Round cake pans are great for making layer cake, among other things, but can often be a little tricky to buy without spending an arm and a leg. In this article today I’m going to talk about several of my favorites that should help point you in the right direction and get you baking.
Before we get into specific pans, I’d like to talk for just a minute or two about some broad generalities that I think would be helpful for you to know right from the start. When it comes to cake pans, or really any sort of bakeware cookware, in my opinion the heavier the pan is, and I’m talking about heavy gauge aluminum with rolled edges, the better off you are.
I’m not sure exactly why that is except for maybe the fact that it has something to do with the way that heat is distributed throughout the cake. Some people swear by stainless steel, others tout aluminum, and still others swear by cast-iron. I’ve had good luck with them all so I really think it’s just a matter of personal preference.
Another pearl of wisdom that is especially applicable to a round pan is to have a good cake pan gripper. Round pans don’t have handles, generally speaking, which makes them very hard to remove from the oven, especially when they’re very hot. It makes sense to invest in a solid cake pan gripper that you feel comfortable with.
So how much do these pans cost?
Generally speaking round cake pans are cheaply expensive. That may sound like a contradiction but it’s not. You can usually find them from six or seven dollars up to twenty dollars each which is very inexpensive. The problem is, you usually need a set of 4 to 8 of them and at $10 each, well you understand how the price compounds rather quickly.
One way to get around this is to buy a set and you can find them for around $30.
There are many different companies to choose from, really all the main companies you already know about such as Wilton, Williams-Sonoma, Cuisinart, Baker secret, CK Products, Chicago metallic, Calphalon, and others. If you’ve got a company that you already use their bakeware and you generally like them then I suggest sticking with them for this.
Round Cake Pans are a must-have for any serious kitchen and if you don’t have them already you should drop whatever you’re doing and run to the store. You can find them in nearly any department store or online at places like Amazon or specialty cookware websites. Get cooking!