how far ahead can I make DS's birthday cake ?

[mousemole]

Ds's 5th birthday party is on saturday and I have been tasked with making a complicated pirate cake ! How far ahead could I start making it without worrying about it/the buttercream icing going off ? I think the decorations are going to take ages which is why I want to crack on. Oh and I'm 37weeks pregnant and convinced baby is coming any time !

I would say up to 4 days before, chances are most of it will get eaten on sat so no need to worry about it lasting.

if using sugarpaste for decorations, you can make those now no problem.

you could bake cake now and freeze it for a few days - in fact if the cake needs shaping at all it is often easier to carve it frozen.

I'd do buttercream and assembly Weds at the earliest, preferably Thursday.

I would make the sponge part, and freeze it. Cut and assemble the cake from frozen and it won't crumb so much. I would ice it a maximum of 2 days beforehand though.

I did a train cake pregnant and had same fears, but as the cake was already made in advance, the icing didn't take up as much time as I though. Hope it goes well!

Great minds, PandaG!

oh great ideas thank you. Right, I will get on and make the chocolate sponge and freeze that. Does anyone have opinions on the best chocolate spong recipe ?