The Best Way to Freeze Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (and Defrost It)

Looking for an Easy Carrot Cake Recipe with Fresh Carrots and Fluffy Cream Cheese Frosting?

Then check our previous blog post for our classic carrot cake, you need simple ingredients. Grated carrots, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs. You can find them at every grocery store. And the best part is that no special equipment is needed. You won’t even need a stand mixer or food processor. All you need is a box grater to grate the carrots finely.

This moist carrot cake has incredible flavor thanks to the perfect amount of spices. Use ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and the zest of one orange. To make the taste extra rich, be sure to use a neutral oil that doesn’t overpower the taste. We don’t recommend melted coconut oil or olive oil, as their flavors are too strong.

Use baking soda and baking powder to make the perfect cake—moist and soft. Both ingredients are necessary. Because after you mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in a large bowl, the batter is quite thick.

You can also use different baking forms to bake your favorite type of cake using our recipe. Go for carrot cake cupcakes, easy carrot cake loaf, or a single-layer carrot cake. Just check our recommendations because bake time may vary.

So, you’ve made the best cake. Now you want to know how to freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting to keep it fresh, soft, and moist. And defrost it when you’re short on time or expecting guests.

Freezing carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is easy and keeps it delicious for later. Here’s everything you need to freeze it properly and enjoy it anytime!

Equipment:

• Airtight container
• Freezer bags
• Flat cutting board

Ingredients:

• Carrot cake

Let us show you two easy ways to freeze, save your cake, and defrost it. Choose your favorite method and follow our step-by-step instructions below.

First Method: How to Freeze Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Defrost It

So, you are a big fan of carrot cake.

And you’ve made a big carrot cake and realized you can’t finish it in three days. What do you do with leftover cake? Of course freeze it!

We recommend to freeze your cake on the first or second day. Don’t wait too long—if it’s not fresh when you freeze it, it won’t taste good when you thaw it. You can freeze the whole cake, half of it, or just a few individual slices.

How to Freeze Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Step 1: Before wrapping a slice or the whole cake, put it in a container and freeze it for an hour. This is the best way to keep a nice shape. Your carrot cake won’t get squished in the freezer.

Step 2: Remove the cake or slices from the freezer. Wrap them in several layers of plastic wrap, and put them back in the airtight container. Using an airtight container reduces the cake’s contact with air, which helps prevent freezer burn. A freezer-safe container is the best choice, but an airtight container also works.

Put your cake in the freezer. It will stay good in the freezer for up to a month.

That’s it!

How to Defrost the Cake

When you’re ready to eat the cake, or on special occasions, you can easily defrost it.

Move the frozen cake from the freezer to the fridge for 5-8 hours, or leave it overnight. Don’t remove the plastic wrap. Place the cake in a container with a closed lid in the fridge. This will prevent the cake from drying out and absorbing odors. Remove the plastic wrap after the cake is defrosted.

The creamy cream cheese frosting might crack a bit. The solution is to cover the sides ofthe cake and top it with a crumb coat, when you bake the cake. Check our method. Even if the frosting cracks, don’t worry—it’ll still taste great.

Tips on Freezing Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

The answer is yes if you’re wondering whether you can freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. It won’t affect the taste or appearance as long as you follow a few basic rules:

• Freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting within the first two days to keep it fresh.
• Don’t freeze the cake after it’s been in the fridge for 3-4 days. It won’t taste as good and might be unsafe to eat.
• Never refreeze a cake that you’ve already thawed.
• Freeze the whole cake or in servings, depending on how much you plan to eat.
• Eating a thawed cake within a day or two is best, so consider freezing it in servings. Thaw only as many servings as you plan to eat.
• Before freezing, put the cake or slices in the freezer for an hour without wrapping. This helps the cake firm up and maintain its shape. And prevents it from getting squished during wrapping.
• Wrap the cake in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container.
• Keep the cake away from foods with strong smells.
• To thaw, place the cake in the fridge overnight without unwrapping it.

Second Method: Freeze the Cake Layers and Frost Them Later

If you want your carrot cake to last even longer, freeze the baked layers without frosting for the best results. This method is perfect for a larger cake you bake in advance for a birthday or any other special occasion.

How to Freeze Cake Layers for Frosting Later

Step 1: Bake layers. Let the cake layers cool to room temperature. Check out our video on the recipe and method for baking carrot cake layers.

Step 2: Wrap each layer tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap. Then put them in a freezer bag. Lay them flat in the freezer so they don’t get squished. Put them on the flat surfice, like a cutting board to keep them even. If you freeze carrot cake layers and they become uneven, they wont look good later as a carrot cake. 

These layers can stay fresh in the freezer for up to two months.

How to Defrost and Assemble the Cake

When you’re ready to use the layers, thaw them in the fridge or at room temperature. In the fridge, they’ll defrost in 2-3 hours. At room temperature, it takes about an hour. Don’t unwrap the layers while they thaw. If you see any condensation, just wipe it off with a paper towel before frosting.

Once thawed, remove the plastic wrap. The unfrosted carrot cake will be fresh and delicious. Spend a little bit making the frosting and covering the layers. Spread frosting between the cake layers and use the remaining frosting for the sides and top of the cake.

Check out our recipe for the quickest sweet cream cheese frosting. Now you have a homemade carrot cake recipe ready in just 15 minutes of your time! Perfect! Of course, you need to spend some time prepping the cake before freezing it. But once that’s done, the cake takes minutes to assemble!

Your favorite cake is now ready to enjoy! For step-by-step photos of this method, check the recipe card below.

Tips for Freezing Carrot Cake You Plan to Frost Later

You can also freeze carrot cake without cream cheese frosting. This simple method works for all carrot cake recipes. You can freeze carrot cake cupcakes, carrot cake loaf, or a single-layer cake.

• Before freezing, cool the baked layers or cupcakes to room temperature. Make sure they’re not warm.
• Wrap each layer in several layers of plastic wrap. You can also place them in a freezer bag.
• If you are freezing layers of carrot cake, place them on a flat surface in the freezer, such as a board. This way, they will maintain their shape. If the layers are uneven, it will be difficult to frost them later.
• Once frozen, you can place parchment paper between the layers and keep them in the freezer. You can leave muffins in silicone molds and wrap them in plastic.
• You can also freeze crumbs separately to decorate the cake later.
• Store the carrot cake layers in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• To defrost, move the wrapped layers from the freezer to the fridge. Depending on the thickness of the layers, it takes 2-3 hours to fully thaw. You can also defrost at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
• Once defrosted, you can frost the layers with cream cheese in 10-15 minutes.

More Favorite Recipes of Cakes and Snacks

The best cake you can make is the one with simple ingredients. Try our apple cake recipe. It’s apples with a little bit of batter—juicy, soft, and covered with a crunchy butter-sugar layer.What about croissant snacks with cookie dough? But without waiting for the croissant dough to rise. Our crookies are a delicious combination of croissants and cookie dough. They’re gooey inside, extra crunchy on top, and super simple. Just use a few ready-made croissants to make them.

Freeze Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting & How to Defrost It

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Freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting using 2 easy methods. Perfect for leftovers and meal prepping.

Ksenia

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Equipment

• Airtight container
• Freezer bags
• Flat cutting board

Ingredients

  

• Carrot cake

Instructions

 

• There are two ways to freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

First Method: If your carrot cake is already covered with cream cheese frosting, you can freeze it for up to 1 month. This method is ideal if you want to save leftovers.

Second Method: If you bake a cake in advance for a special occasion, you can freeze the unfrosted layers. Use this method for any cake variations. You can store unfrosted cakes in the freezer for up to 2 months. After defrosting, simply frost the layers with cream cheese frosting.

First Method – Freezing Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Freeze the cake on the first or second day after baking for the best results. Check out our best carrot cake recipe or use your favorite recipe.
  
• Place the whole cake, individual slices, or servings you want to freeze in a container. Freeze for an hour to set the shape before wrapping it.
  
• Remove the cake from the freezer. Wrap it tightly in several layers of plastic wrap, then return it to the airtight container. Close the lid tightly. Put the cake in the freezer and store it in the freezer for up to 1 month.
  

How to Defrost Frozen Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Transfer the frozen cake from the freezer to the fridge. Don’t remove the plastic wrap, and keep the container closed.*
  
• Let the cake defrost for 5-8 hours or overnight for best results. After the cake is fully defrosted, remove the plastic wrap.
  
• The cream cheese frosting may crack slightly. When you bake the cake, you can cover the center of the cake and sides with carrot cake crumbs. Check our recipe for the method. Even with imperfections, the carrot cake with frosting will still taste delicious.
  

Second Method – Freezing Carrot Cake Layers Without Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Bake the carrot cake layers and let them cool completely at room temperature. Follow our cake batter recipe for moist and fluffy layers.
  
• Wrap each cake layer in several layers of plastic wrap. Then, place them in a freezer bag.
  
• Lay the layers flat in the freezer to prevent them from breaking. The best way is to put them on flat surfice, like cutting board. This way, they will be nice and even and will look great after you cover them with cream cheese frosting.
  

How to Defrost Carrot Cake Layers Without Cream Cheese Frosting:

• In the Fridge: Transfer the layers from the freezer to the fridge and let them defrost for 2-3 hours. Keep the layers wrapped. If condensation forms, wipe it off with a paper towel.
  
• At Room Temperature: Alternatively, defrost the layers at room temperature for about an hour. Keep the layers wrapped, and wipe any condensation with a paper towel.
  
• After defrosting, make your cream cheese frosting in a medium bowl. You can use our recipe or make your favorite cream cheese icing or frosting. Unwrap the layers, frost, and enjoy!
  

Video

Notes

Tips

*This will prevent the cake from drying out and absorbing odors from the fridge.

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