Bake and freeze layers (wrap and seal in 2 gallon ziploc), mix and refrigerate buttercream. Remove layers from freezer when you leave and keep buttercream in cooler. Allow frosting to return to room temp before using. It will also be easier to transport!

This chocolate cake is very moist and tastes good for several days in my experience.

http://orangette.net/2004/09/on-not-getting-killed-learning-to-be-agreeable-and-thereby-acquiring-cupcakes/

I’d bake the layers at home, make your favorite chocolate buttercream frosting (honestly the basic butter powdered sugar and cocoa is probably best bet) at home the night before you leave and refrigerate the frosting in a Tupperware. Transport the cake Layers in a well sealed plastic cake dome and transport frosting with an ice pack in a small cooler bag. Bring hand mixer to refresh frosting day of celebration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:May I suggest buying a cake to eat that day with the grandparents and baking your child’s homemade cake on a different day when you are home? I am fairly certain a child of any age would be more than pleased to get two cakes instead of one, and this would save you a lot of cake gymnastics.

Yeah, for real OP. Have you lost your mind?

The answer is you bake your homemade cake at home and eat it at home-on her actual birthday or the day of your choosing. You buy a cake at grandparents house to celebrate. Or a pie. Or any other fun dessert you can stick a candle in and light. Don’t make this hard for zero reason.

The "zero reason" is that a parent/grandparent is dying. Help her plan her family's last memories with that person the way she wants (which is completely do-able) or stay out of it. Or at least give her gentle support in embracing an alternative this year. But you don't need to be such a jerk about her desire to incorporate a family tradition and a tiny degree of normalcy into a tumultuous, emotional, and painful time.

OP here. Exactly this. Thank you for this message, PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:May I suggest buying a cake to eat that day with the grandparents and baking your child’s homemade cake on a different day when you are home? I am fairly certain a child of any age would be more than pleased to get two cakes instead of one, and this would save you a lot of cake gymnastics.

Yeah, for real OP. Have you lost your mind?

The answer is you bake your homemade cake at home and eat it at home-on her actual birthday or the day of your choosing. You buy a cake at grandparents house to celebrate. Or a pie. Or any other fun dessert you can stick a candle in and light. Don’t make this hard for zero reason.

The "zero reason" is that a parent/grandparent is dying. Help her plan her family's last memories with that person the way she wants (which is completely do-able) or stay out of it. Or at least give her gentle support in embracing an alternative this year. But you don't need to be such a jerk about her desire to incorporate a family tradition and a tiny degree of normalcy into a tumultuous, emotional, and painful time.

Can't you just make (or buy) a cookie cake?

No homemade frosting will taste good after 4 days (or commercial either), may be some of the butter frostings, but 4 days is really pushing it.

Best option, is to bake the sponge part 4 days ahead but don’t put frosting on it till the day of, or the night before.

Smith Island cake
Good for three days. Maybe four….

https://www.food.com/recipe/golden-grand-marnier-cake-200480

Depends on the kid, but mine would have loved this at most any age. Sort of an orange chocolate chip Bundt cake.

Anonymous wrote:May I suggest buying a cake to eat that day with the grandparents and baking your child’s homemade cake on a different day when you are home? I am fairly certain a child of any age would be more than pleased to get two cakes instead of one, and this would save you a lot of cake gymnastics.

Yeah, for real OP. Have you lost your mind?

The answer is you bake your homemade cake at home and eat it at home-on her actual birthday or the day of your choosing. You buy a cake at grandparents house to celebrate. Or a pie. Or any other fun dessert you can stick a candle in and light. Don’t make this hard for zero reason.

If you aren't using your usual recipe how will your kid know if you made the cake or not. Just buy something and tell her you made it. How old is this kid? I feel like it's fine to tell they need to be flexible this year.