sponge cake question

[June2009]

Heya!

I'm looking at sponge cakes from shops like M&S and waitrose for a christening on 27.12 (I know, stupid stupid date to have a christening on)...
I asked waitrose about victoria sponge, raspberry jam and buttercream, we'd pick it up on 24th and they say that it would expire on 08/01.

I then saw a much prettier cake on M&S, same ingredients, and asked about dates etc, they tell me the latest I can pick it up is 24th and that would be no good for the 27th.

So Waitrose's cake has a 2 weeks long life but the M&S one won't last 6 days.

Im wondering if M&S are only saying this to protect themselves in case someone gets ill for whatever reason?

Do you reckon we can buy the cake on the 21st to serve it on 27th or am I going to poison everybody?

sorry, the pick up date from M&S is 21st, not 24th.

The M&S one os most likely one of their 'fresh' ones so the cake may go stale faster or the butter cream can go off if made with real butter. I am always weary of sponges that last that long they must have some fab preservatives in them.

Check the fats again - M&S use no hydrogenated fats which is the stuff that gives a long shelf life, but is not good for you. YOu may find that Waitrose uses hydrogenated fats in the buttercream or in the cake itself. Apart from that no idea.

Probably a preservative thing. Do you not have a local baker? They may be more flexible.

June, why don't you bake your own. A good Madeira cake can be baked in advance, then frozen if you like (although it will keep for a while). You could then ice it on boxing day as you will only be eating cold turkey, not cooking I should hope. A home baked cake will taste so much nicer.

Erm Silverwood - you wouldn't be from a company which sells bakeware would you? I mean fine and everything, but a bit of honesty & transparency wouldn't go amiss.

Also, I've ordered 2 loose bottomed brownie tins from www.aladdinscookware.co.uk and they are waiting for a delivery from you. Can you get on with it please?

cat, I call myself "Silverwood Help Desk", how much more transparent do you want me to be? Delivery you were requesting went out today.

First cakes cooked in them yesterday SWH, everyone veh happy!

Cat,
Glad they worked out well for you.