How Long Do You Bake A Cake In A Bundt Pan? [Plus Some Popular Recipes!]

Bundt pans can be used to make a variety of desserts. If you've recently picked one up or received one as a gift and want to get baking, this article will serve you well. Cakes are the most popular dessert to be made in a bundt pan and if you've never made one before, you might have a few questions and confusion. Don't worry! We've researched the best techniques to answer your number one question: how long do you bake a cake in a bundt pan?

Every bundt cake will have a different baking time. The baking time depends on several key factors, batter type, amount of batter, and the size of the pan. Use the following as a baseline: for a 6-cup cake recipe, bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 and bake your bundt cake for 25 minutes a check it. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick towards the center, and if wet batter comes off the toothpick, bake the cake for another 5 or 6 minutes before checking again. 

Keep reading below for more tips and tricks to help you bake the best bundt cake!

A freshly baked bundt cake placed on a wooden table, How Long Do You Bake A Cake In A Bundt Pan? [Plus Some Popular Recipes!]

Recipes and Conversions

Often times baking directions won't tell you how long to bake your cake if you're using a bundt pan. If you are using a recipe that isn't specific for a bundt pan, then review these quick pan conversions:

  • Two 8 inch round cake pans hold 8 cups or equal to a 10-inch bundt pan.
  • Two 9 inch round cake pans hold 12 cups or equal to a 10-inch bundt pan.
  • One 9 inch tube pan holds 12 cups or equal to a 10-inch bundt pan.

Check out these great bundt cake recipes: Lemon Bundt Cake and Apple Bundt Cake.

Do Cakes Bake Faster In A Bundt Pan?

Some popular bundt cakes, like pound cake, which is a denser cake, will take longer to bake. They take around an hour. Bundt cakes, in general, do not take any longer to bake than normal types of cakes. Denser batters will take longer than thinner batters. It also depends on how big your pan is. If you have a small pan but a thicker batter, then it will take longer. Bigger pans with thinner batters won't take as long to bake.

How Do You Know When A Bundt Cake Is Done?

An expert Chef making a bundt cake

Knowing when a bundt cake is done is the same process as with any other type of cake. After about 25 minutes at 350-degrees, insert a toothpick or knife into the centermost part of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean with no batter on it, then the cake is ready to go! If the toothpick comes out with batter still on it, then the cake needs to bake for 5 to 6 minutes longer before being checked again. If your cake is still jiggly, then it's definitely not done!

How Do You Keep A Bundt Cake Moist?

Below are five ways to keep your bundt, or any variety, cake very moist!

Mix Butter Into Your Dry Ingredients

Most bakers cream their butter and sugar together first before incorporating the dry and wet ingredients. This process runs the risk of over-mixing your batter and yielding a tough, dry cake. However, if you mix the butter with your flour first, it reduces the gluten formation in your cake by first coating the flour with fat.

Brush Your Cakes With Simple Syrup

A cake soak or simple syrup can help fix a dry cake. Just simply brush the syrup on your dry cake and let it soak for 10 minutes before stacking or frosting.

This simple syrup recipe can save your dry cakes:

  • 1/4 cup simple syrup
  • 1/4 cup milk, tea, or liquor to taste
  • Berries or fruit

Bake With Applesauce

Yes, you read that right. Applesauce! Using applesauce instead of butter can make your cakes extremely moist while also cutting the calories of your cake. When using applesauce instead of butter, be sure to cut the amount in half. If the recipe calls for 1-cup of butter, then use half a cup of applesauce. Be sure to use unsweetened and unflavored applesauce for the best results!

Don't Cut Down On The Sugar

Sugar does more than make your cake sweet. Sugar is considered a liquid ingredient and contributes to making cakes soft and moist.

Use Yogurt

Chocolate cakes love yogurt. Yogurt has natural stabilizers that help retain moisture in cakes. In chocolate cakes especially, it pairs perfectly.

Use The Right Pans

Heavy dark pans can cause cakes to overcook and become crisp and brown. Instead, opt for lightweight and light-colored metal pans.

Should You Let Your Bundt Cake Cool Before Flipping?

Before flipping your bundt cake over onto a cooling rack, you should let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. To ensure your cake doesn't stick to the pan and create a bundt cake disaster, check out the steps below!

  • Use a nonstick pan
  • Grease the pan with shortening
  • Flour the pan
  • Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes (no skipping this part!)

Click here to see this non-stick bundt pan on Amazon.

Is your cake still not coming out and sticking? Try these tips below:

Steaming The Cake Out

Place a towel in your sink and very carefully pour hot water over it until it's damp, not dripping. Place the towel over the bundt cake until it's cool enough to handle. The steam will help release the cake from the pan. You could also use a small spatula around the edges to release the cake. Refrain from using a knife to avoid scratching up your pan.

Give It a Bang

Let out some of your frustration on your stubborn bundt cake by giving it a few smacks on the top and sides to help release it from the pan.

Waiting It Out

If all else fails, just let gravity do its thing. After you've inverted your cake, let it sit for 10 minutes and then check on it. This gives your cake a chance to cool and contract.

Why Is There A Hole In A Bundt Cake?

A man slicing a delicious bundt cake

Many people have wondered why bundt pans have a hole in the middle of them. The hole in the pan helps create light and airy cakes. They can help make the densest cakes taste light and fluffy. They are also notorious for speeding up the baking times, even just a little bit. Bundt pans are not only used for cakes! They can also be used to make meatloaf, puddings, custards, or other fruit-based desserts.

In Closing

Bundt cakes are an amazing dessert to make to show off your baking skills. We hope these tips and tricks help you bake the best bundt cake you can. Be sure to check out the below articles for more information on cakes and baking!

How To Store Warm Cake Overnight

25 Types of Baking Dishes You Need In Your Kitchen

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *