We don't get a lot of hot weather in the UK during summer months but when we do, it always catches us off guard! Whether it be melting buttercream, bulging cakes or sugar flowers that won't set - running a cake business during a heatwave can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Here are a few of our top tips on how to handle the heat:

  • Keep your workplace cool - invest in blackout blinds for your workspace or hire/buy air conditioning units made especially to cool smaller spaces. This can be an invaluable investment towards your piece of mind. Consider baking later at night or buying in your sponges to skip the baking altogether! You can also buy small neck fans to keep your cool whilst working.
  • Choose your icings carefully - it's common sense that a filling that contains a high fat ratio will melt in warm weather but sometimes putting cakes in the fridge can do more harm than good. So consider adding royal icing sugar to your buttercream recipe or using a firm setting Ganache in place of buttercream as a finishing layer on your cake. Also, don't overfill your cakes. Use a thin layer of filling to prevent bulging out of the sides of your cake and don't overfill your piping bags if you're decorating cupcakes. The heat from your hands will only make matters worse so use little, and often.
  • Choose the best sugarpaste - A lot of supermarket brand sugarpaste / fondant / roll out icing is very soft and can be tricky to use in warmer weather. Try and choose a firmer sugarpaste that works best in hotter climates. Our own Sweet Silk Sugarpaste is firm and doesn't stretch so it's perfect for the summer months!
  • Work ahead of time - if you know a heatwave is imminent, try baking ahead of time and freezing your cakes (most sponges freeze well for up to 3mths) or making any sugar decorations well in advance and storing them in a cake box. Steer clear or storing items in tupperware containers, it might make decorations sweat during hot weather.
  • Dehumidifier - You can buy these relatively cheap and they help draw the moisture our of sugar flowers/models. Using one of these could save your sanity if you have a lot of sugar flowers to make! Just make a few at a time and then pop them in a cake box with some tissue paper until they're needed at a later date. Don't forget to check the date on your flowerpaste and make a note of it on your flowers.

We hope that helps you keep your cool whilst decoarting cakes this Summer!