Baking Instructions

Pan Prep

How to prepare cake pans for easy release?

CAKES: Grease your pans with a thin layer of room-temperature, unsalted butter or shortening and dust evenly with 1-2 tbsps (15-30 ml) of flour. You can also line your pan with parchment paper and spray grease. Alternatively, we recommend Baker’s Joy. *Tip: The use of olive oil or aerosol release sprays containing olive oil are not recommended as they can leave a sticky residue and may discolor the pan over time.

MUFFINS & CUPCAKES: If you are not using paper muffin cups, we recommend greasing and flouring like a cake pan.

ANGEL FOOD: Do not grease your pan for stiffly-beaten egg white recipes, simply line the bottom with parchment paper. This allows the cake to cling to the sides of the pan and rise properly.

PASTRIES & COOKIES: Usually no pan preparation is needed as most recipes have a higher fat content and provide an effective release. If you are baking pastries or cookies with a low-fat content, simply line the sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

BREADS: For first-time use, we recommend using butter, coconut oil, canola oil, lard or shortening. If needed, dust with flour for sweet breads and cornmeal for yeast breads. After the first few uses, the baking surface will build a patina that will eliminate or minimize the need for pan prep.

PIES, TARTS & QUICHES: Most crust recipes have high butter and fat content that will provide a natural release. Unless your recipe specifically calls for a grease-release preparation, these items generally do not require any pan prep.

COOKIES: Read: Methods and Techniques for Cookies

Batter Capacity

How much cake batter per pan do I need?

Generally for 1 or 2-inch-deep pans, you will fill them 1/2 full of batter. For pans that are 3 or 4-inch-deep, the batter needs to be about 2/3 full. View our Cake Baking Guide for more details and estimations including weight chart.

On occasion, you may need the batter capacity for a certain recipe or special pan.

Calculate a Pan’s Batter Capacity: Fill the pan to the brim with water. Use a measuring cup to determine how much you poured. Subtract 1/2 the amount of water from the total to determine capacity for 1 or 2-inch deep pans, and subtract 1/3 of the total amount for pans that are 3 or 4-inch deep.

Placing one or more heating rods in the pan is recommended by professionals for cakes that exceed 9 inches in diameter, larger 3 or 4 inch deep pans or novelty-shaped pans. Position the flat base of the heating rod at the bottom of the pan.

Temp

What temperature to bake a cake?

Fat Daddio’s Anodized Aluminum Bakeware heats faster and may require a temperature reduction for most recipes. For professional baking results, we recommend lowering the temperature to 325° F (165° C) and baking for a few minutes longer than the recipes instructs. A good place to start for many might be a 15° F reduction, and check on your cake when the recommended recipe bake time is up. Actual temperature reduction and time will vary depending on oven type, pan size, altitude, ingredients and how many times the oven was opened to admire your baking.

Baking Time

How long to bake a cake?

There are many variables to baking time. Your ingredients, altitude, pan size and oven performance all effect baking results. There just isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer. However, there are several indicators that your cake is done:

Generally, if your cake starts to smell good, it’s probably getting close to being ready to take out of the oven. If it jiggles when moved it’s likely not ready. If the top springs back when lightly-touched it may be done. Insert a toothpick or paring knife into the center of the cake to see if the crumb has set. If it comes out clean, it’s done.