# What happens if I don't use a bundt pan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023 "2016-09-04T15:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![justmeetee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/1 "2016-09-04T15:43:54Z")
Football season is upon us which means watching “parties” rotating between 5 different homes. Host makes a main dish and others bring appetizers/side dishes to pass. I am the designated dessert provider for games not at my home. That means I’ll be making a dessert a minimum of 12 times between now and February and would like to do it without a repeat. So I’m researching recipes and have come across a few that call for baking in a bundt pan, which I don’t have. So other then appearance is there any reason I couldn’t use these recipes but bake in a rectangular baking pan? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/2 "2016-09-04T15:46:58Z")
**Moderator Action** Let’s move this over to where the baking experts hang out. Moving thread from General Questions to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/3 "2016-09-04T15:54:36Z")
You may get less of a rise(and consequently reduce your number of servings) by not using a bundt or even an angel food cake pan. A bundt pan produces a cake that’s more festive-looking and eye-appealing, than a 9x13 or a casserole pan. Why not make your contribution as attractive as possible? If you’re on the hook for making 12 desserts, I’d invest in one. You can make many things with it, not just cakes: breads, layered dips, gelatin desserts, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/4 "2016-09-04T16:56:40Z")
I don’t use them all the time, my life’s okay. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/5 "2016-09-04T17:30:15Z")
IME, the short distance from pan surface to cake center matters greatly with bundt and angel cakes. You can’t simply pour the same batter into a pan that might have “deeper” sections, or even a larger shallow area, and expect… the same results. Might be fine, but it won’t be the same. Or maybe it’s just a case of once bundt, twice shy. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/6 "2016-09-04T18:09:35Z")
The middle of your cake may not cook through. Bundts allow for more surface area during cooking, so you can make a wetter (and possibly also more sugary) batter cook through before the outer crumb is burned. Reducing the wet ingredients a bit may help. You could also add an egg white, to increase the rise and lower the temperature a bit to help it cook through. Using an angel cake pan would probably work well enough, though the ridges in a bundt pan also help the batter cook through. If you break down and buy one, don’t be tricked into getting the [extra fancy](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41wPVZ%2B-TnL._SY300_.jpg) ones with the [sharp cuts](http://www.kingarthurflour.com/item-img/11437_12_12_2013__16_20_40_700) in them. Get a good old fashioned [rounded one.](http://rk.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/rk/images/dp/wcm/201632/0081/img72o.jpg) The sharp bits tend to burn, and to stick and rip off when you try to get the cake out. Don’t torture yourself! ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/7 "2016-09-04T19:12:25Z")
I wonder if you could just put an oven safe cup in the middle of your cake pan ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/8 "2016-09-04T19:31:17Z")
They’re not very expensive, and any thrift store will have several. Get one. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/9 "2016-09-04T20:01:31Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > I wonder if you could just put an oven safe cup in the middle of your cake pan Found that suggested as an alternative [here](http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/7799/bundt-pan-substitution) - also suggestions on splitting into loaf pans (seems reasonable) and adjusting time/temp. > [@](#): > > You can use two loaf pans, this should approximate the bundt pan. Another alternative is to use a deep circular cake pan with a ceramic ramekin in the center of it to create the hole. With either method you may need to adjust your cook time a bit depending on your results. (likely 25F lower and baked for a little longer) It also might simply just work without changes. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/10 "2016-09-04T20:10:29Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > They’re not very expensive, and any thrift store will have several. Get one. Just to add. use a 50 year old cast-iron bundt pan. My mom has one and I have stolen it a few times but she always finds it. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/11 "2016-09-05T02:29:04Z")
If you try the cup/ramekin method, I recommend letting it warm up with the oven to temperature before pouring in the dough. That will simulate the heat coming up through the metal of the bundt pan. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/12 "2016-09-05T03:26:48Z")
> [@justmeetee](#): > > Football season is upon us which means watching “parties” rotating between 5 different homes. What, is this like a drinking but for dessert lovers? Every fourth down… “Bundt!” ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/13 "2016-09-05T07:49:19Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > I wonder if you could just put an oven safe cup in the middle of your cake pan A Bundt pan allows hot air to circulate through the middle - something you won’t get simply by putting a cup in the middle of a cake pan. **justmeetee** , if I were in your position I would buy a Bundt pan. They’re not expensive, and this is something you’ll be doing more than once. By using a Bundt pan, you won’t have to experiment with the recipe to get it to come out right, and the cake will be more attractive than one baked in a rectangular pan. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/14 "2016-09-05T08:04:08Z")
What I like about our bundt pan is that the pattern it’s molded into makes for easy portion control. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/15 "2016-09-05T15:26:39Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > What, is this like a drinking but for dessert lovers? Every fourth down… “Bundt!” You are thinking of baseball . . . ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/16 "2016-09-05T22:21:08Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > You are thinking of baseball . . . Th “bundt” was a pundt. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/17 "2016-09-05T22:24:37Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > The “bundt” was a pundt. No, that’s football. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/18 "2016-09-15T00:21:07Z")
> [@justmeetee](#): > > Football season is upon us which means watching “parties” rotating between 5 different homes. Host makes a main dish and others bring appetizers/side dishes to pass. I am the designated dessert provider for games not at my home. That means I’ll be making a dessert a minimum of 12 times between now and February and would like to do it without a repeat. So I’m researching recipes and have come across a few that call for baking in a bundt pan, which I don’t have. > So other then appearance is there any reason I couldn’t use these recipes but bake in a rectangular baking pan? I was going somewhere with a friend this evening; she was going to swing by my place to pick me up. I went outside to wait and a car pulled up to the curb and partially blocked my driveway. A woman got out and asked if her car was okay there. I said it was probably fine as long as it wasn’t going to be there very long. She said no, she was only visiting a friend next door to pick something up. So she went to the house next door and chatted with the woman there for a few minutes and came back to her car _carrying a bundt pan!_ That wasn’t you, was it? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/19 "2016-09-15T01:03:20Z")
> [@justmeetee](#): > > …So other then appearance is there any reason I couldn’t use these recipes but bake in a rectangular baking pan? Martha Stewart will disown you forever. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023/20 "2016-09-15T04:31:57Z")
I have recipes that I have made as a Bundt cake, sheet cake and as cupcakes. I think most recipes are adaptable like that. Just don’t ever fill a pan more than 2/3 full, and keep an eye on it and test for doneness when it looks/smells like it might be done. With that being said, I think you should get a Bundt pan. Some present so prettily that way, and would be weird to try to adapt I think (like rum cake, which is worth buying a Bundt pan for in itself). I actually like cupcakes best for serving at those kinds of parties. Easier to serve and makes less of a mess. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-i-dont-use-a-bundt-pan/765023.md?page=2)