I Bake Cakes For A Living & This Simple Trick Has Saved SO Many Of My Recipes
The trick to rescuing a stuck cake is to gently reheat the pan, which loosens the hardened sugars and fats.
Before flipping the cake, run a spatula or knife around the edges, then invert it onto a rack or baking sheet for a smooth release—saving your dessert and your day.
For many, baking is one of those things you either love or completely avoid. It can be a tricky art. Who hasn't mistaken baking powder for baking soda? Or set a pan of muffins in the oven only to realize you didn't add the sugar? But when everything goes according to plan, baking can be fun and rewarding—in the form of a sweet treat, of course.
Sometimes, when it seems like you've done everything right and you pull a perfectly golden cake out of the oven, the unthinkable happens: The cake is stuck in the pan. It doesn't matter whether it's for a party or enjoying at home, you can't let all that hard work end up in a pile of cake crumbles.
Luckily, we have a foolproof hack for removing a stuck cake from a pan without ruining it. Our senior food editor Makinze Gore explains just how to do it.
Why Does Cake Stick To The Pan?
Even a perfectly oiled nonstick pan can lead to a sticky situation. And when it comes to bundt cakes, the abnormal shape isn't ideal for using parchment paper.
Aside from a poorly greased pan, one of the reasons baked goods might get stuck is that they've cooled for too long in their pans. We recommend letting a cake cool for about 15 minutes. Then, you can take it out of the pan to allow it to finish cooling.
"As it cools, the sugar and the fat will start to harden, and that's what will cause it to stick in your pan," Gore says.
How To Remove A Stuck Cake From The Pan
If you let your cake sit in the pan a little too long and you're having a difficult time removing it, the key is to warm it up. Heating the pan will raise the temperature of the sugars and fats in the cake.
To do this, fill a large pot with hot water and dip the pan in it for a few seconds. You can also wrap a hot, damp towel around the bottom of the pan. Before flipping the cake over, Gore recommends running an offset spatula or small paring knife along the edges to make sure the cake is loose.
When you flip the cake over, make sure to have a cooling rack or baking sheet handy. Place it on top of the pan and flip the cake over to release it onto the rack or sheet.
More Baking Hacks & Tips
Whether you're baking a simple sheet cake or an elaborate birthday cake, you're going to need the best tools and supplies. Check out our picks for the best measuring cups and our go-to cookie sheets.
Ever start measuring ingredients for a batch of cupcakes or banana bread, only to realize you're out of an ingredient? Here are our recommendations for common baking substitutions:
Baking soda
Vegetable oil
Butter
Eggs
Milk
Brown sugar
Sour cream
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