Have you ever frosted a cake and had the frosting end up melted or looking super messy? Baked goods aren’t really complete until they have frosting, but when it comes to frosting them, timing is important. So how long should you wait to frost baked goods? The answer depends on what you’re using to frost them.
Syrup or Glaze
For some cakes, it’s best to apply syrup or glaze when they’re still warm so they can soak it in, keeping the cake moister. Brushing a warm cake with simple syrup can enhance the cake’s fruitiness and sweetness.
Buttercream
When using buttercream to frost a cake, after taking the cake out of the oven, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer it to a wire rack to let it completely cool. When it’s cooled down, frost the cake with buttercream or cream cheese frosting.
If you don’t wait for the cake to cool, the frosting will melt. The buttercream should also be cool enough to prevent it from becoming greasy or falling apart. If you’re icing cinnamon rolls, apply one coat of the frosting when they are warm and another layer when they’ve cooled so it sticks to the rolls.
Royal Icing
Royal icing is super popular during the holidays and it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day. Before applying royal icing to sugar or gingerbread cookies, wait for them to cool.
