I'm never sure how far ahead I can bake a cake ...

[franch]

There's a fruitcake I make that definitely matures in about a week. But other cake recipes never say. I want to bake a chocolate cake this week for Thu teatime - only chance I get may be Mon afternoon - too early?

Unfortunately with other cakes it's often the case that the fresher the better.

Having said that, some stodgy types like chocolate brownie don't seem to harm with maturity.

We just hit the reverse problem. Dp asked for a fruitcake for his birthday today and I didn't get round to making it till yesterday. It's supposed to mature for a week, but we are already scoffing it!

I think in general heavy cakes last well, and light cakes don't. We made Devils Food cake for dd's birthday and really it was best hot, but it was still good a week later (it's a very brownie/fudgish sort of cake).

or nigellas dense chocolate cake - nigella rocks.

what nursery jo said - or gingerbread.

Thanks all. I'll try to manage it Thu morning then.

Pidge, I have a great fruitcake recipe that's incredibly speedy and doesn't need maturing - made it for DD2's bday the other day and got loads of compliments - it's a Mary Berry one - the secret ingredient is mincemeat

franch - that sounds yummy - though I have to say the one I made has been scoffed enthusiastically without the proposed week to improve!!!