In a perfect world, cupcakes would always be enjoyed a few hours out of the oven. In the real world that’s often not possible. Between having to set up decorations and organizing kids, the last thing you want to do it pull out your mixer. Luckily, with a little planning ahead, you can serve delicious home-baked cupcakes with very little day-of hassle. So how long can cupcakes be stored after baking? The short answer is possibly months, but the best answer for you will depend on your schedule.
Perfectly Planned
If you love to have all of your loose ends sewn up well in advance, the freezer storage method may be right for you. Don’t worry, your friends and family will never guess that your delicious cupcakes have spent up to months in the freezer. Plan your baking for a laid back day when you’ll have time to bake the cupcakes and prepare them for the freezer. Let your cupcakes cool on a wire rack for approximately four hours. Once completely cooled, best practice is to individually wrap each cupcake in cling wrap to limit air exposure. You should be able to find freezer portioning bags in your grocer’s paper aisle. These are inexpensive and make this step a snap.
Stack your wrapped cupcakes in a sturdy air-tight container and place them in the freezer. Write the baking date in dry erase marker on your container and be sure to consume them within three to four months. That’s it!
When you need them, take them out of the wrappers and place them back on a wire rack for 2-3 hours. The cupcakes should be as fresh-tasting as ever and ready for frosting.
Week-of Wonder
If you think you will have some time to prepare your cupcakes a few days before your party, then freezing won’t be necessary. You can store them on your counter for up to four days without losing much freshness. Again, be sure to let the cupcakes cool completely before storing. I recommended 4 hours on a wire rack. You can then stack them in an air-tight container and store them at room temperature. You may also frost them at this time if you want to completely cross cupcakes off your list. Beware that your frosting may have a slightly crunchy effect if it is stored for several days. Also, keep in mind that any leftover cupcakes will not stay fresh very long after your party.
Special Cases
Once frosted, you can proudly, and safely, display your typical cupcake for the duration of your party. Some recipes, however, may call for additional refrigeration because the frosting or filling is not shelf-stable. You won’t want to store your cupcakes pre-filled as this will cause sogginess and possible spoilage if left on the counter. You should also avoid putting your cupcakes in the refrigerator as it may dry them out.
The good news is, if you want to fill your cupcakes, you can scoop out the center of your cupcake prior to your preferred method of storing. Prepare your filling and frosting the morning of your event. Load them in piping bags and store them in the fridge. When it’s time to serve your cupcakes, you can quickly pipe in the filling and/or swirl on the frosting.
Here is a fun twist on Cupcakes
