How to Get Cake Out of a Bundt Pan in One Piece (2024)

Raise your hand if you've ever been personally victimized by a bundt cake. I know I have. I can remember waiting by the oven as my cake rose in the intricately-designed pan that promised an elegant presentation. But when it came time to invert the pan, the cake fell out in clumps, delivering a crushing blow to my bundt cake dreams.

Even with proper greasing, some cakes still stick to the pan. To avoid bundt cake disaster, try these simple methods for releasing a stuck bundt from the pan in (mostly) one piece. Plus, get tips on how to salvage a damaged bundt cake.

20 Best Bundt Cakes to Make Your Day More Delicious

How to Prevent Cake From Sticking to a Bundt Pan

Before you even think about pouring the batter into your bundt pan, make sure you've greased properly to avoid heartache later. Here's how:

Start With the Right Pan

Most bundt pans you'll find today are nonstick (like this classic Nordic Ware bundt pan), and for good reason. Nonstick coating helps the cake to slide out from the pan as evenly as possible.

Go for a pan that's lighter in color to prevent over browning that can occur with darker pans. You'll still need to grease the pan, even if it's nonstick. But the nonstick coating will provide an extra layer of protection. If your bundt pan is older with considerable scratches, this can affect the nonstick capabilities, so consider upgrading to a new pan.

How to Get Cake Out of a Bundt Pan in One Piece (1)

Grease the Pan

Using a pastry brush, grease the pan liberally with solid shortening. Make sure to get every square inch and crevice of the pan, because your cake is guaranteed to stick to any parts left un-greased. And whatever you do, don't substitute butter for shortening. The milk solids in butter will actually act like glue, causing the batter to stick to the pan.

How to Get Cake Out of a Bundt Pan in One Piece (2)

Flour the Pan

Once you've greased the pan, it's time to flour it. Holding the pan over the sink, sprinkle flour into the pan. Tilt in a circular motion, tapping the pan as you go until all the flour has been evenly distributed.

Flip the pan over and tap out any excess. Make sure to get around the center tube of the pan as well. Now you're ready to add batter to the pan!

Allow the Cake to Cool

Once you've cooked your bundt cake and removed it from the oven, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then place a wire cooling rack over the base of the cake and invert the pan to release.

Cake Not Coming Out? Try These Methods:

If your cake slid out beautifully after following these steps, congrats! You can stop reading here. But even after doing everything right (you rule follower, you) sometimes bundt cake can still be stubborn. If your bundt cake is giving you a hard time (or if you're simply nervous about your cake crumpling into a mountain of cake chunks) give these methods a try.

Try Steaming the Cake Out

After removing your cake from the oven, place a kitchen towel in your sink. Carefully pour very hot water over the towel until it's damp, not dripping. Drape the towel over the tops of the pan and leave it there until the pan is cool enough to handle.

The steam will help release the cake from the pan when you go to invert it. You can also use a rubber spatula to help release the cake from the sides. Refrain from using a knife, as this can tear up the exterior of the cake and scratch the lining of your bundt cake pan.

Try Giving It a Bang

Another option is to take out your frustrations on your bundt cake by giving it a good bang. Lay a dish towel on the countertop, invert your pan and bang on the top and sides of the pan. This can help to loosen up the cake from the walls of the pan.

Try Waiting It Out

Last but not least, let gravity do its work. Once you've inverted your cake, let it sit for 10 minutes, and check on it again. This gives the cake a chance to cool, contract, and slide out of the pan.

How to Salvage Damaged Bundt Cake

If you've gone through all these steps, and you're still left with a damaged bundt cake, don't lose hope. You can still make a fabulous dessert out of a bundt cake that stuck to the pan.

If your cake has minimal damage use an icing or a glaze to cover any perfections. This solution will look as good as it tastes!

If you have crumbled bundt cake you can use the crumbled pieces to create another, equally delicious dessert that's great for feeding a crowd: trifle. Trifle often calls for cubed pound cake, so you've already done the hard part. Simply layer the cake with a little fruit and whipped cream. When life gives you broken bundt cake, make trifle, right?

Bundt Cake Recipes

How to Get Cake Out of a Bundt Pan in One Piece (2024)

FAQs

How to Get Cake Out of a Bundt Pan in One Piece? ›

Another option is to take out your frustrations on your bundt cake by giving it a good bang. Lay a dish towel on the countertop, invert your pan and bang on the top and sides of the pan. This can help to loosen up the cake from the walls of the pan.

How to remove a cake stuck in a bundt pan? ›

Wet a Dishcloth

To try it, soak a dishcloth (or kitchen towel) in warm or hot water and then wring out excess water. Wrap the towel around the bottom of the pan, leave it there for about 15 minutes, and then remove the cake from its pan.

How long do you let a bundt cake cool before removing from the pan? ›

After removing from the oven, place the pan on a wire rack and let cool; your recipe will specify the required time, usually from 10-20 minutes. This allows the cake to become firm enough to remove from the pan without breaking apart. Cooling too long in the pan will cause the cake to be damp and stick to the pan.

How do you get a bundt cake out of the pan in one piece? ›

Try Steaming the Cake Out

The steam will help release the cake from the pan when you go to invert it. You can also use a rubber spatula to help release the cake from the sides. Refrain from using a knife, as this can tear up the exterior of the cake and scratch the lining of your bundt cake pan.

How do you salvage a Bundt cake that is stuck to the pan? ›

It can help to run an offset spatula around the edges of your pan, between pan and cake, right after removing the cake from the oven. If the cake is only slightly stuck, this can release those few sticking points before even attempting to flip the pan. Some of these techniques can take time to come to fruition.

Why is my cake sticking to the bundt pan? ›

It was unanimously agreed, from my internet search, that the milk solids in butter act like glue, causing the cake batter to stick to the pan. Dusting the Bundt pan with flour can leave a floury residue on your baked cake, which doesn't look great and can add a raw flour flavor.

Can you use Pam to grease a bundt pan? ›

And, well, I grease my Bundt pans with Pam Original. I find it fast and effective, and have never experienced any sort of residue or buildup over time,* but I'm also (like many pastry chefs) rather meticulous when it comes to cleaning my gear.

Can I leave cake in a bundt pan overnight? ›

Make sure you are using a non stick bundt pan. Do not cool your cake overnight in the pan.

How long to let cake cool before removing from bundt pan? ›

When you remove your cake from the oven, don't flip it out of the pan right away! Instead, let the cake cool for ten minutes in the pan. Then, placing the wire rack over the base of the cake, invert the pan. Peek under the wire rack and see if the cake has dropped out.

What to do if cake won't come out of the pan? ›

5 Ways to Get Cake Out of a Pan
  1. Drag a knife around the edge. Gently slide a butter knife between the sides of the pan and the edges of the cake. ...
  2. Let the cake cool. If your cake sticks as soon as it comes out of the oven, that should come as no surprise. ...
  3. Reheat the cake. ...
  4. Turn the pan upside down. ...
  5. Use a springform pan.
Dec 9, 2021

Why does my cake stick to the bundt pan? ›

The milk solids in butter can act like glue, encouraging cake batter to stick to the pan. (You always butter your pan, and your cake never sticks? See tip #1, above). If your pan is particularly intricate, use a pastry brush to apply melted shortening to all its nooks and crannies.

How do you get a cake out of a cast iron bundt pan? ›

To get a stuck cake out, use a spatula to go around the edges to release the parts that are stuck. Then place a cooling rack over the cake and flip upside down. Holding the cooling rack and the cake with both hands, lightly tap against the counter to release.

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