I only ice the top of my cake but put a cake frill round the sides.
This discussion has been closed.
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