Ever been tempted to switch a pie pan for a cake pan? I have. There are so many different types of pans: cake pans, round pans, square pans, rectangle pans, bundt pans, springform pans, casserole pans, pie pans…the list goes on.
It’s not always obvious what type of pan you’re supposed to use for each project or what you can substitute for.
Pie pans and round cake pans look similar but are actually very different. Cake pans come in a variety of shapes, while pie pans can be many different sizes. Cake pans have straight sides, while pie pans have sloped and sometimes fluted or crimped sides.
When substituting one type of baking pan for another, there are always a few things to remember so your recipe doesn’t go sideways.
Keep reading to learn more about the differences between cake and pie pans and how to substitute one for the other.
Can You Use a Pie Pan To Bake a Cake?
You can’t use a pie pan to bake a cake because it is not a suitable replacement for a cake pan. This is due to differences in size and shape. Each type of pan is designed for different amounts of batter.
Cake recipes are often written for a set of 8-inch (20.32 cm) or 9-inch (22.86 cm) round pans. Other types of pans may include bundt pans, loaf pans, angel food cake pans, and sheet cake in a 9” x 13” (22.86 x 33.02 cm) rectangular pan or an 8” x 8” (20.32 x 20.32 cm) or 9” x 9” (22.86 x 22.86 cm) square pan.
Each of these types of pans holds a different amount of batter. Before swapping one type of pan for another, you need to check that they hold similar amounts so that your cake bakes properly.
For example, two 8” x 8” (20.32 x 20.32 cm) round cake pans hold 8 cups. A good substitute for this is to use two 9”x9” (22.86 x 22.86 cm) round pans or a bundt pan.
Pie tins, conversely, are usually round, but there is no set size. Eight or nine inches (20.32 or 22.86 cm) are most common, but pie pans can come in any size. Pie pans are also much more shallow than cake pans.
An 8-inch (20.32 cm) round cake pan can hold six cups, but an 8-inch (20.32 cm) pie pan only holds four. In this case, you’d want to swap it for a 10-inch (25.4 cm) pie pan, which also holds six cups (source: Cooks Info).
If you have the correct size pie pans to use in place of cake pans, you still are going to run into issues. The first is that pie pans typically have sloped sides; they have a smaller circumference around the bottom than the top. Cake pans, conversely, have straight sides so they can be stacked and frosted.
But what if you weren’t planning on stacking them? What if you wanted a single-layer cake? One more issue to consider is that pie pans often have fluted or crimped edges. This creates a pretty pie crust but can make a cake difficult to frost.
That’s not to say you can never ever use a pie pan in place of a cake pan. Your oven is not going to explode (probably). However, keep in mind that the volume needs to match up and that the different style sides will result in a different look than a cake pan.
Instead of a pie pan, the best thing to do if you don’t have the right cake pan is to switch it to a cake pan that holds a similar volume or a slightly larger volume. For example, putting a recipe meant for an 8-inch (20.32 cm) round pan into a 9-inch (22.86 cm) round pan will result in a cake that’s a little thinner but ultimately fine.
If you try to fit a 9-inch (22.86 cm) round pan recipe into an 8-inch (20.32 cm) round pan, you may end up with a pan that’s overfull, or you’ll have leftover batter.
Square pans are also a good substitute for round cake pans if you don’t mind the change of shape. An 8” x 8” (20.32 x 20.32 cm) square pan holds the same volume as an 8×2-inch (20.32 x 5.08 cm) round pan. The same is true of a 9×9-inch square pan and a 9×2-inch (22.86 x 5.08 cm) round pan.
Can I Use a Glass Pie Pan for Cake?
You can use a glass pie pan for cake but it’s not usually recommended. Glass isn’t as good at conducting heat as metal pans designed for cakes. It’s also not a good option for pies.
Metal pans are better for baking cakes than glass pans. Glass doesn’t conduct heat like metal does, but holds it in. This causes the edges to bake faster than the center, resulting in uneven baking (source: Bon Appetit).
In fact, glass isn’t the best option for pie, either, as it can cook the crust faster than it cooks the center. If you must use a pie pan to bake your cake, avoid glass. Not only will you have all the same issues you’ll have when baking a cake in a regular pie pan, but you’ll also end up with something unevenly cooked.
While most glass bakeware is safe for the oven, always check before baking something in a glass dish.
Can You Bake Pie in a Cake Pan?
You can bake pie in a cake pan if you’re in a pinch. While a pie pan isn’t the best alternative for baking cake, it’s very easy to make pie in a cake pan and will yield similar results.
For a more direct substitution, try to use a cake pan that is a similar size to the pie pan that the recipe calls for. For example, if the recipe was for an 8-inch (20.32 cm) pie pan, substitute for an 8 or 9-inch (20.32 or 22.86 cm) round cake pan.
When using a cake pan to bake a pie, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first is that due to the straight sides of the cake pan, your pie isn’t going to have the same traditional sloped sides.
Those sloped sides serve a purpose: to make it easier to lift the pie out of the pan. To make up for this, line the cake pan with parchment paper. Blind baking the crust will also help make it easier for you to remove (source: The Kitchn)
Blind baking is a technique often used to be nice and crispy. It’s the process of pre-baking the pie crust until it’s just set, then taking it out and letting it cool before adding in the filling and continuing the baking process (source: The Kitchn).
You should always blind bake your crust when making a pie with either custard or unbaked filling. But even if you’re baking an apple pie in a cake pan, blind baking is helpful. If you don’t blind bake, the moisture from the pie filling can cause the unbaked pie crust to stick. Blind baking helps make the pie easier to get out of the cake pan.
Cake pans are also typically deeper than pie pans. For the most part, this isn’t a huge problem. However, you will want to keep a closer eye on your pie crust so that the sides don’t burn.
Cake pans usually hold more volume than pie pans because of these higher sides, but your crust doesn’t have to reach the top of your pan, and neither does the filling. The more important thing is the diameter.
When finding a replacement for a pie pan, a similar-sized cake pan is one of the best substitutes. Another good option is a similar-sized tart pan.
Can You Use a Springform Pan for Pie?
You can use a springform pan for pie. Springform pans make it much easier to remove the pie when cooking is done, but the sides may be much deeper than a typical pie pan – so it might not look like a pie anymore.
Most often, you’ll use a springform pan for cheesecake. They have two parts: the round, circular base and the sides with a clasp. You bake your dessert with the sides attached to the base, and once it’s cooled, undo the clasp and release the sides. This allows you to remove the dessert without lifting it or flipping it.
Baking a pie in a springform pan is very similar to baking a pie in a standard round cake pan. You’ll have some of the same issues with the straight sides, meaning it won’t look like a typical pie. Springform pans, however, are often deeper than a normal cake pan.
A typical cake pan is two inches deep, while springform pans are between 2 ½”-3 inches (6.35 – 7.62 cm) deep. Deep-dish pie recipes work best in springform pans.
Springform pans are often nine inches (22.86 cm) in diameter but come in other sizes as well. When switching out a pie pan for a springform fan, ensure that the measurements match up. A 9-inch round pie pan can usually hold about five cups.
Conversely, a 9” x 2 ½ inch (22.86 x 6.35 cm) springform pan holds ten cups. While baking a smaller pie in a larger cake pan can still work, you don’t want to put a larger pie into a smaller springform pan.
Can I Use a Square Pan for Pie?
You can use a square pan for pie, since the shape of your pie is entirely up to you. If you don’t mind forgoing the traditional round look of a pie, you can make your pie in a square or rectangular cake pan instead.
When using a square cake pan for pie, you’ll still run into the same issues mentioned above with the round cake pan. The sides are deeper, and because they’re straight and not slanted, the pie will be more difficult to remove after slicing.
You won’t be able to slice your pie into eight perfect triangles when you’ve baked your pie in a square pan. If you want to try, line the pan with parchment paper and blind bake the crust so that the slices are easier to remove.
However, the best way to bake a pie in a square pan is to choose a pie recipe that allows you to cut the pie into bars rather than in triangles.
You are likely going to need to adjust your baking time when baking in a square or rectangular cake pan. It’s important to keep a careful eye on your dish, so it doesn’t burn.
As with the other substitutes above, if you opt to bake your pie in a square pan, you need to check to be sure the volume of the pans is similar. An 8”x 8” (20.32 x 20.32 cm) square pan holds eight cups. An 8-inch (20.32 cm) round pie pan only holds four cups.
If your recipe calls for an 8-inch (20.32 cm) pie pan, you can try doubling the recipe for the 8”x 8” (20.32 x 20.32 cm) square cake pan so the volume is more appropriate.
However, if you don’t feel the need to fill the baking dish up, that’s fine too. The only thing that it will affect is the presentation. If you push the pie crust about halfway up the side of the pan, it should give you about the same thickness as your pie pan would. Again, this could lead to a change in the baking time, so keep a close eye on your pie.
Cake pans are deeper than pie pans, which have sloped sides built for smaller volumes. It’s not a good idea to bake a cake in a pie pan, but a cake pan is a good replacement for a pie pan.
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