Bake my duck

April 29, 2009 3:09 AM

I have a Wilton Panda cake pan, similar to this. However, the two sides don't appear to directly fit together (ie. with no gaps between the two). How can I make sure batter doesn't leak out of the pan? And what about other 3-D pans like this - I imagine greaseproof paper won't work in the same way a springform tin will.
posted by mippy to Food & Drink (8 answers total)

Could it be that you're supposed to bake the two cakes separately and stick them together with frosting?
posted by jon1270 at 3:37 AM on April 29, 2009

In the instructions here it sounds like the trick is to have a thickish batter that won't ooze out too easily. I guess that's why they say to put it on a cookie sheet, in case any does leak out.
posted by slightlybewildered at 3:58 AM on April 29, 2009

I read instructions for a few of their "stand up" pans online, several use clips to hold the two halves together, and recommend a thicker batter than is normally used for cakes. I would try thicker batters and if you don't have the clips, perhaps use some bulldog clips.
posted by Science! at 4:02 AM on April 29, 2009

Wrap the whole thing tightly in one or two layers of foil before you attach the clips.
posted by kc8nod at 6:25 AM on April 29, 2009

Whenever I bake using 3-D pans, I bake the sides separately, level off each side, then attach them with a thick, stiff buttercream or royal icing. Works like a charm!
posted by firei at 6:40 AM on April 29, 2009 [1 favorite]

Seconding firei; I've never heard of anyone baking them together. It seems like a much better result would be had with doing them separately, to avoid any gaps in the pan from leaking/under-filled batter.
posted by fiercecupcake at 6:45 AM on April 29, 2009

Response by poster: The instructions for the panda pan suggested baking them together - there's a bit that plugs into the bottom. However the pans that split into halves easily seemed to me to be much easier to bake in two halves.
posted by mippy at 7:28 AM on April 29, 2009

I would be concerned that the inside would gooey if you tried to bake them together as a whole, as opposed to together side-by-side. I would definitely follow firei and stick them together with icing - it will have a better cake to icing ratio as well.
posted by blackkar at 1:53 PM on April 29, 2009