Storing Chocolate Guinness Cake

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Guinness Cake (from Feast and on the Nigella website) freezes well without the frosting on. Once the cake has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in a double layer of clingfilm (plastic wrap) plus a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw the cake unwrap it and stand it on a wire rack at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours.

The un-iced cake can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days but as the icing contains whipped cream it can be perishable, particularly in warm weather or a centrally heated house. We would prefer to keep the iced cake in the fridge but in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out too much. If the cake has turned hard then we suspect that the cake was not covered and exposure to the air will cause the cake to dry out and harden more quickly once it has been cut. When eating the cake remove it from the fridge about an hour before eating, to allow it to come back to room temperature.