6 Best Pound Cake Pans For A Perfectly Moist Treat

SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

A pound cake pan is an absolute necessity in the kitchen of anyone who considers themselves a baker. More than any other kind of cake pan, it allows you to whip up something delicious and extremely hearty in very little time.

Because of that, it’s easily one of my favorite types of pan, and I think it will become one of yours too once you try a few of them out.

To help you on that journey, I’ve put together this post showcasing a few of my favorite pound cake pan models and explaining a bit of the backstory behind the spotlight-stealing delicacy.

About Pound Cake

First, a look at what defines pound cake and how to make it well.

What Is Pound Cake?

Pound cake is an extremely dense cake. In fact, I think it would qualify as a bread if it weren’t for its sweet and savory ingredients; the original pound cake recipe has a pound each of butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. That quartet of ingredients is not only what gives pound cake its name, but it also makes the recipe for pound cake easier to remember than any other recipe I know of.

The recipe for poundcake is dead simple even beyond the easy-to-remember list of ingredients. Just combine the dry ingredients, cream the butter, whisk in the wet ingredients, and bake for an hour at 350 degrees under aluminum foil. The result is a cake that’s moister and denser than almost anything else you can bake.

There are a lot of pound cake variants that have cropped up over the years to give the baked good even more flavor, but the unique texture remains relatively constant.

Tips For Making Pound Cake

A few quick tips to keep in mind when cooking pound cake:

  • Use room temperature ingredients, which are easier to combine. You should take cold ingredients out of the fridge an hour before mixing.
  • Use a good-quality kitchen scale to measure the ingredients. Estimating how much a pound of each one is might just lead to disaster, as a difference of even an ounce or two in the ingredients can throw off the texture.
  • Combine all the dry ingredients first. Then add the butter and half of the eggs and mix up the ingredients until smooth. Not only will this same time during the mixing process, but it will result in a creamier cake.
  • Add the eggs one at a time to make the distribution more even.
  • Add a touch of sour cream or yogurt to all pound cakes for a bit of extra moisture.

Why A Bundt Pan Is Best

Bundt pans have a greater surface area than other types of cake pans, which means they are able to spread heat to more edges of the cake at once. Because of that, bundt pans distribute heat more evenly during baking. This is especially important with pound cake because it is so dense that a normal cake pan will have trouble getting heat to the cake’s center.

Remember, though, that cakes in bundt pans should be cooked on slightly lower heat and for a bit longer than cakes cooked in normal pans. 325 degrees is a good heat for bundt pan cakes, and I’d recommend checking for doneness every few minutes after 70 minutes.

6 Best Pound Cake Pans

If you don’t use a good-quality pound cake pan, it doesn’t matter what you do in the baking; the cake won’t come out quite right. To help you achieve the perfect pound cake, I’ve included six of my personal favorite pound cake pans in the table below, even sorting each pick into a “best of” category to help you make the best choice for your specific needs.

Underneath the table, I’ve written a bit about each recommended model to let you know if it’s the right fit for you.

CategoryNamePrice ($-$$$$$)
NonstickWilton Nonstick Bundt Pans$$
SiliconeSilicone Bundt Cake Pan$
BudgetNordic Ware Bundt Pan$
SplurgeNordic Ware 75th Anniversary Braided Bundt Pan$$$$
OverallClassic Bundt Pan$$$
Two-PieceNordic Ware Angel Food Cake Pan$$

1. Nonstick: Wilton Nonstick Bundt Pans

by [amazon link=”B07HYXY7QD” link_icon=”none” title=”Wilton” /]

[amazon fields=”B07HYXY7QD” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Wilton Nonstick Bundt Pans”]

Wilton managed to outdo Nordic Ware (usually the king of all things bundt pan) with its nonstick, and it’s a thing of beauty. This pair of identical pans are so easy to clean and release pound cakes after you’re finished cooking like a smooth dream!

The nonstick coating is on both the inside and the outside of the pans, too, so they’re perfect for messy bakers who might get some batter on the exterior of the pan.

The pans are very lightweight but amazingly sturdy. Wilton even provides a 10-year warranty because they are so confident that breakage is not a possibility.

The pans are not as big as most of the options on this list. Since there are two in this set, however, that’s not too much of an issue. Plus, it gives you the option of making a smaller pound cake if you’re just baking for a few people.

2. Silicone: Silicone Bundt Cake Pan

by [amazon link=”B07T9H5PWH” link_icon=”none” title=”Aokinle” /]

[amazon fields=”B07T9H5PWH” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Silicone Bundt Cake Pan”]

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you may already know why I love silicone cookware: it’s light, easy to clean, flexible, and can withstand very high heats. All of these qualities translate perfectly to a pound cake pan, and this is the best silicone model available. The material is LFGB-approved and BPA-free, so it’s also totally safe to use.

This model is cheaper than most silicone pound cake molds but still feels better–made, with a nice pattern and smooth silicone that won’t give your cake an unpleasant grainy texture. The wavy lip around the rim of the pan is a great addition too, since it makes the mold easier to hold.

3. Budget: Nordic Ware Bundt Pan

by [amazon link=”B07FY9V17M” link_icon=”none” title=”Nordic Ware” /]

[amazon fields=”B07FY9V17M” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Nordic Ware Formed Bundt Pan”]

Nordic Ware is the king of craftsmanship when it comes to bundt pans, and that’s why it’s so amazing that this 12-cup model is so affordable. It doesn’t have any fancy features, but the aluminum construction is solid, providing good heat distribution, and the nonstick capabilities are pretty good.

The pan is also a good size with a 10-inch diameter, so I’m not exactly sure of the reason for the rock-bottom price tag.

4. Splurge: Nordic Ware 75th Anniversary Braided Bundt Pan

by [amazon link=”B096967G49″ link_icon=”none” title=”Nordic Ware” /]

[amazon fields=”B096967G49″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Nordic Ware 75th Anniversary Braided Bundt Pan”]

From the second you lay eyes on the golden exterior that’s formed into a pattern of intertwining strands, you can tell that this is a luxury pound cake pan. That feeling is only strengthened when you lay your hands on the model’s heavy-duty cast aluminum, which lets you know immediately that the pan will be durable and will last you a lifetime.

The pan’s nonstick is top-notch, and its heat distribution abilities thanks to its thickness) are better than 99% of pound cake pans out there. It’s not as cheap as most competitors, but it’s the best option for you if money’s not an issue.

5. Overall: Classic Bundt Pan

by King Arthur

Classic Bundt Pan

This is a clear-cut example of the original being the best; this model is almost identical in features and design to the original bundt pan produced by Nordic Ware in the 1950s. And in my opinion, it’s the most effective and stylish pound cake pan out there even after all those years.

The heat conduction abilities are just fantastic, the nonstick coating works very well, and it’s just the right weight to feel sturdy without becoming a nuisance to pick up. It’s also the perfect size: it has a capacity of 12 cups, enough to make a large, but not gratuitous, pound cake.

I’d recommend this model of pound cake pan to anyone who wants to begin cooking the cakes.

6. Two-Piece: Nordic Ware Angel Food Cake Pan

by Sur La Table

Nordic Ware Angel Food Cake Pan

The two-piece design of this pound cake pan sets it apart from the competition. The bottom of the pan actually detaches from the sides. This feature makes releasing cakes after baking much easier, which is especially nice given the pan’s increased 16-cup capacity. The feet built into the top of the pan even create a sort of built-in cooling rack functionality.

The one issue with this pan is that, since it’s made from uncoated aluminum, it’s not dishwasher safe and it doesn’t have great nonstick capabilities. The material does allow for better heat distribution during baking, though, and it can withstand higher temperatures since it doesn’t have a nonstick coating.

Your Next Pound Cake Recipe

Once you get ahold of a good pound cake pan, you’ll want to start cooking right away! Here are some of my favorite pound cake recipes:

Pound Cake FAQ

What is the difference between pound cake and bundt cake?

A pound cake is a cake that uses a pound of each main ingredient, while “bundt cake” only refers to the shape of the cake. So, if you use a bundt pan to make a pound cake, then the cake is both a bundt cake and a pound cake.

How do you keep a pound cake from sticking to the pan?

Before cooking, either spray your pan with nonstick vegetable oil spray or paint it with melted shortening. DO NOT coat the pan with butter, because the milk solids in the butter might make the pan stickier. You can instead flour the pan, but if you do then be sure to use nut flour instead of all-purpose flour.

Of course, using a nonstick pan will help prevent sticking. It’s still a good idea to use a second method of nonstick, though.

How long do you leave pound cake in the pan?

After baking a pound cake, let it sit in the pan for 10 minutes before you remove it. The cake needs 10 minutes to firm up enough to keep from breaking apart, but leaving it much longer than 10 minutes will allow it to harden too much and may make removal more difficult.

A Pound Cake For Your Thoughts?

A moist pound cake is one of the heartiest and most delectable baked goods out there. That combined with the fact that they’re so easy to make should make them staples in any semi-serious baker’s mental cookbook.

« Previous Post

What’s The Best Substitute For Parsley? We’ve Got The Answer

Next Post »

How To Substitute For Vanilla Extract At Home

Leave a Comment