Knowing how to remove cake from a bundt pan will help you make beautiful cakes drizzled with frosting. A bundt cake pan is a round-edged pan often with a design on the bottom that molds the cake and makes for a pretty presentation. It's easy to remove the cake from the pan by following a few simple steps.
Making bundt cakes is fun and delicious. The bottom becomes golden brown while baking, and when it's flipped over, the bottom becomes the top. Since bundt pans are usually made with swirls in the design, the cakes also turn out with the same designs. This makes for a beautiful cake that is perfect for giving to friends as a gift.
This can all go wrong when you flip over the pan, and the cake stays right where it is, stuck to the bottom of the pan. This is why it's important to follow a few short steps to ensure your cake falls out nicely and in one piece.
Choose the right pan
The best way to ensure the cake slides out of the pan is to start with a nonstick pan. I love Nordic Ware pans like the one I used to make this pumpkin bundt cake.
The nonstick coating gives you an extra cushion to get the cake out without any mishaps when used with the other steps.
Before pouring the cake batter in, you'll want to make sure to grease the sides of the pan as well.
Prepare the pan
It's important to properly prepare the pan before pouring in the batter.
Start by greasing the pan using a pasty brush or paper towel coated in oil or fat.
Remember to grease the pan right before adding the batter to make sure the fat doesn't melt and collect in the bottom of the pan. This makes the cake stick to the pan and the top of the cake too greasy.
How to grease a cake pan
There are a couple of ways you can grease your bundt pan.
One of the easiest ways is to spray it with baking spray. You can find an aerosol can of vegetable oil in the baking section of the grocery store. Nonstick spray is a great way to evenly coat the sides and bottom with oil. Don't use butter for this since the milk solids actually do the opposite and make the cake stick to the pan.
You can also use a pastry brush or paper towel coated with a solid fat-like shortening.
Thinly and evenly coat the sides, cracks, and bottom of the pan.
Another step you can take in preventing the cake from sticking to the pan is to dust the pan with flour or turbinado sugar. Move the pan around with the flour or sugar in the bottom until a layer coats all sides of the pan.
When to take the cake out of the pan
Here are the steps to help you remove your cake from a bundt pan.
Step 1: Let the cake cool for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Place a wire rack over the top of the pan.
Step 3: Hold both the pan and the rack and flip them both over, so the pan is on top of the rack. You should feel the cake slide out of the pan.
That's it!
How to get a stuck cake out of a bundt pan
If your cake gets stuck to the pan and doesn't immediately fall out when flipped over, there are a couple of things you can do to get it out.
Since a bundt pan has curved sides, you aren’t able to use a knife or straight edge to get the cake out of the pan. Doing so will scratch the nonstick coating, and you don't want that.
Try turning it over and tapping on the sides and bottom.
Let it sit in the upside-down pan for 15 minutes. This will let the cake gently pry itself away from the pan.
Wet a kitchen towel with hot water and squeeze out any excess water. Drape the towel over the top of the pan and let it sit for 10 minutes. This will help steam the cake and pull the sides away from the pan. I use this technique for my pecan rum cake with cake mix.
Use a rubber spatula to gently pry the cake away from the edges of the pan.
If all else fails…
If none of these tricks work to get the cake out of the pan in one piece, there is one other thing you can do to save the cake.
Just remove the cake in chunks and put them in a glass trifle dish. Layer the cake pieces with frosting and fruit to make a trifle. I do this sometimes when I have a cake that sinks in the middle but still tastes delicious!
You still get to eat cake, and since you changed the presentation, no one will have a clue that it was originally meant to be a bundt cake!
Conclusion: How to remove a cake from a bundt pan
You can use these tips and tricks to help you know how to remove a cake from a bundt pan.
It’s best to adequately grease the pan before pouring in the batter.
You can easily flip the cake over for a gorgeous presentation as long as the pan is greased.
If you forget to grease it, you can still get the cake out of the pan. It will be a bit more difficult, and it may not look as pretty, though.
You can always make lemonade out of lemons and turn your cake into a trifle instead.
Try these bundt cake recipes
If you're in the mood for a delicious bundt cake, try these delicious recipes!
I answer all questions!