Are you trying to bake a domed or round cake? The easiest way to go about that is already in your kitchen. Rather than buying a specialty pan, you can use a glass mixing bowl or Pyrex bowl to get the job done. Though there are a few things to consider, baking a cake in a bowl is really no different than baking one in a metal pan.
We’re going to discuss some things to keep in mind when using a Pyrex bowl for cake as well as some things to make your time baking much more convenient and fun. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
- Can You Bake a Cake in a Glass Bowl?
- How to Bake a Cake in a Pyrex Bowl
- Removing a Baked Cake From a Glass Bowl
- Over Temperature Differences for baking in Glass vs Metal
- Final Thoughts on Baking With a Glass Bowl
Can You Bake a Cake in a Glass Bowl?
Yes, you can. The main thing to keep in mind is that you will need an oven-safe glass bowl, like one made out of Pyrex glass. If you are unsure, look at the bottom of the bowl. You should see a symbol that means the bowl can be placed in the oven.
Other than that, baking cake in Pyrex bowl is relatively hassle-free. You will need to consider the difference in time. Since glass takes longer to heat up than metal, you will need to reduce the baking temperature by at least 25 degrees Fahrenheit (3-4 degrees C). Also, be sure to check the cake 10 minutes early, as glass becomes very hot once heated through. You don’t want to overcook your cake!
Since conventional ovens do not heat evenly while preheating, it’s not recommended to place a glass bowl in the oven during this time. Furthermore, never put a glass bowl (Pyrex or Corningware) in an oven that is hotter than 350 degrees F (176 degrees C). Should the glass get too hot, it will shatter.
How to Bake a Cake in a Pyrex Bowl
You will need your Pyrex bowl, a paring knife, spatula, flour or cocoa powder, all your ingredients for the cake, butter, a paper towel, and an oven mitt.
If you have all that handy, follow these steps:
1. Grease the Pyrex bowl that you will use for baking. Make sure it is an oven-safe Pyrex bowl or something similar. Take some butter and rub the inside of the bowl with a paper towel, greasing as much as possible. No section should be left without butter.
2. Sprinkle some flour or cocoa powder (about ¼ cup) onto the butter. Make sure it sticks on the layer of butter. If you are baking a chocolate or marble cake, cocoa powder will do well. Otherwise, flour works for all cakes. The entire surface of the bowl should be covered once you are done. Discard any excess powder.
3. Follow the recipe to prepare the cake batter. Pour it into the bowl once everything has been mixed together.
4. Insert the bowl into the oven. Do not place it on the bottom rack. Check the cake before the time on the recipe. If the cake is set to bake for 40 minutes, check it at 25 or 30 minutes for readiness. To do that, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.
Removing a Baked Cake From a Glass Bowl
Now, once you take out your freshly baked cake, you might scratch your head. How do you get the cake out of the bowl without damaging the shape? This is why we mentioned greasing the glass bowl prior to baking. Again, don’t simply leave the batter in the bowl that you used for mixing, because the cake will stick to the sides when you try to remove it.
Once you have removed the cake from the oven, you can remove it by doing the following:
1. Wait for the cake to cool slightly. Pick up a thin-bladed paring knife. Run the edge around the rim of the bowl, between the cake and glass. Next, use a frosting spatula to separate the cake from the bowl a little further. Be careful. Go slow. Try not to make any movements that would cut into the cake.
2. Turn the bowl upside down. Remove the Pyrex bowl carefully by rapping your knuckles against the flat bottom. That should help loosen the cake enough for the bowl to slide right off.
Make sure to use gloves or mitts any time you are handling an item that has been taken out of the oven. Even materials like Pyrex can retain heat for long periods of time.
Over Temperature Differences for baking in Glass vs Metal
Final Thoughts on Baking With a Glass Bowl
Glass is not as popular for baking as metal, but it is possible to make a gorgeous domed cake using a bowl. Simply reduce the baking temperature and keep an eye on the prize. You’ll have a delectable domed cake in no time!
