Baking is amongst those chores in the kitchen that necessitates the use of specialized equipment. Ovens, specialty containers like baking pans & cupcake trays, as well as kitchen gadgets and utensils like parchment paper, a whisk, and a silicone spatula are all required for many baking recipes.
While it is possible to do without those tools and instead use whichever would be a great option for them, it is far easier if you are utilizing the proper tools for the job.
However, if you’re preparing during this epidemic, it’s possible that you won’t be able to afford or have access to the equipment you’ll need when the cooking bug strikes.
Cake Pan Substitutes / Alternatives
In the event that you have a hankering for something that must be baked but do not have the baking pans necessary for the dish to be a hit, you have the choice of substituting one of the following ideas for the baking pans:
1. Make use of IIaneras
Who said llaneras were only used for making Leche flan? These aluminum pans can be used for a variety of other batters & baking recipes in addition to the Leche flan batter, which is a very liquid batter. They are simply smaller oval-shaped variations of the larger aluminum cake pans that you are currently using.
Cakes can be made using the bigger oval forms and then divided into smaller sections, while cupcakes are made with smaller llaneras that can be divided into individual servings. In either case, you should follow the same steps as if these were the proper-sized pans: grease & line with baking parchment as directed, or place cupcakes liners or cutout baking paper in the small llaneras as indicated.
2. Use cans that are cleaned-out
Do you have a sweet tooth for cupcakes? Try digging through your recycle bin for some cans, or save some small cans if you are in need of one but do not have one. If you have a collection of cans that are all same size, one can rinse them out and use them as cupcake trays instead of buying new ones.
Your cupcake liners only need enough structure to keep them firm enough to retain the batter and high enough to retain the cake as it rises in the oven. You don’t need to use a lot of structure.
Cans that have been emptied are ideal for this. To make a safe substitute for canned goods, use a tin opener to cut off the lid of the can completely.
3. Make a pan from aluminum foil
Did you know that aluminum foil may be used to build a baking pan entirely from scratch? Yes, you can! The key is to first draw an imprint of the form of the cake pan you’ll be using by folding aluminum foil in half to form the pan’s walls before baking.
You’ll need an extra foil to cover the outline of the pan, and then more aluminum to cover the bottom part to complete the pan. Make sure to place this on the tray of the oven so that it does not become bogged down by your cake mix when poured into the oven.
Not all baking projects necessitate the use of specialized equipment, but those who do necessitate the use of baking pans that you do not already possess can still be completed using these simple tricks!
Make use of these techniques the next time you’re faced with a baking endeavor for which you wouldn’t have the appropriate pans on hand, and see whether you can eventually make that cakes (or cupcake!) idea you’ve been itching to attempt a reality.
4. Use Cake Sheet Pan
When baking cakes without a cake pan, the first choice you have is by using a sheet pan rather than a cake pan. In order to make a cake, a sheet pan should be level and also have sides that rise at least 1 inch above the bottom of the pan throughout its circumference.
As a general rule, fill the pan halfway; for example, if the pan has each lip around the borders, fill it halfway so the batter pops up half an inch on each side. This allows is for the cake to expand without spilling over the edge of the pan.
Sheet pan baking results in very thin layers of cake; therefore, bake one layer, extract it from the pan, and continue baking the next (or third) layer until the cake is finished.
Conclusion
A baker needs a cake pan for preparing cake, however when you are at your friend’s place and suddenly your friends ask you to bake a cake according to his flavor, you might not be having right tools and your favorite cake pan to make cake right away. During such circumstances, the above-mentioned cake pans substitutes can be your best friend!
Other Pan Substitutes
Hi, my name is Ashley Robinson. I’m a food blogger and a part time chef in Food & Drink Junction, Denver. With my blog I’m sharing information & tutorials about different kinds of cooking pans.
