When do you ice / decorate your Christmas cake?

[GoApeShit]

Sorry, I know this has been done before. There's a real mix of opinions on this out there.

I normally ice a few days before Christmas. Could I get away with doing it any sooner without the icing going rock hard?

Any tips for storage of iced cakes to prevent this? Will be using shop bought normal marzipan and fondant icing.

Thanks in advance

I put the marzipan on yesterday.
But I'm using royal icing and want it hard.

I'm planning to do mine with DH in Christmas week. I'm also using ready rolled marzipan and icing. I've never had a problem with it going hard. I store mine in the glass ikea cake stand once iced.

I will be putting the marzipan on my cake in the next few days. I was meant to do it today but ran out of time. As above though I will ice with Royal Icing.

Fondant icing shouldn't go rock hard, especially if you keep it in a tin. We've also done royal icing without beating the eggs and that was quite successful in staying a bit softer.

Ms Tesco has delivered ours fully iced already.

I was watching Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood talking about cake.

Paul Hollywood...................

Paul Hollywood was talking..................................

I wasn't paying attention to the cake

I make my own marzipan (Delia recipe) and leave it maybe 2 days then Royal Icing .
If I'm organised it will be iced on the 23rd. (if not , Christmas Eve)

DS not DH!

Brilliant, thanks everyone. Looks like I can get away with doing it a little earlier.