- Make-ahead baking supports calmer prep and more intentional choices.
- Chilling cupcakes helps them stay moist and hold their structure.
- Frosting later keeps texture fresh and reduces last-minute kitchen stress.
Dessert is a welcome finish to any meal, but making one from scratch can feel surprisingly demanding, especially when time is tight. And, especially if you’re expecting guests, you may gravitate to a store-bought sweet or—gasp—skip dessert altogether.
Ina Garten has a solution for you: make your dessert ahead of time, even a day in advance. The cookbook author says in an interview with Wall Street Journal’s Style section that she prepares one of her most famous dessert recipes ahead of time, and it’s just as delicious.
When the interviewer asked if there’s a secret to getting Garten’s Coconut Cupcake recipe “just right,” she joked that the secret is to “follow the recipe.” But she did offer her make-ahead tip that just made this cupcake recipe so much easier.
“That recipe is really good because you can make it in advance, wrap them really well and put them in the fridge,” Garten shared in the video. “But you don’t ice them until you’re ready to serve them. So the cake can last, but make this icing at the last minute.”
Making cakes and cupcakes ahead of time and not icing them until it’s time to serve is a great hack. First, it helps your cake cool down so icing isn’t sliding everywhere when you’re ready to decorate. Also, it’s great for time management when hosting, as you can spend more time with your guests instead of being bombarded in the kitchen.
Coconut cupcakes are a staple for Garten’s Easter spread, but you can make her easy recipe any time of the year. We love that these cupcakes feature shredded coconut—the chef uses sweetened coconut, but you can also use unsweetened coconut for less sugar.
For an occasional treat, this classic recipe from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook is beloved by her fans for its delightful nutty flavor and simple five-ingredient frosting. Perfect for parties and holidays, this dessert mostly consists of pantry staples, so definitely keep this recipe on standby for your next gathering.
If you’re looking for a cupcake with less added sugar than Ina’s, our Blueberry-Lemon-Ricotta Cupcakes highlight fresh fruit for natural sweetness.
Our Expert Take
Making dessert ahead takes the pressure off when you’re trying to pull a meal together. It also gives you a little room to play around with the fun parts — tasting, tweaking and decorating — when the kitchen isn’t chaotic. It’s a small shift, but it makes the whole process feel a lot more relaxed.
