Baking pans for cakes, muffins, bread and themed cakes

Baking pans for pound cakes, muffins and bread

Baking pans determine the shape and size of your bakes and often affect the result too. Whether it's a pound cake, muffins, bread or a themed cake for a children's birthday party, here you'll find classic and unusual pans made of metal and silicone.

How to choose the right baking pan

Metal pans conduct heat well for even browning and crisp edges. It's best not to use knives or metal utensils on nonstick pans so the coating lasts. Silicone molds are flexible, and bakes release easily. Because they're soft, place them on a baking sheet or rack before filling. There are also pans in special shapes for themed cakes and holidays.

• Springform pans, loaf pans and Bundt pans
• Muffin pans and mini Bundt pans
• Novelty pans for birthdays and holidays
• Pans for bread, cakes and tarts

Tip: A springform pan with a 26 cm diameter has about 40 percent more area than a 22 cm one, so scale the batter by area. In a smaller pan, the batter sits higher and usually needs a little longer, so test with a skewer in good time.