10 Essential Baking Pans
Every baker needs essential baking pans to get the best results. If you are an aspiring baker, this list has plenty of quality pans to add to your collection. Read on to find out which baking pan is best for you!
Must Have Baking Pans
Regardless of skill level, if you want to make show-stopping desserts, you need good baking pans to make it work. Over the years, I have used a good amount of bakeware. Since I enjoy making a wide range of desserts, I can provide suggestions based on my experience as a home baker.
I have narrowed down 10 essential baking pans for bakers.
9 x 13-Inch Baking Pan
There is nothing better than multi-purpose equipment for your kitchen. A 9×13 inch pan is the ultimate multi-purpose baking pan. My 9×13 inch pan features a lid that makes storing sheet cakes in the fridge a breeze. I love to use this pan for baking bars, sheet cakes, and brownies.
In addition to baking, I enjoy using this pan to store baked cupcakes. The air-tight cover keeps the cupcakes fresh and prevents them from drying out. I frost the cupcakes the next day to streamline my baking process.
Loaf Pan
Loaf pans are ideal for quick breads, pound cakes, or loaf cakes. Another use for loaf pans is freezing homemade ice cream. The most common dimensions are 9×5 (23 cm x 13cm) or 8×4 inches (20cm x 10cm). I own a 9×5 inch loaf pan produced by Nordic Ware. Usually, you can get away with making recipes that call for an 8×5 inch pan with a 9×5 pan. The bread will taste just as good, but the loaf has less height.
Square Pan
Another great addition to your kitchen is a square pan. The most common sizes are 8″ x 8″ inch and 9″ x 9″ inch square pans. I don’t recommend silicon baking pans. They don’t last nearly as long as steel pans. Even worse, silicon pans tear easily. I upgraded my worn-out silicon square pan to a steel pan produced by the brand MasterClass.
With this pan, you can bake sweet treats like brownies, coffee cakes, cheesecake bars, and more!
Bundt Pan
Next, we have one of the most unique pans on the list. Bundt pans were invented by the Nordic Ware Company, which is one of the most popular baking brands. These pans are known for their longevity and beautiful design, which explains their popularity amongst bakers.
Bundt pans can add a festive spin to any cake. When you make a Bundt Cake it looks beautiful right after you transfer it from the pan. After you pour a glaze over it, that cake will become an instant crowd-pleaser. Better yet, garnish the cake to add some flare. While a bundt cake is delicious with glaze, you can decorate it by adding fresh fruit. Before you know it, that homemade Bundt cake looks like it came from the bakery!
I use this Nordic Ware 12-cup Bundt Pan. The cakes always bake evenly. There are different styles of Bundt pans. 12-cup Bundt pans and Mini-Bundt pans are a few that you can try.
Round Baking Pans
Round cake pans are best for layer cakes. The pan size you use depends on the recipe. Some recipes yield enough batter for two 9-inch cake pans or three 8-inch pans. On the other hand, you may find a recipe for a small 6-inch cake.
Acknowledging which cake pan is necessary for your favorite recipes will help you decide which pans to buy. I recommend buying three cake pans of the same size. This gives you the option to make a two or three-layer cake.
For this reason, I have both 8 and 9-inch cake pans. In short, it depends on the recipe you plan on making and how much batter that recipe yields.
Springform Pan
Springform pans are perfect for no-bake recipes like no-bake cheesecake or traditional oven-baked recipes like crumb cakes. I have a set of springform pans that come in different sizes. Furthermore, if you are looking for a set of springform pans, HomeGoods or HomeSense is a good place to look.
Springform pan sizes range from 8-inch, 9-inch, and 10-inch springform pans. Having a set allows you to try out a bunch of different recipes!
Muffin Pans
There are two types of muffin pans. A 6-cup muffin pan is ideal for anyone who loves jumbo muffins! Best yet, if you’re looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, make jumbo cupcakes topped with frosting. Red velvet cupcakes are a sweet treat you can make with these essential baking pans!
Standard muffin pans are essential pans for muffins and cupcakes. I use this Cuisinart muffin pan, which is oven-safe up to 450°F. Most cupcake recipes use a standard 12-count muffin pan.
Likewise, it may be beneficial to have two muffin pans. For instance, if you’re baking three dozen cupcakes, having two muffin pans will save time and energy. Having one muffin pan requires you to wait until the muffins cool before using the remaining batter. Avoid this if possible!
Baking Pans for Cookies
A sheet pan is another multi-purpose baking pan beloved by home cooks and bakers. Every cookie lover needs a quality pan to bake homemade cookies. Moreover, if you can’t decide between a half or full-sheet pan, I recommend a large cookie sheet pan. With this pan, you can make small or large batches of cookies.
I have this cookie sheet. By far, this is my favorite cookie sheet that I have ever used. I’ve had it for at least four years, and it’s still in good condition.
Nonetheless, you may have a small kitchen. For small spaces, try using a half-sheet pan. A set of four sheet pans can be stacked and stored vertically or horizontally. This is a practical solution for small kitchens. Of course, pans that take up less space in your kitchen cabinets are a win for everyone.
Pie Pans
Finally, we have the pie pan. A pie plate has many names. Some call it a pie dish, while others call it a pie plate. Despite the variety of names, there are several types of pans to choose from – including glass, ceramic, and metal pie pans. Ceramic pie plates have ruffled edges that make any pie look stunning! It’s also a good conductor of heat for the pie crust. Say goodbye to store-bought pies and hello to freshly baked desserts!
Favorite Brands
Overall, my favorite baking pans are from Cuisinart and Nordic Ware. Over the years, these essential baking pans have proven to be durable and promote even baking.
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