Decorating & Delivering Cakes in Hot Weather
How to Decorate, Store, and Deliver Cakes in Hot Weather: Summer Tips for Bakers
It’s heating up over here in the UK, the warm weather is lovely for garden parties and weddings, but it can be stressful for us cake decorators. Buttercream softens, fondant sweats, and delicate decorations can wilt if you’re not prepared!
If you’re a cake decorator, home baker or baking business owner, summer can be a tricky season. Heat and humidity aren’t kind to buttercream, fondant, or delicate decorations. Whether you’re baking from home, running a cupcake business, or just decorating cakes as a hobby, knowing how to prep, store, and deliver cakes safely in warm weather is essential.
In this post I’m sharing my top tips from years of experience running Lady Berry Cupcakes, especially during the warmer months. You’ll also find a helpful checklist you can print or copy, edit for your customers when they collect or receive a cake order in hot weather.
Why Cakes Need Extra Care in Summer:
High temperatures can cause:
Buttercream to melt or slide off the cake
Fondant to sweat or crack
Decorations to wilt, especially sugar flowers or piped details
Cakes to collapse in transit if not chilled properly
Here’s how I handle cake decorating, prepping, storage, and delivery when the temperature rises and how you (or your clients) can keep your cake looking and tasting perfect after it leaves your kitchen.
Prepping Cakes for Hot Weather
Use stable buttercream: Swap out soft butter for a high-butterfat or shortening-based recipe if needed. As this will stabilise your buttercream will hold up better.
Chill between steps: Chill your cake between layers, crumb coat, and final coat to keep everything firm and workable.
Avoid cream cheese frosting: It softens quickly in heat. If needed, keep it for well-refrigerated cakes only.
Go light on dark colours: Deeply coloured fondant or buttercream (black, navy, red) can become sticky or stain easily in the heat.
Staying cool is Key
Work in a cool space: Keep your kitchen as cool as possible. Close blinds, avoid ovens on unnecessarily, and use a fan (but not directly on the cake). I recently invested in an Air Cooling Fan for my kitchen Best purchase ever for the summer months!
Here is why:
✅ Helps set buttercream faster :A gentle fan can help crust buttercream quickly, making it easier to pipe details and handle cakes without smudging.
✅ Reduces humidity in your workspace: Humidity can make fondant sticky or cause buttercream to melt. A fan improves airflow and can help reduce that clammy feeling.
✅ Improves comfort during hot baking sessions: Ovens can heat up small kitchens quickly. A fan keeps you cooler, so you’re less tired or irritable on busy baking days.
✅ Helps fondant figures dry faster: Airflow speeds up the drying of fondant and gum paste decorations, meaning you can work more efficiently.
✅ Prevents sweaty cakes in summer: On humid days, condensation can form on cold cakes. A fan can help balance room temperature and avoid that sticky finish.
✅ Cost-effective alternative to air conditioning: Fans are cheaper to buy and run, making them a budget-friendly way to keep your workspace more comfortable.
✅ Improves air circulation in small home kitchens: Avoids stagnant, stuffy air (especially helpful when baking in small or enclosed spaces).
✅ Can help keep flies away: The airflow from a fan can deter flies from landing on your beautiful bakes in summer.
Storing Cakes in Hot Weather
Keep cakes in the fridge until delivery or collection.
Don’t store near strong-smelling foods (like onions or garlic).
Use cake boxes that are tall enough to prevent decorations from being squashed.
Add a ‘best out by’ time if the cake will sit out on display for hours (especially for outdoor events).
Delivering Cakes Safely
Chill the cake before travel – it should be cold and firm.
Use a flat, non-slip surface in your vehicle – like a boot mat or shelf liner. Ideally in the foot well. Or a secure space in the boot where it cannot slide.
Drive with air-con on and avoid direct sun hitting the cake box. Black out blinds are great.
Allow extra time in case you need to park or carry the cake further to avoid heat.
Ways that can help you in prepping for cakes in the heat?
Cake Decorating Tips for bAKERS iN Hot Weather
If you’re baking during a heatwave or warm spell, here’s how to prep your cakes to keep them stable:
🍰 Use a heat-stable buttercream – Choose a recipe with shortening or high-fat butter. Avoid soft, whipped frostings in summer.
🍰 Work in the coolest part of the day – Early mornings or late evenings are best if your kitchen gets hot.
🍰 Chill between stages – After stacking, crumb coating, and decorating, always pop the cake in the fridge to set.
🍰 Avoid soft fillings – Swap fresh cream or fruit curd for more stable options if the cake will be out of the fridge for long.
🍰Go easy on dark colours – Deep buttercream shades (black, red, navy) absorb heat and can stain or melt more easily.
Labelling Cakes for Clients
You could include a small printed, personalised label or sticker that says:
“Keep refrigerated until 1–2 hours before serving. Avoid direct sunlight. Best consumed within 48 hours.”
Instruction card for Clients (Collection or Delivery)
It’s a good idea to add a personalise branding cake care card to your cake box if you're baking for customers or you could e-mail them a checklist for any cake during summer months too.
Here’s a ready-made list you can give or have printed on your business stationary with your own branding to anyone collecting or receiving a cake in hot weather. Simply copy, paste, and print, or send it as a follow-up email. 😘
yOU COULDS SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
How to Look After Your Cake in Warm Weather To Keep Your Cake Looking Perfect & Tasting Delicious Here Are A Few Things To Consider:
✅Place it in the fridge as soon as possible after collection or delivery.
✅Keep it flat and upright at all times.
✅ Do not leave it in a hot car, even for a short time.
✅ Avoid putting it near windows, radiators, or in direct sunlight.
✅ Take it out of the fridge 1–2 hours before serving (depending on the heat).
✅ Avoid handling or moving it once it’s set up.
✅ Softening of buttercream or fondant is normal in heat – store with care.
✅ Eat within 48 hours for best quality.
Or edit accordingly suited to your business and offerings.
Whether you’re creating wedding cakes, birthday cupcakes, or just decorating for fun, warm weather doesn’t have to ruin your hard work. With the right prep, storage, and delivery tips, your cakes can stay fresh and flawless—no matter the temperature.☀️
If you found this helpful, you’ll love the other tips, resources, guides and newsletters inside my Lady Berry Cupcakes online school. Whether you’re a new hobby baker or running your own cake business, there’s something here for you! Sign Up Below so you don’t miss out! 👇🏽
Hope this is all helpful for you, stay cool and if you would like to book a 1-1 Baking Business Boost session to take your business to the next level drop me an e-mail!
