Best 10 Cake Tins

Are you interested in baking bundt and regular cakes, desserts, bread and other delicious foods? Looking to buy the best tins for the best baking results? Regardless of how flawless your recipe is or how consistent the cake batter turns out, your baking pan plays a role in determining the outcome of your final product. If you’ve taken on cake baking as a new hobby, then you probably already know that the right equipment can be extremely important in your success rate. Luckily, there are many options to enhance your experience, including bread makers, stand mixers or regular mixers, kitchen scales and more.

And, if you’re just starting and need a bit of assistance, our buying guide is here to help. Read on to learn how to recognise the ideal baking tin that will make your entire baking effort worth it. Select the right size for your needs and budget so that you can create mouth-watering goods without running to the bakery.

What is a cake tin?

A baking pan is found in almost every kitchen. It is a metal container in different materials, shapes, and sizes, used for baking cakes, quiches, brownies, biscuits, bread, and more in an oven. In the absence of a baking pan, some non-stick cookwares are used for the same purpose in some homes.

Whether you are baking for a special occasion, your kids, or professionally, you should invest in a robust baking pan that will make all your baking effort a success. With that said, what other reason do you need a cake tin for?

Why do you need a cake tin?

A cake tin can be an essential item for any kitchen that will bring value to your everyday or unique cooking occasions. Not only will you save on money, time and effort with them but you will also practise and improve your skills in a creative way. Let’s have a look at some of the reasons we recommend you purchase your own.

1. To get the best result when baking.

Although the batter consistency, recipe, heat, and bake time contribute to the overall result of your baked product, a high-quality cake tin will ensure that heat is distributed evenly to bake the product properly. So, if you have used other types of pans or cookware to bake a cake before, trying a cake tin will make you see the difference immediately.

2. To enhance the appearance of the baked product.

Most cake tins have a non-stick coating, which not only enhances the appearance of your baked product but makes for easy clean-up after the entire baking process as some of them are dishwasher-safe. There is an added convenience to these tins as many have removable bottoms or other handy release systems. That way, when you want to remove the cake from the tin, you don’t run the risk of ruining the shape into crumbles. 

3. To save space and money.

There is versatile cookware that is oven-safe and can be used on other heat surfaces as well. Investing in these will save you the extra funds you would have spent on getting different sets for cooking and baking separately. Also, a single bake-ware that serves as cookware will require less storage space in your kitchen. If you’re looking for a multipurpose kitchen gadget that will withstand high temperatures, some are even safe to place in a microwave oven. 

4. To create various types of baked goods sizes.

Cake tins come in different shapes, sizes, and materials, which makes it easy to pinpoint an exact option that will cater to your baking needs at a particular moment. For instance, if you want to bake cupcakes, there are baking tins for this purpose, just like there are round cake pans for a round cake, sandwich tin for a sandwich, a deep cake tin for a layer cake, among others.

5. To prepare healthy snacks at home.

We can't trust most snacks and baked products we buy even from our favourite confectioneries. Although they come out looking and smelling great, and even taste so good that we always go back for more. How hygienic is the environment where it is being prepared? Investing in a cake tin will make it easy to bake your foods in an environment where you trust hygiene. Also, you have more control over the ingredients within your batter so that you can customise the flavour to your liking. Do you have someone in your household struggling with allergies? Don’t worry; your cake can fit exactly their dietary restrictions!

What to look for when buying cake tins

There are various cake tin options on the market, but the choice can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve never purchased one before. To get the best model out there, use the information provided below to choose according to your preference.

1. Types

With the wide array available on the market, you can get one or more types of bake-ware for your cake baking adventures. Check out the most common types below to get a better idea of the options available.

• Traditional Cake Pans

These are the typical square cake tins, round, or rectangular pans that you are most familiar with. They come in various sizes and have a flat bottom, which makes them ideal for layer cakes. You can use them for wedding cakes, sponge cakes, tiered cakes, and other types of baked goods that require decorations or frosting.

• Bread or Loaf Tin

Bread tins usually have a rectangular shape with deep walls to accommodate a single loaf of bread. They are made from a conductive metal, have a non-stick coating, and work well for cake with dense batter consistency like moist fruit or pound cake.

• Spring-form Cake Tins

The spring-form cake tin is a loose base tin that features a round shape, tall, straight side, adjustable bottoms, and a clamp on the outer side for releasing the sides when removing a cake that is difficult to remove. These pans are perfect for cheesecakes, crumb cakes, ice cream cakes, and tortes.

• Sandwich Cake Tins

Sandwich tins are usually about 20cm in size and are smaller than a traditional cake tin. Their non-stick surface makes them durable and ideal for the Victoria sandwich and other sponge cakes. Most people prefer these for two-layer cakes. 

2. Materials

Cake tins come in different materials, each having a unique effect and producing a special taste in your baked product. For instance, a bake-ware with a dark-coloured surface will produce more heat than those with bright or reflective surfaces, leaving you with a dark brown baked product. Let's take a look at the available bake-ware materials.

• Aluminium 

If you’re looking for a good heat conductor, this is an excellent material because it allows for even baking. Aluminium baking pans take a shorter time to bake your foods without burning them. Ensure to invest in a heavy-duty and robust aluminium cake tin to get better results.

• Stainless Steel 

This material may cause inconsistency in baking, making one part of the product cook better than the other. Nonetheless, it works well as a pie or sheet pan and is durable, resistant to rust and corrosion, as well as dishwasher safe.

• Anodised Aluminium 

You will either find hard anodised, or silver anodised aluminium. The latter goes through an electrochemical process that makes it durable and resistant to scratch and rust. It retains heat and bakes your food evenly. Hard anodised is ten times thicker and has a heavy-duty dark surface, making it great for cakes with acidic batters and other pastries.

• Silicone 

Silicone does not conduct heat as efficiently as aluminium but is flexible, non-stick, and dishwasher-safe. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used for light baking. So, if you want to make some muffins, sponge cakes, or bread, silicone is your go-to.

• Carbon Steel 

Carbon steel material makes for some heavy-duty non-stick pans that are excellent heat conductors, durable, and can last for a long time if maintained properly. Most of them are BPA and PEOA-free with high heat resistance and 100% safe, non-harmful materials.

3. Size

This depends on the type and size of the cake you want to make and the recipe you will use. Getting the right tin will give your cake the support it needs to rise properly. Otherwise, you might end up with a flat cake if the tin is too big or an over-the-edge leakage if too small. Thankfully, there is a huge selection of tin sizes ranging from 3-inch (7.62cm)  to 16-inch (40.64cm) in diameter. 

4. Finish Type

The finish coating will determine the heat distributed to the baked product regardless of the material used in making the pan. A darker finish will conduct more heat than a lighter finish. So, a pan with a dark finish will expose your food to more heat than a light finish would. Also, some models come with a mirrored finish that makes removing your cake from the tin in a one-piece that much easier.

5. Budget

How much do you intend to spend on the cake tin? For an affordable option, your budget should range from £6 to £15, while high-end ones like Nordic wares have a price range from £25 to £45. You can start with a low-budget option and build your way up to the more premium ones as you become more comfortable and confident in your baking skills. 

What shapes are available for cake tins?

There are various shapes of cake tins for different cakes and recipes. The most common ones are round cake tins, square cake tins, and rectangular tins. However, with novelty pans, bundt pans, and other pans with irregular shapes, you get to explore different designs according to your preference. 

Even some stunning shapes are available that give your finished product a unique look, including roses, Christmas trees, and angel shapes; you name it! That way, you no longer have to purchase store-bought cakes for the aesthetics. You can simply give it your own try.

Are loose bottom cake tins leak-free?

Even with the perfect lining and thick batter, loose-bottom cake tins are not leak-free. Although these types of tins make it easier to release your cake without flaws, you can only minimise the batter leakage and not entirely stop it. 

If you’re looking for handy tips and tricks to make the most of your pans, you can use aluminium foil wrap, parchment paper, or other linings to minimise leakage. Still, when filling the tin, it’s best to leave a bit of extra space on the top in case the batter rises than you anticipate it to. Alternatively, some cake tins include a fill line guide that shows you to which height your batter should be. 

Closure

Whether you want to bake a birthday cake for your family, mini-cakes for a small gathering, or brownies for your kids, using the right cake tin can make a difference. Are you looking to try your luck by testing out a new banana bread recipe? 

We are optimistic that our buying guide can help you find the best cake tin for your baking needs. Take some time to review the top 10 picks above and select the one that matches your craving. So, are you ready to start your baking adventure by investing in the right cake mould?