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I know ideally when you make cake batter, you want to bake it right away, but could you store it in the fridge for a day or two (like you can pancake batter)? I'm entering a lot of items in a competition and for the different cupcakes I'm making I only need 3-4 cupcakes. Rather than take time to bake all of the cupcakes at once, could I refrigerate the remaining batter to use after the competition or after I've finished all my baking for the competition?

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The exact outcome of holding your batter will vary depending on the particular type of cake you are making, but in general the results will be sub-optimal. This is why you don't see blog articles about making the batter up on a weekend, and having fresh cupcakes all week.

Almost all cupcakes freeze extremely well, though, especially without icing. If you are just looking to use them after the competition, I would recommend baking as per normal, and freezing the ones you won't eat right away.

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    That's probably what I'll end up doing. I was just trying to avoid the extra time spent scooping the batter out and baking it. :)
    – Brooke
    Feb 12, 2014 at 13:50
  • The scooping time, especially if you use a disher, should be about 40 seconds, and it should not change the baking time.... I think you will be okay :-)
    – SAJ14SAJ
    Feb 12, 2014 at 13:50
  • Sadly I don't have one. I always forget to buy one when I'm somewhere that carries them. And when I need one, it's too late. I normally scoop batter into a measuring cup that has a pouring spout. I've tried other methods but those normally end up too messy. :(
    – Brooke
    Feb 12, 2014 at 15:25
  • As a rule, butter-based cake batters will hold refrigerated better than oil-based ones. (Even so, 24 hours is about the limit before you see a pretty dramatic decrease in leavening ability.)
    – SourDoh
    Feb 12, 2014 at 21:22
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The quick answer is no, you cannot freeze batter without losing most of your lift. The long answer deals with why batters rise, and what freezing will do:

  1. Chemical reactions between leavening agents and acids. Baking soda reacts with acids in the batter (baking powder is a combination of a baking soda and a powdered acid) to form carbon dioxide bubbles. This chemical reaction begins immediately as soon as the ingredients are mixed, when you bake the batter the CO2 gets trapped in the sponge. Even though the reaction works slowly at low temperatures if you refrigerate or freeze it you will still lose all the lift from this reaction
  2. Air from whipped ingredients: when you cream butter and sugar, or whip egg whites until stiff you are introducing air into your batter. Air expands when heated, giving your cake lift. You have to treat air raised batters gently or you will knock out the air. Freezing is not gentle
  3. Water vaporizes and expands: this is the only lift you won't lose from freezing, the water in your batter isn't going to go anywhere as long as you use a sealed container
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You can do one thing to preserve your batter. If you're making batter in advance just don't add baking soda, baking powder, egg, vinegar or anything that makes the cake rise. Keep it in the refrigerator and use it within 24 hours.

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    But... that would completely mess up the intentional ordering of how you make a cake... there's a reason you use the different methods for creating batter... also, the OP specifically says that she needs to be able to bake some of them... how can you do that if half the batter isn't mixed in yet?
    – Catija ♦
    May 28, 2015 at 4:36

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