A Bundt cake is mostly a pound-cake or butter-cake batter baked in a ring. The ring matters because the center tube lets heat reach the middle of a heavy batter, and the fluted walls give the cake its look. Take away the flutes and you still have a good cake; take away the tube and you need to change the timing.
This guide covers the Bundt pan alternative that suits each kitchen, how close each one gets to a real Bundt cake, and how to change the bake time, using figures King Arthur Baking publishes rather than guesses.
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Why bake a Bundt cake without a Bundt pan
A fluted Bundt pan is still the right tool if you bake ring cakes often, and our best Bundt pan guide covers the ones worth buying. People look for something else for plain reasons:
- The recipe calls for one and you do not own one. Most Bundt recipes work in other pans with a timing change.
- Storage. A Bundt pan does one job. A 9 x 13-inch pan, a pair of round pans or a muffin pan does many.
- Release worries. Deep flutes are where cakes stick. A plain ring or a flat pan is more forgiving.
- Smaller or larger batches. Half a recipe fits a small ring mold; a full one can become cupcakes for a crowd.
What you give up is the shape, and in some pans the center tube. Here is how to make up for both.
Quick verdict: the best Bundt pan alternative
For most kitchens, the best Bundt pan alternative is a 9 x 13-inch metal cake pan, such as the Farberware nonstick 9 x 13 pan. King Arthur Baking says a standard Bundt batter of about 6 cups bakes in a 9 x 13 pan, and that a 10-cup Bundt takes about 30% longer than the 9 x 13, so the flat pan finishes sooner. If you want the ring shape, use a plain tube pan like the P&P CHEF 10-inch stainless pan, or a smooth Fox Run savarin mold for a smaller cake. Two deep 9-inch rounds or a 12-cup muffin pan also work. If you bake Bundt cakes every month, buy a real Bundt pan instead.
Five ways to bake it, side by side
Our five main picks, one per approach, with the details each maker or listing states. A sixth, a small ring mold, is reviewed below the table.
| Pan | Shape | Best for | Bake time vs a Bundt | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Farberware Nonstick 9 x 13-Inch Cake PanBest overall
|
Flat sheet cake | Any butter or pound cake batter | Shorter; Bundt runs about 30% longer | View on Amazon |
P&P CHEF 10-Inch Stainless Steel Tube PanClosest shape
|
Plain ring, 4 in deep | A full recipe as a ring cake | Shorter; check 15 min early | View on Amazon |
Fox Run French Savarin Mold, 9.5-InchBest smooth ring
|
Smooth ring, 2.25 in deep | Smaller ring cakes, glazed tops | Shorter; shallow batter | View on Amazon |
Fat Daddio’s 9 x 3-Inch Round Cake Pans, Set of 2Best deep rounds
|
Two tall rounds | Layer cakes, or a ramekin in the center | Shorter; split batter is shallower | View on Amazon |
GoodCook Everyday Nonstick 12-Cup Muffin PanBest for cupcakes
|
12 standard cups | Single servings, parties | Much shorter: about 25 min in one KA recipe | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Details are as stated by each maker or listing. Check the listing before you buy.
How to change the bake time without a Bundt pan
King Arthur Baking’s PJ Hamel has written two short pieces on Bundt pan sizes, and they give the numbers that matter:
- Batter volume. A typical cake recipe written for a 9 x 13-inch pan, two 9-inch rounds or two dozen cupcakes makes about 6 cups of batter, which suits a 10-cup Bundt pan. A 10-cup Bundt holds only about 6 cups of batter in practice, because you have to leave room for the cake to rise.
- Bake time. In a 10-cup Bundt, King Arthur says to bake about 30% longer than in a 9 x 13 pan, and about 15% to 20% longer in a 12-cup Bundt. Turned around, a Bundt recipe baked in a 9 x 13 will finish sooner. Our own arithmetic: a cake that takes 50 minutes in a 10-cup Bundt would take roughly 38 to 40 minutes in a 9 x 13. Start checking well before that.
- Tube pans. King Arthur’s Bundt guide notes that a tube pan the same size as a Bundt holds significantly more batter, so the batter sits shallower, and says to reduce the baking time. For a larger pan it suggests checking 15 minutes before the end of the minimum bake time.
- Cupcakes. King Arthur’s Lemon Bliss Cake gives both: 45 to 60 minutes in a 10- to 12-cup Bundt at 350°F, and about 25 minutes as cupcakes at the same temperature.
- Glass pans. King Arthur’s guide to baking pans says to lower the oven by 25°F when you bake in glass.
The doneness test does not change: in the Lemon Bliss recipe, the cake is done when a toothpick or thin knife inserted in the center comes out clean. King Arthur also says to leave at least 1 1/4 inches between the batter and the rim, and to grease the pan thoroughly, including nonstick pans.
One warning from the same source runs the other way: King Arthur says not to bake a sponge or foam cake, such as angel food, in a Bundt pan. If your recipe is angel food or chiffon, you want a tube pan, not a Bundt, and our best angel food cake pan guide covers those.
Our picks for the best Bundt pan alternative
We chose one pan per approach from makers that state what their pans are made of and how hot they can go: Farberware, P&P CHEF, Fox Run, Fat Daddio’s and GoodCook. Each was in stock on Amazon US, sold new, when we checked. Specifications come from the listings; bake-time guidance comes from King Arthur Baking or is labeled general kitchen sense. We have not baked in every pan here.
1. Farberware Nonstick 9 x 13-Inch Cake Pan – The Pan Most Bundt Batters Fit
The plainest swap is the most reliable one. King Arthur Baking treats a 9 x 13-inch pan and a 10-cup Bundt as two homes for the same 6 cups of batter, and its Lemon Bliss Cake, a Bundt recipe, is one it says moves easily to a 9 x 13. You lose the ring and the flutes; you gain a cake that bakes faster, cuts into squares and travels in the pan.
Farberware’s pan (model 52102) is a standard 9 x 13-inch rectangle with a nonstick coating. Farberware says it is made without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium, oven safe to 450°F and dishwasher safe, though it recommends hand washing for best performance. It carries Farberware’s lifetime guarantee against defects in normal household use. The listing does not state the base metal or the depth.
Timing is the main change. A 10-cup Bundt bakes about 30% longer than a 9 x 13, per King Arthur, so begin checking the 9 x 13 at roughly three-quarters of the Bundt time. As general kitchen sense, a dark nonstick pan browns edges quickly; if the sides darken before the middle is set, lower the oven by 25°F on the next bake.
Why we like it
- King Arthur gives a 9 x 13 vs Bundt timing ratio
- Made without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium, per Farberware
- Oven safe to 450°F
- Lifetime guarantee against defects
Key specifications
| Model | 52102 |
|---|---|
| Type | Rectangular cake pan |
| Material | Nonstick-coated metal (base metal not stated) |
| Size | 9 x 13 in |
| Capacity | Not stated |
| Oven limit | 450°F |
| Care | Dishwasher safe; hand wash recommended |
| Warranty | Lifetime, against defects |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who wants the cake more than the shape, and who will use the pan for brownies, sheet cakes and casseroles the rest of the year.
Skip it if the ring shape is the point, for a party or a glaze that runs down the sides.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Shortest bake of the full-batch options
- Easy to cut, carry and store
- Useful far beyond cake
Cons
- No ring, no flutes
- Depth and base metal not stated
2. P&P CHEF 10-Inch Stainless Steel Tube Pan – The Ring Without the Flutes
A tube pan keeps the part of a Bundt that does the work: the center tube that lets heat into the middle of a dense batter. It drops the flutes, so the cake comes out with straight, smooth sides. King Arthur’s Bundt guide says a tube pan of the same size holds significantly more batter than a Bundt, so a Bundt recipe will sit lower in it and bake faster.
This P&P CHEF pan (model W523) is one piece, so it cannot leak, and the listing gives it 4-inch sides and a conical center that stands 0.7 inch above the rim. It is uncoated stainless steel with a mirror polish, oven safe to 450°F and dishwasher safe, per the listing. The capacity is not stated.
Because it is uncoated, grease it well; King Arthur says to grease even nonstick Bundt pans thoroughly, and as general kitchen sense a light flour dusting over the grease helps a butter cake release from bare steel. Following King Arthur’s advice for a larger pan, start checking about 15 minutes before the recipe’s minimum bake time. Note that this is a different, uncoated model from the nonstick P&P CHEF pan in our best tube pan guide.
Why we like it
- Keeps the center tube of a Bundt
- One piece, so no leaks
- 4-inch sides, per the listing
- Oven safe to 450°F and dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | W523 |
|---|---|
| Type | One-piece tube pan |
| Material | Stainless steel, uncoated |
| Size | 10 in, 4 in deep |
| Capacity | Not stated |
| Oven limit | 450°F |
| Care | Hand wash or dishwasher |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a baker who wants a tall ring cake from a full Bundt recipe and may also bake angel food or chiffon cakes.
Skip it if you dislike greasing and flouring; a nonstick pan releases more easily.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Closest to a Bundt in how it bakes
- Room for a full batch
- No coating to wear
Cons
- Needs careful greasing
- Smaller brand, sold by the maker
- Capacity not stated
3. Fox Run French Savarin Mold, 9.5-Inch – A Smooth Ring for Glazed Cakes
A savarin mold is a shallow ring pan. Fox Run describes savarin molds as very similar to Bundt pans, the difference being that a savarin mold is not scalloped. The result is a lower, smooth-sided ring that takes a glaze or a soak well and looks finished on a plate.
Fox Run’s mold (model 4468) measures 9.5 by 9.5 by 2.25 inches and is carbon steel with a nonstick finish. Fox Run says it is dishwasher safe and oven safe to 410°F, and the listing is sold by Amazon. The capacity is not stated.
At 2.25 inches deep, it holds less than a 10-cup Bundt, so a full Bundt recipe will likely be too much. As general kitchen sense, fill it no higher than King Arthur’s advice allows, leaving about 1 1/4 inches below the rim, and bake the extra batter as a few cupcakes. The batter sits shallow, so start checking well before the Bundt time; a toothpick in the thickest part should come out clean.
Why we like it
- Ring shape with smooth sides
- Nonstick carbon steel
- Dishwasher safe, per Fox Run
- Sold by Amazon
Key specifications
| Model | 4468 |
|---|---|
| Type | Savarin ring mold |
| Material | Carbon steel, nonstick |
| Size | 9.5 x 9.5 x 2.25 in |
| Capacity | Not stated |
| Oven limit | 410°F |
| Care | Hand wash or dishwasher |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who wants a ring cake for the table, glazed or soaked in syrup, and is happy with a smaller cake.
Skip it if you need to bake a full 10- or 12-cup Bundt recipe in one pan.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy release, easy wash
- Smooth sides glaze neatly
- Good for savarins and gelatin rings too
Cons
- Too shallow for a full batch
- Lowest oven limit here
4. Fat Daddio’s 9 x 3-Inch Round Cake Pans, Set of 2 – Deep Rounds With Room for a Center
King Arthur lists two 9-inch rounds as another home for the same 6 cups of batter that fills a 10-cup Bundt. Split the batter between two pans and you get a layer cake, or two plain round cakes, with a shorter bake because each pan holds less.
These Fat Daddio’s pans are 3 inches deep, deeper than the usual 2-inch round, which suits a heavy pound-cake batter. Each measures 9 by 3 inches inside and holds 6.5 cups to the brim, per the listing. They are 16-gauge anodized aluminum with no coating, rated to 550°F, and Fat Daddio’s recommends hand washing. They carry a lifetime warranty.
A deep round is also where the old ramekin trick works. To mimic the center tube, set a greased, oven-safe ramekin in the middle of the greased pan and pour the batter around it, so the middle of the cake gets heat from the inside. That is general kitchen sense, not a maker’s instruction: use only a ramekin its maker rates for the oven, weigh it down with a few dried beans so it does not float, and keep the batter at least 1 1/4 inches below the rim. Our best ramekins guide covers oven-safe options.
Why we like it
- 3-inch sides for tall, heavy batters
- Uncoated anodized aluminum, rated to 550°F
- Two pans, so a full batch splits evenly
- Lifetime warranty listed
Key specifications
| Model | PRD 9 x 3 (set of 2) |
|---|---|
| Type | Round cake pans |
| Material | Anodized aluminum, 16 gauge |
| Size | 9 x 3 in inside |
| Capacity | 6.5 cups each, to the brim |
| Oven limit | 550°F |
| Care | Hand wash recommended |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Why we recommend it
It suits a baker who wants pans for layer cakes and cheesecakes as well, and would rather not store a Bundt.
Skip it if you want a ring cake without improvising; the ramekin trick works, but a tube pan is simpler.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deep, sturdy, uncoated
- Many uses beyond this cake
- Stated capacity per pan
Cons
- Must be greased and floured
- Hand wash only
- Sold by a third-party seller
5. GoodCook Everyday Nonstick 12-Cup Muffin Pan – Bundt Batter as Cupcakes
Any Bundt batter can bake as cupcakes, and this is the swap with the clearest published timing. King Arthur’s Lemon Bliss Cake bakes 45 to 60 minutes in a Bundt pan at 350°F and about 25 minutes as cupcakes at the same heat. King Arthur says to line the wells with papers and grease the papers.
GoodCook’s pan (model 04031) has 12 standard cups, measures 15.3 by 10.75 by 1.2 inches, and is heavy-gauge steel with a scratch-resistant nonstick coating that GoodCook says releases with or without liners. It is dishwasher safe and carries a limited lifetime warranty. The listing does not state an oven limit.
King Arthur notes that a recipe for a 9 x 13 pan makes about two dozen cupcakes, so a full Bundt batch needs two rounds in this pan, or a second pan. As general kitchen sense, fill the cups about two-thirds full and keep the waiting batter at room temperature while the first dozen bakes.
Why we like it
- Published cupcake time in a King Arthur Bundt recipe
- 12 standard cups
- Dishwasher safe
- Limited lifetime warranty
Key specifications
| Model | 04031 |
|---|---|
| Type | 12-cup muffin pan |
| Material | Steel, nonstick |
| Size | 15.3 x 10.75 x 1.2 in |
| Capacity | 12 standard cups |
| Oven limit | Not stated |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook baking for a party or a bake sale, where single servings beat one big cake.
Skip it if you want one centerpiece cake; cupcakes are a different dessert.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fastest bake here
- Easy portions
- Everyday pan for muffins too
Cons
- A full batch needs two rounds
- Oven limit not stated
6. Fat Daddio’s 9-Inch Anodized Aluminum Ring Mold – A Half Batch Ring Cake
A ring mold is a small, straight-sided tube pan. Fat Daddio’s RMP-9 holds 3.5 cups to the brim, per the listing, and measures 8.5 by 2.75 inches inside. That is roughly half of a 10-cup Bundt, so it suits half a Bundt recipe, or a full one split with a muffin pan.
It is 18-gauge anodized aluminum with no coating, rated to 550°F, and Fat Daddio’s says it is also pressure-cooker, air-fryer and freezer safe and fits 8-quart pressure cookers. Fat Daddio’s recommends hand washing and lists a lifetime warranty. Our best Bundt pan guide reviews the larger 10-inch version of this mold; this is the smaller 9-inch model.
Because it is small and shallow, a half batch bakes well short of the full Bundt time; as general kitchen sense, start checking at about half the recipe’s minimum time and use the toothpick test.
Why we like it
- Stated 3.5-cup capacity
- Uncoated anodized aluminum, rated to 550°F
- Fits 8-quart pressure cookers
- Lifetime warranty listed
Key specifications
| Model | RMP-9 |
|---|---|
| Type | Ring mold pan |
| Material | Anodized aluminum, 18 gauge |
| Size | 8.5 x 2.75 in inside |
| Capacity | 3.5 cups, to the brim |
| Oven limit | 550°F |
| Care | Hand wash recommended |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Why we recommend it
It suits a small household that wants a ring cake from half a recipe, or someone who bakes cakes in a pressure cooker.
Skip it if you bake full Bundt recipes; it holds only about half.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Small ring, small cake
- No coating to wear
- Works in a pressure cooker too
Cons
- Half a batch at most
- Sold by a third-party seller
Which alternative fits which cake
Match the pan to the batter, not just the shape:
- Pound cakes and butter cakes. These are what most Bundt recipes are, and every pan on this page bakes them. A 9 x 13 is the safest; a tube pan looks most like the original.
- Angel food and chiffon. King Arthur says not to bake these in a Bundt pan. Use a tube pan, ideally one made for them.
- Chocoflan. King Arthur’s chocoflan recipe calls for a 12-cup pan with a simple shape, baked in a water bath, so a shallow savarin mold or a small ring mold is too small for the full recipe. As general kitchen sense, the deep one-piece tube pan is the closer match, since a pan with a removable bottom would let the water bath in. For the custard side of the family, see our flan vs tres leches explainer.
Bundt pan alternative questions, answered
Can I bake a Bundt cake recipe in a 9 x 13 pan?
Yes. King Arthur Baking says a standard 6-cup cake batter fits either pan, and that a 10-cup Bundt bakes about 30% longer than a 9 x 13. So bake the 9 x 13 for less time than the recipe says, and test with a toothpick.
Can I use a tube pan instead of a Bundt pan?
Yes. A tube pan of the same size holds more batter, so the cake sits lower and bakes faster; King Arthur says to reduce the time and start checking 15 minutes before the end of the minimum bake time in a larger pan.
How do I make a Bundt cake without a Bundt pan?
Use a tube pan for the ring shape, a 9 x 13 or two 9-inch rounds for a flat cake, or a muffin pan for cupcakes. In a round pan, a greased, oven-safe ramekin in the center can stand in for the tube; that is general kitchen sense, not a maker’s instruction.
How long do Bundt cake batter cupcakes bake?
In King Arthur’s Lemon Bliss Cake, about 25 minutes at 350°F, against 45 to 60 minutes in the Bundt pan. Times vary by recipe, so use the toothpick test.
How much batter goes in a Bundt pan alternative?
Leave at least 1 1/4 inches between the batter and the rim, per King Arthur. If a pan’s capacity is not stated, fill it with water to that line and measure.
Our last word on baking without a Bundt pan
You almost certainly own a Bundt pan alternative already. A 9 x 13 pan bakes the batter faster and with less fuss; a tube pan gives you the ring; a muffin pan turns it into cupcakes. Change the time, not the recipe, and check early. If you find yourself baking ring cakes every month, the flutes are worth having, so pick one from our best Bundt pan guide, and for plain tube pans see the best tube pan guide.
And if you would rather someone else made dessert, see the menu or call to order.