How to Bake a Bundt Cake Without a Bundt Pan (2024)

Updated: Apr. 03, 2020

Don't have the right equipment? Don't worry! You're not the first person on the hunt for a Bundt pan substitute.

Bundt cakes are delicious—this is a known fact. But you may not know that you can bake a delicious Bundt cake even if you don’t have the right pan. You probably have the perfect Bundt pan substitute in your kitchen right now.

What to Use Instead of a Bundt Pan

Thankfully, you can use many types of cake pans for your Bundt cake recipe. You basically have two options here: make your own Bundt pan, or use a different pan altogether. Regardless of which option you choose, remember you won’t get the same stylized exterior without a real Bundt pan.

Here’s everything you can make in aBundt pan.

How to Make Your Own Bundt Pan

To make your own substitute Bundt pan, you’ll need a standard round cake pan (ideally a 9-inch round), pie weights like this and a small, empty oven-proof container (like a simple oven-safe glass Pyrex dish). Place the glass in the middle of the cake pan, fill it with your weights, make sure it will not move (you don’t want batter under that glass, trust me). Then, pour your batter.

Editor’s Tip: A Bundt pan is deep, so if you substitute a normal 9-inch round pan, you’ll have way too much batter. It’s a good idea to make a second “Bundt” cake at the same time.

How to Convert a Bundt Cake Recipe

You can adapt a Bundt cake recipe to whatever pan you do have in your kitchen. To convert your Bundt cake recipe, first decide which pan you’ll use. A standard Bundt cake pan holds between 10 and 12 cups of batter, and standard Bundt cake recipes typically make slightly more than what you’d bake in a 13×9 pan, or two 9-inch round cakes. Find more baking pan conversions.

Can you bake a Bundt cake in a 13×9 pan? Yes—but don’t overfill the pan. Be sure to leave about 1/2″ to 1/4″ of space at the top to give the cake room to grow.

You’ll also need to adjust your baking time. Bundt cake pans are deep, so recipes call for longer baking times. If you change to a shallower dish, bake for a significantly shorter time period, and check in frequently. Using a toothpick or skewer, check the cake every 10 to 15 minutes until it comes out clean.

Here Are Our Favorite Bundt Cake Recipes

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Lemon Lover's Pound CakeEveryone raves about this pretty lemon sour cream pound cake—and it sure doesn't last long with my family. It also freezes beautifully, so why not make two and pop one into the freezer for another day? —Annettia Mounger, Kansas City, MissouriGo to Recipe

Taste of Home

Blueberries and Cream Coffee CakeThis blueberry coffee cake is my go-to recipe for all of our holiday get-togethers because it's perfect for breakfast or dessert. It's easy to make, and it's the most delicious coffee cake I've ever had. —Susan Ober, Franconia, New Hampshire.

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Find out how to use raspberries, bananas, cranberries, and more to bake fruit Bundt cakes.

Margarita CakeThis margarita cake is perfect for a picnic on a warm day. You'll be surprised at how closely it tastes like the real thing. These other margarita dessert recipes are delicious, too. ?—Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

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Taste of Home

Banana Pound CakeI adapted a basic pound cake recipe from my great-aunt for this treat. It makes a moist cake that pops out of the pan perfectly. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

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Mini Blueberry Bundt CakesThese pretty berry cakes from Cathy Isaak of Rivers, Manitoba are topped with a yummy lemon-flavored glaze.

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Pineapple Upside-Down Bundt Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Pineapple Upside-Down Bundt CakeThis upside-down pineapple Bundt cake, which is a variation on the classic confection, couldn't be easier because it starts with a cake mix. —Pat Remour, East Moline, Illinois

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