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Simple Bundt Cake Pan Substitutes to Try in a Pinch

Simple Bundt Cake Pan Substitutes to Try in a Pinch

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Bundt cakes are delicious, easy to make, and perfect for every occasion. Every baker, even beginners, has a go-to Bundt cake recipe.

Yet, did you know that you can still make this intricate, tasty cake even if you don’t have the signature Bundt cake pan? In fact, you can bake your Bundt cake in any pan you have.

Still, if you want the popular Bundt cake shape, you can use any of our Bundt cake pans substitutes. Keep reading our article to find out all the alternatives and how to use each one. Let’s dive in!

Can You Make a Bundt Cake Without a Bundt Pan?

You can make a Bundt cake even if you don’t have a pan. Luckily, there are many alternatives to the Bundt pan, so you’ll still make a cake with the signature, elegant shape.

It’s important to understand that Bundt cakes don’t have a specific recipe. Any cake can be a Bundt cake if you bake it in a Bundt pan. Naturally, you can bake any cake you want in a regular pan, and it’ll be just as delicious.

Simply put, if you don’t own a Bundt pan, you can either fashion your own Bundt pan or bake the cake in any other pan.

Can a Bundt Cake Be Made in a 9×13 Pan?

Most kitchens have a 9×13 pan! So, you can use it instead of the Bundt pan. That said, you’ll have to adjust your Bundt cake recipe.

A 9×13 pan usually holds more batter than a standard Bundt cake. While a Bundt pan can hold about 12 cups of batter, a 9×13 pan holds 14 cups. Fortunately, this isn’t a problem as you have to leave room for your cake to expand.

As for the baking time, you’ll definitely need to adjust it. That’s because a Bundt pan is in contact with almost the entire cake. It can distribute the heat evenly, resulting in a well-baked cake.

However, in a 9×13 pan, the cake will likely turn out with burnt edges and a spongy core. After all, 9×13 pans are perfect for brownies and less so for cakes.

For this reason, you should properly preheat the oven to evenly bake your Bundt cake. You’ll also have to bake it for a shorter time. This way, the edges won’t burn.

You can check your Bundt cake with a toothpick about ten to five minutes earlier than the recipe recommends. If the toothpick comes out clean, then your Bundt cake is perfectly baked!

Can You Bake a Bundt Cake in a Loaf Pan?

Loaf pans are perfect for cakes, especially Bundt cakes. They have the same depth as Bundt pans. This means the resulting cake will have an incredibly similar texture to the signature Bundt cake.

The main thing to consider when using a loaf pan instead of a Bundt pan is the capacity. Loaf pans typically hold only four or eight cups of batter, depending on the pan’s size. In other words, you’ll need to use less batter to leave room for the cake to rise.

Rather than adjusting your recipe, you can make two cakes with the same amount of batter.

5 Bundt Cake Pan Substitutes

Though you can use any pan you have to make your Bundt cake, you still want the cake to be somewhat similar to a Bundt cake!

In this case, loaf pans, rectangular pans, and most round cake pans just won’t do. Luckily, you can try the following substitutes for a unique Bundt cake:

1 – Pie Weights and Foil Paper

So, you don’t have a Bundt cake pan but still want to impress your guests? Well, you can make your own pan using pie weight and foil paper!

All you have to do is roll the foil paper into a funnel shape, making it look as close to the middle of a Bundt cake pan as possible. It should also be deep enough, so the batter doesn’t flow into it during baking.

Then, add the foil to the center of any round cake. Use the pie weights to hold the foil in place. You should be able to pour the cake batter around the foil without it moving.

It’s essential that you oil the foil before pouring the cake batter. This prevents the cake from sticking to the foil. You’ll also easily remove the cake from the pan once it’s done baking.

The reason this trick works perfectly is that it offers the same heat distribution as a Bundt cake pan. Accordingly, you won’t need to adjust the baking time.

Additionally, this is a cost and time-efficient method. You won’t need to buy any expensive pans, yet you’ll get a gorgeous-looking Bundt cake!

2 – Oven-Proof Container

If you want the center of your Bundt cake to look neater, you can add an oven-proof container to the middle of your cake pan!

You can use a container of any size and shape. When choosing a container though, make sure it’s as deep or even deeper than the cake pan you’re using. If you use a container that’s too small, the Bundt cake might expand into it as it’s baking.

Like the foil, the oven-proof container will ensure the cake bakes evenly. You’ll still have to adjust the recipe since you’ll need to use less batter.

Here’s the kicker:

Many oven-safe containers have artistic patterns on the outside, particularly Pyrex containers. These patterns will make your Bundt cake look pretty fancy. Everyone will think you used an expensive, stylish Bundt cake pan!

3 – Tube Pan

If you don’t have a Bundt pan, the next closest thing would be a tube pan. Instead of the funneled edges and center of a Bundt pan, tube pans are pretty simple. They’re basically springform pans with a hollow tube in the middle.

In other words, the two pans are nearly identical, though tube pans are more beginner-friendly.

While you should grease Bundt pans, most tube pans are non-stick. Furthermore, the detached sides of a tube pan make it easy to invert the Bundt cake without deflating it. On the other hand, you need to let the cake sit for about 15 minutes in a Bundt pan before inverting.

Lastly, tube pans help the cake keep its shape. That’s because the hollow center of the baked cake will have a uniform shape. So, you can insert a bottle to keep the cake from deflating as it cools!

4 – Deep Dish Pie Pan

Baking your Bundt cake in a pie pan will result in a funnel shape on the outside of the cake close to that of a Bundt pan.

If you want to take it one step further, you can add foil or a container to the center of the pie pan!

However, a standard pie pan won’t work for baking Bundt cakes. Most pie pans are only one inch deep. There won’t be enough room for the cake to rise.

Alternatively, deep dish pie pans are 1.5 to 2.25 inches deep. This isn’t nearly the same depth as a Bundt pan, so you’ll need to use less cake batter.

5 – Muffin Pan

Muffin pans look nothing like Bundt cake pans. Yet, they’re the ideal substitute. Other large cake pans will leave you with a cake that’s under-baked in the center.

On the other hand, muffin pans work greatly with Bundt cake batter as the mini-cakes will be evenly baked and perfectly risen.

Since muffins are significantly smaller than a Bundt cake, you’ll need to bake your mini-cakes for only 20 to 25 minutes.

You can also creatively present your mini-cakes, so they’ll further resemble a Bundt cake. Just arrange the muffins in a circle, leaving a hollow space in the middle.

Final Thoughts

Bundt cakes are the ideal cakes for every occasion. You can bake a Bundt cake as a yummy dessert or to impress any dinner guests with minimal effort!

The best thing about Bundt cakes is that they don’t have a specific recipe either. You can also use any type of cake pan to bake your delicious cake. Bundt cake pan substitutes can be anything from round cake pans to loaf pans.

You can easily get the signature Bundt cake shape by using a tube pan too. If you want to get creative, you can fashion your own Bundt pan from foil and pie weights or by adding an oven-proof container to the center of your cake pan.

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