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Angel food cake is traditionally baked in a tall tube pan, because the center tube helps the light batter bake evenly and gives it something to climb. But if you do not own one, you can still bake a great angel food cake. This guide covers the best alternatives to an angel food cake pan, how to adjust bake times and which swaps work best.
If you decide to buy the real thing, see our best angel food cake pans or the best budget angel food cake pans, which start at about $12.
Angel Food Cake Pan Substitution Chart
| Product | Best For | Batter | Bake Time at 350°F* | Notes | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two 9 x 5 Inch Loaf Pans | Overall Swap | Full recipe | 35–45 min | Cool upside down | – | |
| 9 x 13 Inch Pan | for a Party | Split evenly | 30–40 min | Cool upside down on racks | Check Price | |
| Bundt or Pound Cake Pan | for the Ring Shape | Full recipe | 25–35 min | Shorter, flatter cake | Check Price | |
| Deep Round Pan With a Ramekin | DIY Tube | About 2/3 full | 35–40 min | Release can be harder | Check Price | |
| 7-Inch Chiffon Cake Pan | for Small Batches | About 2/3 full | 30–40 min | Use a deep pan | Check Price | |
| Cupcake Tins | for Individual Servings | About half recipe | 30–35 min | Smaller cake | – | |
| Silicone Tube Pan | Flexible Option | 2/3 full, liners | 15–20 min | Makes 24 to 30 | Check Price |
*Times are a guide. The cake is done when the top springs back and the cracks look dry.
The Best Alternatives to an Angel Food Cake Pan
1. Two 9 x 5 Inch Loaf Pans
Loaf pans are deep and narrow, so the batter can still climb the walls much like it does in a tube pan. Divide the batter between two ungreased loaf pans, bake for about 30 to 40 minutes, then turn the pans upside down over a rack, propping the ends on cans or mugs so air can flow. Use light-colored metal pans for the best rise.
👍 Pros
- Most kitchens already have them
- Easy slicing
- Even baking
👎 Cons
- A less classic shape
📄 Detailed Review
- Batter: Full recipe
- Bake Time at 350°F: 35–45 min
- Notes: Cool upside down
- Best for: Overall Swap
Angel food sheet cake is easy to frost, top with berries and cut into squares. Bake the full recipe in an ungreased 9 x 13 pan for about 25 to 35 minutes. An uncoated pan like the Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum 9 x 13 Cake Pan with Lid (about $14) works well and the lid makes it easy to store or carry.
👍 Pros
- Feeds a crowd
- Faster bake
- Easy to transport
👎 Cons
- Shorter cake without the tall tube shape
📄 Detailed Review
- Batter: Split evenly
- Bake Time at 350°F: 30–40 min
- Notes: Cool upside down on racks
- Best for: a Party
A Bundt pan has a center tube, so it gives you the classic ring shape. The catch is that fluted, nonstick sides give the batter less grip and make release harder. A smoother tube-style pound cake pan, like the Nordic Ware Classic Cast Pound Cake Pan (about $29), works better than a deeply fluted Bundt. If you only own a Bundt, the Nordic Ware Original 12-Cup Bundt is a good one. Fill it no more than two-thirds full and loosen every curve with a thin spatula.
👍 Pros
- Ring shape
- Center tube for even baking
👎 Cons
- Harder release
- Slightly lower rise
📄 Detailed Review
- Batter: Full recipe
- Bake Time at 350°F: 25–35 min
- Notes: Shorter, flatter cake
- Best for: the Ring Shape
Make your own tube pan by placing an oven-safe ramekin or a clean, label-free metal can filled with dried beans in the center of a deep round pan. A tall pan such as the Fat Daddio’s 8 x 4 Inch Round Pan (about $20) has the height angel food needs. Leave everything ungreased.
👍 Pros
- Tube effect with tools you may own
👎 Cons
- Harder to cool upside down; the center can shift
📄 Detailed Review
- Batter: About 2/3 full
- Bake Time at 350°F: 35–40 min
- Notes: Release can be harder
- Best for: DIY Tube
Chiffon pans are small tube pans. This 7-Inch Anodized Aluminum Chiffon Cake Pan comes with both a flat and a tube bottom, so it bakes half an angel food recipe or a small chiffon cake. It is rated 4.8 stars.
👍 Pros
- Real tube design
- Anodized aluminum
- Two bottoms
👎 Cons
- Half-size cake only
📄 Detailed Review
- Batter: About 2/3 full
- Bake Time at 350°F: 30–40 min
- Notes: Use a deep pan
- Best for: Small Batches
6. Cupcake Tins
Angel food cupcakes are light, quick and perfect for parties. Fill paper liners about two-thirds full and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. A full recipe makes about 24 to 30 cupcakes. Cool them right side up in the pan.
👍 Pros
- Fast
- No unmolding
- Easy to serve
👎 Cons
- Less of the classic chewy crust
📄 Detailed Review
- Batter: About half recipe
- Bake Time at 350°F: 30–35 min
- Notes: Smaller cake
- Best for: Individual Servings
A silicone tube pan with a metal frame, like the Wilewir 10-Inch Silicone Angel Food Pan, peels away from the cake easily. Bake it on a sheet pan for support and expect a softer, slightly shorter cake.
👍 Pros
- Easy release
- Dishwasher safe
👎 Cons
- Less grip and browning
📄 Detailed Review
- Batter: 2/3 full, liners
- Bake Time at 350°F: 15–20 min
- Notes: Makes 24 to 30
- Best for: Flexible Option
How We Chose
We started with the most popular and best-rated options for the best alternative to angel food cake pan on Amazon.com in October 2026, then compared them by material, size, features, ratings, review count and price.
Our KR Score combines the Amazon star rating, review volume, build quality, features and price, so you can compare picks at a glance. Newer listings with few reviews score a little lower until they prove themselves.
Quick Answer: What Can I Use Instead of an Angel Food Cake Pan?
- Best overall swap: two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans
- Best for a party: a 9 x 13 inch pan for angel food sheet cake
- Best for the classic ring shape: a Bundt or pound cake pan
- Best DIY tube: a deep round pan with an oven-safe ramekin in the center
- Best for small batches: a 7-inch chiffon pan
- Best for individual servings: cupcake tins
- Best flexible option: a silicone tube pan
How to Bake Angel Food Cake Without a Tube Pan
- Use uncoated, ungreased pans whenever you can.
- Fill pans no more than two-thirds full.
- Start checking early. Shallower pans bake faster than a tall tube pan.
- Cool upside down on a rack, propped up so air can flow underneath.
- Expect a little less height than in a true tube pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use if I don’t have an angel food cake pan?
Two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans are the best substitute. A 9 x 13 pan, a Bundt pan, a deep round pan with a ramekin in the center or cupcake tins also work.
Can I bake angel food cake in a Bundt pan?
Yes, but release is harder because of the fluted, often nonstick sides. Fill it two-thirds full and loosen it carefully with a thin spatula after cooling.
Why is a tube pan used for angel food cake?
The center tube lets heat reach the middle of the cake so it bakes evenly, and the tall sides give the batter something to cling to as it rises.
Can I bake angel food cake in a 9 x 13 pan?
Yes. Bake it ungreased for about 25 to 35 minutes and cool it upside down, resting the corners on cans or mugs.
Final Verdict
The best alternative to an angel food cake pan is two 9 x 5 loaf pans. For parties, bake an angel food sheet cake in a 9 x 13 pan, and for the classic ring shape, use a smooth pound cake or Bundt pan. If you bake angel food often, a real tube pan is worth it, and the best ones start at about $12.
Also see: best angel food cake pans for home use, best affordable angel food cake pans and best alternatives to a 9 inch cake pan.
Prices and availability change often. Check Amazon for the latest price before you buy.
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