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Baking Pan Size Substitutions for Cake Pans, Casseroles, and More | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Substitutions for Baking Pan Sizes

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Casserole Dish, Cake Pan, and Other Substitutions

Catherine Boeckmann
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In the midst of cooking but don’t have the right size baking pan? You can often substitute one size for another, keeping in mind that when you change the pan size, you must sometimes change the cooking time.

Differences in Cooking Time

Always be sure to account for differences in pan sizes when considering cooking time. For example, if a recipe calls for using an 8-inch round cake pan and baking for 25 minutes, and you substitute a 9-inch pan, the cake may bake in only 20 minutes, since the batter forms a thinner layer in the larger pan. (Use a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake to test for doneness. If it comes out clean, the cake has finished baking.)

Also, specialty pans such as tube and Bundt pans distribute heat differently; you may not get the same results if you substitute a regular cake pan for a specialty one, even if the volume is the same.

Love to bake? See our baking articles—including everything from pies to cakes.

Baking Pan Size Substitutions

PAN SIZE VOLUME SUBSTITUTE
9-inch pie pan 4 cups 8-inch round cake pan
8x4x2½–inch loaf pan 6 cups Three 5x2-inch loaf pans
Two 3x1¼–inch muffin tins
12x8x2-inch cake pan
9x5x3-inch loaf pan 8 cups 8-inch square cake pan
9-inch round cake pan
15x10x1-inch jelly-roll pan 10 cups 9-inch square cake pan
Two 8-inch round cake pans
8x3-inch springform pan
10x3-inch Bundt pan 12 cups Two 8x4x2½–inch loaf pans
9x3-inch angel food cake pan
9x3-inch springform pan
13x9x2-inch cake pan 14-15 cups Two 9-inch round cake pans
Two 8-inch square cake pans

Casserole Dish Substitutions

If you are cooking a casserole and don’t have the correct size dish, here are some baking-pan substitutions. Again, consider the depth of the ingredients in the dish and lengthen or shorten the baking time accordingly.

CASSEROLE SIZE BAKING-PAN SUBSTITUTE
1½ quarts 9x5x3-inch loaf pan
2 quarts 8-inch square cake pan
2½ quarts 9-inch square cake pan
3 quarts 13x9x2-inch cake pan
4 quarts 14x10x2-inch cake pan

Want more tips on baking and cooking? Check out this list of common kitchen mistakes. Also, try out some baking tips and our solutions to common baking disasters!

2023 Almanac Club