Transporting a cake. Footwell, not seat.
The cake travels level in the footwell or on the flat boot floor: pre-chilled, secured against sliding, out of the sun. Everything else on this page just explains why.
- Footwell in front of the passenger seat
- Boot, flat floor, towel underneath
- Not on the seat, it slopes and gives
- Not on your lap, it tips over when you brake
Every cake that leaves our shop goes with the same sentence: “Footwell, not seat.” We have been saying it since 1992, and it has saved more cakes than any cool box. A car seat tilts backwards and bounces over every pothole. The cake slides in its box, the cream presses against the side, the decoration wanders. The footwell is flat, low and closed in on three sides. Nothing happens there.
The second rule is temperature. A cake is cold when it goes over our counter, and it should stay cold until it is cut. How much time that leaves depends on what is in it and how warm it is outside.
The four rules at handover
What we tell every customer at the counter, in the order in which things go wrong.
The box stands on a flat surface, never on anything sloping or soft. For multi-tier cakes this counts twice: each tier sits on a support rod, but even that will not forgive a tilt.
Pre-cool the car in summer, air conditioning on. In the sun behind the windscreen it gets too warm for any cake. For more than an hour's drive, a cool box or ice packs go next to the box, not on top of it.
A towel, a non-slip mat or the car mat under the box. What does not slide does not tip either. Put nothing on top, not even your jacket.
Take bends wide, brake gently, know where the bumps are. The cake does not need a special road, just a steady hand. And it gets in last and out first.
How long the cake keeps without a fridge
Our rules of thumb from the pastry shop, based on normal room temperature of around 20 degrees. The dark bar applies to summer days above 25 degrees. In a car in the sun, none of it applies any more.
| Cake | Without refrigeration |
|---|---|
| Cream gateaualso yoghurt, quark, fresh fruit | up to 2 hrs · summer 1 |
| Buttercream cakealso covered in fondant | 3–4 hrs · summer 2 |
| SchokoladenmädchentorteSachertorte, chocolate glaze | 4 hrs or more · summer 3 |
| Photo cakebuttercream, photo on wafer paper | up to 3 hrs · summer 1.5 |
The clock starts at handover, not when you get into the car. If you collect the cake in the morning and cut it in the afternoon, put it in the fridge in between, the buttercream cake too. The wafer paper on a photo cake ripples in damp air, so it stays in its box until it is time.
At home: fridge, sweating, cutting
Into the fridge in its box. The box protects against other smells and against the wire shelf. The bottom shelf is best: a flat base, evenly cold. Nothing on top.
Fondant sweats. When a fondant cake comes out of the fridge into warm air, fine droplets form on the surface for a few minutes. That is condensation, not a flaw, and it dries by itself. If you touch it or dab it, you end up with marks on the cake.
Buttercream needs a head start. Straight from the fridge, buttercream is firm and tastes of less than it can. Take it out half an hour to an hour before cutting, in winter closer to a full hour. Cream gateaux, on the other hand, go to the table cold and are cut straight away.
Cutting. A long knife, dipped in hot water and wiped, cuts cleanly through fondant and cream. Dip it again before every cut. With multi-tier cakes, the top tier is lifted off first. It sits on its own board.
FAQ
Where is the best place for a cake in the car?
In the footwell in front of the passenger seat or in the boot on a flat floor. Not on the seat and not on your lap: the seat slopes and gives, and on your lap it tips over when you brake. The box stands level and must not slide; a towel underneath helps.
How long does a cream gateau keep without refrigeration?
At room temperature two hours at most, on hot days one. After that it belongs in the fridge. For longer journeys a cool box with ice packs is a good idea.
How long does a buttercream cake keep without refrigeration?
About three to four hours at normal room temperature. In heat above 25 degrees the buttercream goes soft. Then it keeps for less time and is best placed in the shade.
Does a fondant cake have to go in the fridge?
Yes, because of the filling underneath. After the fridge, condensation briefly forms on the fondant and dries by itself if you leave the cake alone. Take it out about an hour before cutting.
When should the cake come out of the fridge before cutting?
Buttercream cakes 30 to 60 minutes beforehand, so the buttercream turns smooth. Cut cream gateaux straight from the fridge.
Can I transport a cake by bike or on foot?
On foot, yes, with both hands under the box and without hurrying. By bike only in the basket or on the rack with a flat board underneath, and only for short distances. A rucksack will not do: the cake would stand on its edge in there.
Read on: How much cake per person? · How long does a cake keep? · Design a cake · Fondant, cream or buttercream? · Collect or have it delivered?