We are all trying to save money these days, to find bargains, to hunt out exciting finds – or, sometimes, to eat what’s already been in the house some time and we’ve not got round to eating and we don’t want to waste food!

These four cakes are four months out of date – I bought them from an out of date food warehouse that’s local to me – and I’ve become a little too addicted to them. They originally sold mixed bags of 10 cakes/tarts, for just £3 (30p each) which I bought and ate… but then I thought how ridiculous that was as I’d never previously eaten 10 cakes in a whole year. The next few times they were advertised I didn’t go, but then they were advertising smaller mixed bags of five cakes, for £1.50 (30p each) so off I went.

The bag I bought had four actual cakes and a pack of jam tarts….

There have been other cakes for sale, before and since, which I’ve been tempted by. Days after I bought these there were 4x500g Farmhouse Fruit Cakes for sale, for just £2 (50p each) – but I can’t eat every cake they sell! I had to let that bargain pass me by. Another time there were 500g Panettone cakes for sale at 2 for £2.50. You never know what will turn up in an Out of Date/Best Before food shop!

How Long Will Out of Date Cakes Last?

These were four months out of date when I bought them – so at least four months is fine. Some might say “you can freeze them”, which would be true, but I’ve a small freezer, that I have to keep de-cluttered, so I have to eat all four! Not on the same day I should mention – these were eaten over the course of about a month.

I didn’t go for the niceties of slicing them up, I was helping myself to a large chunk of cake at a time, 1/3rd or 1/4 of a cake, a large chunk of cake.

How Can You Use Out of Date Cakes?

I’ve eaten these as cold chunks of cake, with a cuppa. A few portions I microwaved hot for 30-60 seconds, so they were more like a hot dessert. A few portions I added Caramel Sauce and Instant Custard to, eating them as a hot dessert sponge.

They would also be good used in a homemade trifle, I usually make a quick microwave mug cake for my trifles. Here’s a trifle I made using cake in the past: Homemade Chocolate & Mandarin Trifle.

Were The Cakes Still Moist?

These were sold in mixed bags, with little time to pick/choose between the bags, but I was keen to get one with the Cherry Madeira Slice in it. The bag I bought contained:

• Cherry Madeira Slice
• Rich Genoa Slice
• Madeira Slice
• Double Chocolate Loaf

I’m pleased to say that every one of these cakes was still moist and fresh and a treat to eat; nobody would have ever known they were even a day out of date, never mind four months. I’d be happy to eat them again up to six months out of date and I’m sure they could probably last longer.

I’m not a buyer of cakes in the main – but these were gorgeous and I’d be happy to pay full retail price on a whim if I spotted them in a shop for sale! Especially those with the fruit in.

The chocolate chip cake packaging was starting to show a very slight amount of condensation on the inside of the wrapper after I’d brought it home and had it sitting for nearly a month, as I ate it last, but it was fine!

Which Was the Best Cake?

There’s always a favourite isn’t there. I did like the Rich Genoa Slice – which had a lovely taste of spices as it contained Mixed Spice: Coriander, Cassia, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cardamom, Cloves, Fennel, Nutmeg.

My next favourite was the Cherry Madeira Cake, lovely and moist, with those bits of cherry in.

The Chocolate Loaf was nice, allbeit chocolate overload and was best used as a chocolate sponge & custard dessert!

Would I Buy Out of Date Cakes Again? YES

Would I Recommend to a Friend? YES