Do the following best before dates matter?

[sethstarkaddersmackerel]

I'm talking a year or two out of date, not a few months, in most cases unopened packets:

gelatine
ready-roll icing
dessicated coconut
candied peel

thanks!

I wouldn't think that there would be a problem. Gelatine is dry, as is the Dessicated Coconut. The Candied Peel is in so much sugar that it will be well preserved, and the Ready-Roll icing the same. They may not be at their best (the icing may need to be softened slightly) but they won't be poisonous.

Up until last year my mother had a box of Whitworth's dessicated coconut in her cupboard so old that the price tag on it said -/7d. i.e. pre-1971. Before throwing it in the bin I had a look inside and the contents were basically grey dust :)

I don't think anything will be dangerous/poisonous but you may find that things have discoloured or taken on the flavour of their packaging too much. For what it costs to replace them, I'd give them the heave-ho rather than risk spoiling a cake.

thanks!
I have slung some old vegetarian suet and nuts - anything with fat in goes rancid IME, but the coconut tastes fine.