Many of us get that sudden urge on a weekend to be creative and bake a homemade cake. Nothing beats the aroma of hot vanilla or chocolate cake wafting through the house.
But what happens if you have all the ingredients but don’t have a cake pan? Can you bake a cake in a Pyrex dish? Keep reading and we’ll tell you everything you need to know!
Can You Bake a Cake in a Pyrex Dish?
Pyrex dishes are intended for oven use so there’s no problem there. They are oven safe up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit as long as they do not directly touch the element or heat source.
However, Pyrex dishes are not non-stick like most cake pans are so you will have to grease them thoroughly or else line them with some baking paper. Alternatively, you could spray the inside with oven spray.
One problem you may encounter is the shape. Cake tins are usually completely round or else loaf-shaped. It is not possible to find Pyrex dishes in these shapes. Even the round ones have sloping sides.
However, you could use an oval, rectangular, or square dish for a single-layer cake. Also, be careful to pick one that is a similar volume to the cake tin called for in the recipe.
Here are a few tips for using Pyrex dishes to bake cakes:
1. Proper Preparation
First of all, the Pyrex dish will need to be well-prepared if you don’t want your cake to stick. Use a piece of greaseproof paper to scoop a little butter or oil and rub the inside of the dish all over with this.
Alternatively, cut pieces of baking parchment to line the bottom and sides of the dish. Another (easy) alternative is to use non-stick cooking spray.
It is not a good idea to mix the cake batter in the Pyrex dish you are going to cook it in. Rather, mix the cake batter in a separate bowl then transfer it to the prepared Pyrex dish with the help of a spatula just before baking.
When putting the batter into the dish, never fill it further than halfway to allow for the cake to rise without spilling over.
Ensure that the Pyrex dish is at room temperature (not chilled) before filling it with batter and putting it into the oven. This will prevent thermal shock and subsequent shattering of the glass when it heats up.
2. Consider the Difference in Depth
The shape and size of the pyrex dish are going to be different compared to proper cake-baking pans, which is why need to be careful about how much batter you pour in. You may have some batter left over.
You could put this into another smaller Pyrex dish and make a teeny cake to gift a neighbor or make cupcakes if you have cupcake pans. Alternatively, halve the recipe.
3. Consider the Difference in Material
Pyrex is made of tempered heat-proof glass while cake-baking pans are either silicone or metal. To ensure a comparable outcome, reduce the oven temperature to 25 degrees lower than recommended in the recipe.
For instance, if the recipe calls for a 350-degree oven, set it to 325 degrees. The oven must still be preheated as usual when baking in a Pyrex dish.
4. Baking Time
While baking a cake in a Pyrex dish, you need to be extremely mindful of the baking time. For instance, the Pyrex dish is likely to have more depth, and the cake is baked at a low temperature, which means you will probably have to increase the baking time.
Bake the cake for the time suggested in the recipe then test it for doneness. If it is still raw in the center, cook it for longer. If you find that the top is burning and the inside isn’t cooked yet, use the Pyrex lid to cover it or a piece of foil.
Conclusion
To summarize, baking a cake is possible in a Pyrex dish, and it’s actually a great option for people who don’t have special cake pans. However, you will need to tweak a few things as we’ve outlined in our tips above.