The answer to this question depends on a few factors, like the size and type of cake you're working with. Generally, a small cake can take around 30 minutes to an hour to cool, while a larger cake can take up to 2 hours or more. It's all about letting the cake settle and become stable enough to hold its shape.
Now, you might be wondering, what happens if you don't let your cake cool long enough? Well, let's just say it can be a recipe for disaster! The cake can become soggy or even collapse under the weight of the icing. Not exactly the look you're going for, right?