Defrosting a Cake

Remove unfrosted cakes from the freezer and thaw them without unwrapping, either overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature. You can refresh them after thawing by placing them on a baking sheet in a 350°F/175°C oven for 5 minutes.

A frosted cake needs to be unwrapped, set in a cake carrier or under a dome, and refrigerated overnight in order to minimize condensation caused by extremes of temperature change. Butter cakes, which are softer at room temperature, should then be allowed to come to room temperature for another hour or two before serving.