Different Types of Baking Pans: The Ultimate Guide

What Are the Different Types of Baking Pans? All you need to know.

If you walk through the baking aisle at your favorite kitchen store, you’ll notice that there are more baking pans to choose from than you could shake a stick at. A huge variety of baking pans is constantly being released on the market, from pans that bake uniquely shaped cakes to pans that are ideally suited to baking an array of different types of baked goods.

When it comes to bakeware, you will never run out of choices to choose from. But which types of pans should you really have in your kitchen? Keep reading to learn about the different types of baking pans and their purposes.

What Are The Different Types Of Baking Pans?

Sheet Pan

These commercial-grade baking sheets have a shallow rim around the edge. They’re perfect for everything from roasting potatoes to baking cookies (you might know them as cookie sheets) and are real workhorses in the kitchen. The rim on the pan ensures that your parchment paper won’t accidentally slide off.

These come in a wide variety of sizes. However, the most popular size is the “half sheet” pan; it measures 12” x 16” and is a great standard size. You can find smaller sizes for very small ovens.

Muffin Pan

Muffin and cupcake pans are must-haves for any baker, as they can be used to bake a multitude of tasty treats. You can use the pans to make pop-overs, cupcakes, or of course, muffins. Some types of cake can also be baked using a muffin tin. Muffin pans are exceptionally versatile.

Loaf Pan

A loaf pan is regarded as all-around bakeware by many bakers since it can be used for both sweet and savory treats. It can be used to bake anything from meatloaf to banana bread, but most bakers find themselves reaching for a loaf pan most often for quick bread recipes. These can also be used for yeasted pastries, of course, so you can make homemade sandwich bread with ease.

Bundt Pan

Pound cakes and bundt cakes are two-piece wonders, cakes that do not need frosting to look beautiful when served. These deep and heavily pronged pans produce perfect coffee cakes and pound cakes that you can make and serve for any occasion. The variety of bundt pans can be overwhelming at first glance, but sticking with a traditional design is usually the easiest option.

Tube Pan

While they may resemble a bundt pan at first glance, tube pans are primarily used for baking lighter cakes, such as angel food and chiffon. Most tube pans have feet because airy cakes need to cool upside-down, and the feet keep the pan stable against the counter when inverted.

9″ Round Cake Pans

The right cake pan makes all the difference for the looks and taste of your cakes and desserts. This pan also comes in handy for baking brownies and some other delectable treats. If you bake cakes or desserts regularly, you need this type of cake pan for the best results. This pan can also be used for the occasional batch of brownies, which look a bit dressier if you bake them in a round pan and cut them into wedges.

Round cake pans come in almost every size you can think of, but the most common are 8” and 9”. Most bakers prefer the 9” size because the layers bake slightly more quickly. It’s a good idea to have two in your arsenal so you can bake layer cakes more quickly.

9-by-13-inch Baking Pan

This all-purpose baking dish can be used for everything from roasting chicken to baking a cake. It has higher sides than a sheet pan, which makes it better for cakes than for cookies. Many bakers find it to be the perfect size for sheet cakes and most baking mixes, which makes it perfect as a pan when you need a quick batch of brownies or a cake for a party.

8″ Baking Pan

A small, square-shaped baking dish is ideal for brownies and bar cookies. Although it can be difficult to double a recipe to fit a 9-by-13-inch pan, this pan size is typically what most recipes expect. So if you tend to only double a recipe to save room, it may be difficult to have enough space to bake all the bar cookies you want to try.

Pie Plate

You must have a pie dish or pan in order to make pie. But you can use the pie dish or pan to bake other treats like brownies, loaf cakes, and many more.

Ceramic plates are known for producing deeper browned crusts. However, glass plates are also an excellent choice because you can easily see the color of your crust while the pie is in the oven.

Silicone Springform Pans

This type of pan has a removable outer edge that unclasps easily after baking. This pan is a must for baking cheesecakes, but it can also be used for tarts, quiches, and regular cakes.

Springform Pan Uses

• Cheesecake

• Crumb Cake

• Ice Cream Cake

• Delicate Tortes

Silicone Muffin and Brownie Molds

Silicone molds are a versatile and cost-effective way to make small cakes and other pastries like muffins and brownies, as they can accommodate a variety of shapes to make a uniformly sized dessert. The flexible silicone material of the mold allows you to easily remove your desserts from the mold once they have cooled and customize the size and shape of your cake to fit your needs. This silicone is oven-safe and does not need to be lined like many other cake pans; lightly greasing the mold before baking can be beneficial for some recipes.

Silicone baking ware comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, and silicone baking mats can also optimize all of your oven-baked recipes.

Silicone Muffin and Brownie Mold Uses

• Entremets

• Mini Pies

• Quiches

• Eclairs

• Candies

• Cupcakes

• Cancel

• Novelty Shaped Cakes

Cake Rings

Cake rings, like traditional cake pans, are great for making layered cakes as they have tall sides. Even though cake rings are bottomless, once the cake is completely cooled, you can easily slide the ring off. Cake rings are an older version of the springform pan, but they are not obsolete. Cake rings remain the best choice for cakes with extremely wet ingredients.

The cake ring, alternatively, can also be used as a cookie cutter to cut shapes out of sheet cakes. Made of thin metal, they can slice through the cooled cake to create a neat edge for intricate pastries and sweets. To bake a cake in a cake ring, place the cake ring on a sheet cake pan and then fill the ring with batter. Pouring your batter slowly helps to prevent leaking at the points where the ring meets the bottom of the pan.

Cake Ring Uses

• Mousse Cakes

• Pudding Cakes

• Custard Cakes

Novelty Cake Pans

Novelty cake pans are available in a variety of shapes like heart, pillow, diamond, and petal with tall sides and a flat bottom. An unmovable cake can be easily achieved when using a novelty cake pan, but every novelty cake pan needs to be carefully greased or floured to ensure your cake releases securely. The use of novelty cake pans is an excellent way for cake bakers to create artistic cakes with little time, difficulty, and waste, as well as freeing up time for other, more creative tasks.

Novelty Cake Pan Uses

• Holiday Themed Cakes

• Character Themed Cakes

• Novelty Cakes

Jelly Roll Cake Pans

A jelly roll cake pan is a type of sheet pan with a 1-inch lip that is designed for baking and rolling thin cakes. While parchment paper and pan liners help prevent rolled cakes from sticking to the bottom of the pan and aids in the rolling process, they were originally designed to meet a niche need. However, jelly roll pans are versatile, too, helping with many cooking needs.

Jelly Roll Cake Pan Uses

• Swiss Rolls

• Yule Logs

• Petit Fours

• Pumpkin Rolls

• Cookies

Next time you add a new dessert to your menu, this guide can help you narrow down all the types of cake pans to find the best option for your dish. By becoming familiar with both your recipe and the different types of cake pans, you’ll be able to find the perfect tool for the job.