Chocolate Guinness Cake in Advance

Asked by Fairyblue. Answered on 1st May 2012

Full question

I want to make Nigella's Chocolate Guiness Cake (from Feast) in advance of a party. Should I leave the icing until the day of the party or can I do it before? If there is any left over (which is highly unlikely after reading the reviews of this cake) can you please tell me the best way to store it? Thank you.

Our answer

The icing for the Chocolate Guinness Cake contains cream cheese, double (heavy) cream and sugar. Unfortunately the added cream means that this icing is best stored in the fridge.

You could make the cake 1-2 days in advance and store it in an airight container in a cool place (the cake itself keeps fairly well) then quickly make the icing on the day in a food processor. Alternatively, make the icing up the day before and store it in a covered container in the fridge overnight. Remove the icing from the fridge about an hour before serving the cake and let it soften a little before spreading it over the top of the cake. If it is a hot day then you shouldn't let the cake icing stand out for more than two hours and avoid very warm spots as the icing could become too soft.

Leftovers are best stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days and will taste best if allowed to come back towards room temperature before eating. The uniced cake will keep for around 5 days in an airtight container in a cool place.