"The Top Layer of Your Wedding Cake, and Storing it"

The tradition of eating the top layer of your wedding cake on your first anniversary is at least as old as my great-grandparents.  Some bakers now offer a "free" separate top layer to save.  You must store it the right way, however, or it will NOT be a delicious experience.  We must have done a decent job of storing our top layer, as I know we ate it, and I don't remember it being awful…  Luck must have been involved as much as expertise.  Please enjoy the article I copied from www.yumsugar.com





Photo, Susannah Chen

It's de rigueur for newlyweds to save the top tier of their wedding cake to enjoy on the first anniversary. The idea behind this tradition, which dates back as far as the late 19th century, is for couples to savor the cake once again — as well as the memories of the big day and the first year of marriage.

Enjoying a well-preserved piece of wedding cake should be a pleasant reminder of your big day, so make sure it isn't ruined by a dry, smelly cake wrought with freezer burn. Learn how to properly store the top layer of cake when you read more.

To store the cake:

1. Designate a person to save the top tier once the cake cutting begins.
2. Set aside any fragile and large ornaments or decorations, such as the cake topper.
3. To avoid a stale cardboard taste, ensure the cake sits on wrapped cake board. A cardboard cake board should be wrapped with foil.
4. Place the cake in a freezer until the icing becomes firm, 20 minutes to three hours, depending on the icing.
5. Cover all of the cake's surface area with a generous amount of plastic wrap, avoiding air pockets.
6. Follow plastic wrap with two layers of aluminum foil.
7. Place wrapped cake in an airtight storage container and freeze for a year.

To enjoy the cake:

1. One day before your first anniversary, begin defrosting the cake: transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator.
2. After two hours, remove the cake from its wrapping. Continue to defrost in the refrigerator.
3. Bring the cake to room temperature before consuming.
4. Serve and enjoy.

If you know you'll be moving within your first year, lack the freezer space, or simply don't want to bother with the process of freezing your wedding cake, order a small, six-inch anniversary cake from the same bakery. Ask for similar cake flavors and fillings and have it adorned like your wedding cake (you can even save your cake topper to be placed on it). Use the cake knife and serving set from your wedding, and enjoy the memories of the special day with fresh cake.

Did you celebrate your first anniversary with the top tier of your wedding cake? What are your cake-preserving tips?

Susannah Chen www.yumsugar.com