No one wants to spend time creating a delicious cake only for it to fall apart the second they try to get it on the plate. There’s a lot of pressure on this moment, and a stuck cake can quickly lead to panic and frustration.
Don’t freak out just yet, though. With a deep breath and a few simple tips for getting your cake out of the pan when it’s stuck, you can remove your cake without any issue so you can move on to decorating and enjoying your delicious dessert.
Always Test That It’s Done
If your cake isn’t fully baked, it’s more likely to stick to the pan or collapse on the way out, leading to a less than pretty mess. Always make sure your cake is done baking before you pull it out of the oven. The center of the cake should bounce back when you touch it. If you insert a toothpick or a skewer into the middle of the cake, it should come back clean.
These tests help you ensure your cake is ready to go, which means the edges will hold together better when it’s time to remove it from the pan.
Separate the Edge From the Pan
If your cake is done baking but not coming out smoothly, one of the easiest things you can do is run a butter knife or a thin spatula around the edge of the pan. This is particularly helpful for bundt cakes and other irregularly shaped cake pans where the cake might be sticking to various corners and edges.
Take care to keep the knife pressed to the pan instead of the cake. This allows you to separate the two cleanly without accidentally cutting into the cake.
Flip the Pan
Sometimes, all you need to get the job done is a little gravity. Flipping your cake pan helps the cake come out on its own without having to dig it out and risk breaking the cake in the process. This hack takes care and confidence; the last thing you want to do is drop the cake and cause damage in the process.
Place a serving plate or cutting board over the pan to catch the cake, then flip both the pan and the plate together. Set the plate down and gently tape or shake the pan to help the cake come loose. Alternatively, you can leave it for ten to fifteen minutes to give the cake time to come loose on its own.
Defeat Doesn’t Mean Disaster
Cakes are delicate creations. If these tips for getting your cake out of the pan when it’s stuck still leave you with a stubborn, stuck cake, don’t worry. Sometimes, the cake breaks. But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. If the cake is still mostly holding its shape, you can cover any flaws with frosting. No one will notice or care once they take that first sweet bite.
Alternatively, if the cake seems unsalvageable, try molding the chunks into cake pops. You can also use the cake scrap in trifles, as ice cream toppings, or for other fun and creative dessert ideas.
Damask Cakes makes baking the perfect cake easy with our cake kits. Get yours and experience the joy of baking with confidence and ease.
