massive quantity cupcakes how early can I ice them?

[ThistimeImeanit]

I have rashly agreed to run cupcake stall at school Christmas Bazaar. Think will need to provide 300! Never undertaken such quantities before so any advice gladly taken on how soon can I bake them. Do they freeze? Can I ice them day before or will be foul/taste stale next day? And how on earth do I transport them and package them?

Help! Think have bitten off more than I can chew...

ps first time poster so forgive blithering.

yes they freeze well and can even be frozen with buttercream icing on them
obv decorations and the like will have to be applied later once they're defrosted
you can buy special boxes for transporting cupcakes but for that quantity it would be rather expensive
as a suggestion it might be worth grabbing some of those cardboard veg boxes from the supermarket to take them in
HTH

I have made large quantities of cakes before. Never frozen them so don't know about that bit. I've always made the day before. The icing can go on as soon as the cake is cool. If anything I think the icing keeps better than the cake and when the icing sets it can help protect the cake. Another thing I have done is instead of making all cupcakes, made several large tray baked cakes, iced and decorated them, then on the day cut them into squares and served on a tray.

I have to say I find the transporting bit difficult though when it comes to large quantities and having to take care to prevent them from getting squished during the journey.

Thank you both for your helpful advice. Think will try and freeze a few beforehand and battle with icing the day before. Have heard that paste better for mixing coloured icing. Do you know where can be found? Perhaps I should suggest cookies next year!!

Lakeland do Wilton gel colouring which is fab and although it's expensive, lasts for ages. If I were you I'd use regular food colouring and instead buy edible glitter since it makes things look pretty.
www.splatcooking.net/on-line-store-2/sprinkles-sugars-and-glitters/glitters-edable-art/white-diamond-glitter.html

Mix 110g butter with 500g icing sugar, a tsp of vanilla and a tiny bit of food colouring. Add enough milk to making a spreading consistency and spread onto cupcakes using a knife or spatula. You should get enough icing for 50 cakes. Add a dolly mixture, jelly bean or smarties to the top with some glitter.

Oh, and they do freeze although I've only ever tried to freeze them un-iced. I would ice them the day before. You need to add the sprinkles and glitter quite soon after icing before the icing starts to harden.

Flat cardboard vegetable boxes from the supermarket. Line them with food quality paper of some sort in case you have a health and safety fanatic on the PTA committee. You can get about 35/40 in each box, and the boxes stack, so you only have to find some sort of cover for the top one.

You can buy cupcake boxes on ebay - but remember to factor in the cost - I charge cost for the boxes.

Otherwise, some reasonable quality paper plates and lots of plastic bags.

,
[done this lots emoticon]

Can't you delegate some of those?! 300 is a lot - who is paying for the ingredients?

Icing the day before would be fine, IMHO, especially if you have somewhere to keep them cool.

Definitely freeze cakes, uniced, in batches and then recruit helpers for mass icing session the day before.

Packing/transporting - start visiting local greengrocers and asking for mushroom trays - the (typically blue) plastic stacking kind. IME they are ideal for cake transport - I tend to line them with greaseproof or tissue paper and put a teatowel over the top one.

Just to give you some idea, it takes me 2 hours and 40 minutes (i've timed myself!) to bake and decorate 75 cupcakes - and I'm very fast!

I didn't realize that you were thinking of doing all 300 yourself!

More great advice everyone. I know it seems a lot but I do get to keep the profits after initial donation so am drafting in family to help icing day before. Will cook and freeze as much as poss. If I take out freezer thurs night, will they be ready for icing fri and ok for selling sat? Perhaps I should reduce quantity cupcakes and supplement with some brownies (easier to make, transport and pack!)although they don't look as eye-catching.