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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
If bundt pans conjure up memories of throwback dinner parties and middle school cakewalks, it’s time to revisit this iconic cake shape. Bundt cakes are making a comeback, in no small part due to the wide variety of pan sizes and designs available on the market now. For a satisfying cake that requires no intricate decorating skill set, the bundt cake easily impresses whoever is on the receiving end of it thanks to its fluting, whether dramatic or a bit understated.
The biggest benefit of a cake this shape is that you never need to worry about an underbaked center ever again. A ring-shaped cake cooks faster, keeping it moister overall since it spends less time in the oven drying out. When choosing a bundt cake pan, you’ll also want to consider the materials—nonstick pans produce more beautiful cakes since they slide right out of the pans—and the size.
We rounded up top-rated bundt pans in a variety of sizes and materials, and evaluated them side-by-side. Each one was rated on design, durability, nonstick properties, ease of cleaning, and overall value, to find the very best bundt cake pans.
Sturdy die-cast material lasts years
Durable nonstick coating
Handles for easier movement
Hand-wash only
It might not come as a surprise to see that Nordic Ware, one of the leaders in bakeware and inventor of the Bundt pan, earned the spot of the best overall bundt pan. Everything this brand makes is top-notch, but the Platinum Collection Bundt Pan raises the bar even higher. Its classic bundt pan design is made of heavy-duty die-cast aluminum, which is the reason it’s one of the heavier pans we tested. Before adding cake batter, the pan weighs about 1.71 pounds, which is a reasonable trade-off for excellent heat conduction and distribution across the entire cake.
During testing, the cakes came out perfectly browned and evenly cooked every time. The nonstick coating worked like a charm, even without any greasing, though it's recommended to use a baking spray with flour. After it cooled, the cake slid right out of the pan with the fluted edges beautifully intact. (If you find your cakes stick a lot, try Nordic Ware's finishing tool kit to gently release cake from the pan without scratching the surface.) We also liked that this pan is designed with handles that extend from the edge of the pan, making it easier to grab the pan and place, turn, and remove it from the oven.
Nordic Ware offers a wide selection of bundt pans designs in five different sizes, with this 15-cup pan being the largest. When measuring with water, this pan held 15.5 cups, and about 7 ounces of cake batter more than any of the other cake pans we tested. We repeatedly scratched the inside surface to see how durable the nonstick coating is, and found that it can withstand a little wear and tear, but does show signs of abrasion on heavier scratches. While the price of this particular bundt pan is higher than some of the other options available, it’s worth the investment for years, if not decades, of baking use.
Dimensions: 10.5 x 12 x 4.5 inches | Capacity: 10-15 cups | Pieces: 1
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
Cakes slides right out
Affordable price
Handles to help pull out of oven
Fluting isn’t as defined
Although die-cast aluminum pans like the Nordic Ware models perform well and provide even baking, they’re noticeably heavy before the cake batter is even added. If you want something a little lighter that still performs, the Wilton Perfect Results Fluted Tube Pan weighs about half a pound less, but is still substantial enough to produce even baking results. The pan is made of thinner alloy steel with a glossy nonstick coating, which ensures that your cake will unmold from the pan cleanly.
While testing, we noticed that our cake baked a little darker in this pan than in other pans, most likely due to the slightly darker finish of the alloy steel. It was still plenty attractive, but attention should be paid to cooking time, as cakes may bake faster in this pan. The finished bundt cakes didn’t have the same sharply defined fluting as the cakes made with the Nordic Ware pan, but it was evenly baked and slid out of the pan easily once cooled. The pan was also easy to move into and out of the oven, partly because of its lighter weight but also thanks to the pan's oversized handles and wide edge.
Finally, we tested the durability of the bundt pan’s finish and every scratch left a mark. If you find that you need help removing your cake from the pan, we’d suggest using a silicone or plastic spatula for a little extra help. Wilton recommends hand-washing in warm, soapy water to keep the pan at its best. Since there was no cake residue left behind, this wasn’t a major inconvenience—the crumbs and grease wiped right off without any scrubbing.
Dimensions: 3.58 x 12.05 x 10.82 inches | Capacity: 8-9 cups | Pieces: 1
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
Heavy-gauge steel for even baking
Silicone easy-grip handles
High heat rating
Surface scratches easily
This highly-rated Anolon bundt pan rightfully earned a spot on this list with its performance. The nonstick fluted baking pan is made of heavy-gauge steel that’s designed to provide even baking and resist warping, even when exposed to high temperatures. But the silicone grips are what really sets this pan apart. They were comfortable, easy to grip, and got noticeably less hot than the pan, making this the easiest to move into and out of the oven during testing. We still used oven mitts to be safe, but unlike some of the aluminum pans, we couldn’t feel any heat through the fabric.
The evenly-baked bundt cake looked similar to the one baked in the Wilton pan, with a softer fluting pattern and a wider, shorter stature. But the finished cake wasn't quite as dark in color, even with the same baking time. Inverting the cake to release it from the pan was the most convenient with this pan, thanks to its rubbery handles, which shielded hands from residual heat.
If you want to bake something that requires a higher baking temperature than the average cake, like a decorative meatloaf or bread that requires a higher heat, this particular pan is oven safe up to 450 degrees. The biggest downside is that every scratch we made with the butter knife during our durability test left a mark on the inside of the pan. Due to that, you should wash this pan by hand, and avoid scrubbing with abrasive sponges and soaps to maintain the finish.
Dimensions: 12.2 x 11.2 x 3.5 inches | Capacity: 9-10 cups | Pieces: 1
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
Impressive cake design
Sturdy construction for years of use
Cakes brown perfectly
Heavy
If you want to impress a crowd—or you just want really beautiful cakes to enjoy yourself—the Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Heritage Bundt Pan makes getting a high-end look really easy. Instead of the typical vertical fluting of most bundt pans, it has a swirling design that adds a touch of elegance to any cake you make.
But it’s not just pretty—it’s functional, too. This pan is made of Nordic Ware’s signature die-cast aluminum and nonstick coating, so we were able to create perfectly browned cakes that were easy to remove from the pan every time. We thought the intricate design might impede the nonstick performance, but during testing, we were blown away at how easily the cooled cake slid out of the pan. It was also impressive at cleanup—no crumbs got stuck in the ridges, so after a quick wipe down, it was ready for next time.
Like the best overall Nordic Ware pick, this pan is heavy, but it’s smaller. Since it doesn’t have dedicated handles, it’s a bit more difficult to maneuver, but the ridges of the design prevented it from slipping around in our hands. In addition to the Heritage design, Nordic Ware offers the Blossom, the Crown, and the Fleur de Lis, to name a few.
Dimensions: 10.13 x 10.13 x 3.75 inches | Capacity: 10 cups | Pieces: 1
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
Available in attractive colors
Incredibly nonstick
Accessibly priced
Fluting isn’t as defined
Aluminum or steel pans are generally considered the holy grail when it comes to nonstick baking, but the casaWare Ceramic Fluted Cake Pan aims to give tradition a run for its money. While the interior is made of carbon steel, the exterior is double-coated with a ceramic that’s free of cadmium, lead, PFOA, PTFE, and PFOS, and won’t peel or blister, even in high heat. During testing, the nonstick capabilities rivaled all of the aluminum options. Even without cooking spray, the cake slid right out and had beautiful fluting, although not as dramatic as the Nordic Ware picks. It was also extremely durable with few, if any, marks visible from that test, with very shallow markings left behind.
The pan's protruding handles made it easy to grip and maneuver into and out of the oven without accidentally sticking a finger into the cake, which is a helpful addition. The ceramic coating helps insulate the pan from quick temperature shifts, but it also holds on to heat more than other finishes. Because of this, you’ll want to bake your bundt cake directly in the center of the oven, away from hot spots, and make sure to turn it during cooking at least once for the most even browning.
There are currently four color options, all with a speckled granite-style finish, including red, blue, silver/grey, and rose gold. While the ceramic-coated pan is heat-resistant up to 450 degrees, it can’t be used in the microwave due to the metal core.
Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 4 inches | Capacity: 10 cups maximum | Pieces: 1
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
Adorable mini cakes for individual desserts
Silicone nonstick coating
Bake cakes evenly
Might need more than four pans for one recipe
Cakes don't brown extremely well
If you’re looking for a way to serve bundt cakes to a crowd without the need for portioning and slicing, the Chefmade Mini Bundt Pan Set has you covered. It comes with four identical mini bundt cake pans that produce 4-inch cakes with the traditional bundt cake ridges. The only issue is that when making a traditional cake recipe during testing, there was some batter left over after filling the pans. While the cakes didn’t brown as well as they did when baked with the larger pans, they were evenly baked and nice and airy.
The pans are made with a silicone coating that can withstand really high temperatures. This material works just as well as the others, too. After they were fully cooled, the cakes slid right out of the pans with no residue or crumbs left behind, which made them a breeze to clean. In addition to being oven-safe, these pans are also suitable for use in a pressure cooker, which can cut down your baking time considerably, but we could only fit three in a regular 6-quart pressure cooker.
Dimensions: 4.2 x 4.2 x 1.9 inches | Capacity: Unspecified | Pieces: 4
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
Unique design for filled cakes
Large cake for many servings
Easy to use
More expensive than other options
Cakes are harder to remove from pan (need extra greasing)
Harder to clean because of the grooves
You don’t necessarily need a specialized pan to make filled cakes, but it sure makes things easier. The Baker’s Advantage 2-Piece Bundt Pan comes in two separate pieces that allow you to bake a top and a bottom piece for your cake, and then put them together after they’re filled. This completely eliminates the need for cutting your bundt cake in two if you want to fill it with extra frosting or ganache.
The bottom piece also has 12 protruding grooves that create fillable pockets in the finished cake. You can fill these pockets with anything you want, from berries to candy to sprinkles to caramel pieces. And arguably the best part? These grooves are perfectly positioned in the middle of each scalloped edge so that you know exactly where to cut so that every slice of cake has an extra surprise in the center. Note that each side is fairly large, and you'll probably need to make a double batch of batter.
The nonstick capabilities of this pan aren’t as impressive as the others on this list, though. We didn’t need to grease any of the other pans for the cake to release well, but this one needed a decent amount of cooking spray, especially around the protruding grooves. It also needed the most elbow grease when cleaning. Crumbs got caught in the cracks around the grooves, and it was quite difficult to get them out. If you make a lot of filled cakes, the trade-off may be worth it, though.
Dimensions: 11.34 x 11.34 x 3.34 inches | Capacity: 2 packages of cake mix | Pieces: 2
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
Compare
| Design | Durability | Nonstick Properties | Cleaning | Overall Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Best Overall:
Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Anniversary Bundt Pan
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$39 at Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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Best Lightweight:
Wilton Premium Non-Stick Fluted Tube Pan
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$20 at Amazon | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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Best Easy-Grip:
Anolon Non-stick Fluted Mold Baking Pan
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$25 at Amazon | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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Best Design:
Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Nonstick Bundt Pan
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$40 at Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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Best Ceramic:
casaWare Non-Stick Ceramic Coated Fluted Cake Pan
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See price at Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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Best Mini:
Chefmade Mini Bundt Pan Set
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$21 at Amazon | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
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Best Fillable:
Baker's Advantage Fillables 2-Piece Fluted Bundt Cake Pan
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$30 at Amazon | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
If you need a bundt pan that covers all bases—even baking, easy release, and beautiful results—you can’t go wrong with either of the Nordic Ware options on the list, but we'd suggest the Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Bundt Pan as a great all-around option. Looking to make some delicious bundt cakes in a single-serving size? Go with the Chefmade Mini Bundt Pan Set instead.
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
How We Tested
After researching bundt pans in a variety of materials, sizes, and designs, we sent every item on this list to the home kitchen of one of our experts to be tested and compared side by side. Each pan was filled to the brim with water to test overall capacity. Then, our tester got to work baking, evaluating the final bundt cake product, how easy the pan was to get in and out of the oven, and whether or not the cake released from the pan easily. Each pan was rated on its design, durability, nonstick properties, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Our tester gave further insights into the pros and cons of each of the items to help you decide which one is perfect for your kitchen.
Other Options We Tested
- Le Creuset Bundt Pan: The fluted cake pan from Le Creuset seems like an attractive option at first glance, with a more intricate kugelhopf-style design than the traditional bundt pan. It's even got a wider rim with protruding handles for easier mobility. But the dark finish made for a cake that was fully baked on the outside and under-baked inside. It's also more difficult to properly grease with all of the additional seams. The price tag of over $50 simply didn't seem worth it to us, given that other brands make comparable pans for a fraction of the price (like the Nordic Ware model with a taller, sharper design), and less of a headache for anyone looking for a traditional-style bundt cake.
- Cuisinart Chef's Classic 9.5-Inch Non-Stick Two-Toned Fluted Cake Pan: This was the lowest-priced bundt pan option we tested, which was a plus when comparing it to more expensive options, but it ultimately left a lot to be desired. The tube in the center of the pan is straight, instead of continuing the fluting pattern around the barrel of the cake, which we found unattractive. We could have looked past that if the cake didn't bake so unevenly. The outside of the cake was finished and over-browned long before the inside of the cake was fully cooked. With a narrow edge and no handles, it was also harder to handle. We concluded that it would be better to splurge on a slightly higher-priced pan that will bake us a cake that we can actually eat.
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
What to Look for When Buying a Bundt Pan
Size
Bundt pans come in different sizes. Unless you have a favorite bundt cake recipe that specifies a different size, a 9.5- to 10-inch bundt pan with a 10- to 12-cup capacity can be used for most recipes. It is possible to bake a smaller bundt cake in a larger pan, but it will come out flatter. If you like the special presentation of portion-sized bundt cakes, consider mini bundt cakes.
Material
Selecting a bundt pan with a nonstick coating is a no-brainer, but the choice remains between aluminum, steel, and ceramic. If the weight of the pan is a consideration, you are better off with a pan made of lightweight steel rather than heavy-gauge steel or cast aluminum.
Design
A bundt cake is as much about looks as it is about taste. The prettier the fluting pattern and the deeper the grooves, the more impressive the cake. Keep in mind, though, that an intricate fluting pattern is not always easy to grease or clean.
Due to of their fluting, firmly gripping onto a bundt pan can be tricky, especially when removing it from the oven. Some models come with handles; although you still need oven mitts or potholders for heat insulation, bundt pans with handles do make it easier to maneuver the pan.
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
FAQs
What is special about a bundt pan?
A bundt pan has fluted, decorative sides and tops. It lets you bake an eye-catching yet simple cake without going through the trouble of decorating the cake.
What are the bundt pan sizes?
Bundt pan sizes are indicated in volume (cups) and/or dimensions (inches). The standard bundt pan holds 10 to 12 cups. Smaller pans hold 6 cups and larger pans hold 10 to 15 cups.
How do you use a bundt pan to cut corn off the cob?
The bundt pan corn hack goes like this: Place the corn cob with the tip side down in the center hole of the pan and use a sharp knife to cut off the kernels, which drop right into the pan.
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The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Boyers
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Lindsay Boyers is a certified holistic nutritionist with extensive nutrition knowledge and cooking experience. She’s developed over 1,000 original recipes and is constantly on a mission to find the best kitchen gadgets at the best prices to help make life in the kitchen more streamlined and efficient. She personally tested every bundt pan on this list.
This roundup was updated by Jenny Kellerhals, a professional pastry chef living, cooking, and writing in NYC. At home, she cooks in a notoriously small kitchen, where only the most reliable and useful tools make the cut for storage space.
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