The 10 Best Bundt Pans
Updated by · How we research
Cast aluminum or stamped steel, 12 cups or 15: we compared 10 Bundt and fluted tube pans, and the Nordic Ware Original Bundt comes out on top. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Nordic Ware coined the name Bundt in the 1950s, which is why other brands sell the same ring-shaped mold as a fluted tube pan. The metal matters more than the label. Thick cast aluminum bakes crisp, deep flutes, while lighter stamped pans cost less and give a softer cake. It's written for home bakers who make pound cakes, coffee cakes or a holiday showpiece.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Nordic Ware Original Bundt now leads this list. It's the 12-cup cast pan most Bundt recipes are written around, it's still made in the U.S., and it costs less than the bigger Nordic Ware Anniversary, which stays on as the pick for large recipes. The Wilton pan stays too, now in its Gold version, as the low-cost answer for occasional bakers, and the Nordic Ware Gingerbread House keeps its spot for the holidays.
Only three pans survive from the old version. The Anolon Advanced, Nordic Ware Geo Bundtlette, Nordic Ware Castle and Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware have been discontinued, the 24-cavity Wilton Mini gave way to a 12-cavity tray, and the Chefmade Champagne Gold now points to a different pan. We also dropped the Boxiki Kitchen Pound Mold, since silicone walls flex and blur the fluting.
To rank the rest, we lined up each maker's cup capacity, metal, coating chemistry, warranty and washing rules, weighed what owners report about sticking and coating wear, and checked the CPSC's recall database, which showed no bakeware recalls for any of these brands.
April 14, 2020:
When it comes to Bundt pans, it's tough to top options from Nordic Ware, which isn't surprising; the company was the first to offer what we now think of as a modern Bundt pan, and it continues to design many fun and fresh twists on this pan even today. For most bakers, the Nordic Ware Platinum Anniversary is a great option. Unlike the Nordic Ware Gingerbread House or the Nordic Ware Castle, it isn't tied thematically to any particular holiday or item, so it's an excellent everyday choice. And unlike the Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware or the Wilton Perfect Results, it isn't too plain. The Calphalon and Wilton models are less expensive, however, so these cake pans are nevertheless good choices for those on a budget. There's also the Anolon Advanced, which is moderately priced and has something most others don't, silicone handles. These make it easy to work with, a nice touch for those who struggle with getting hot pans in and out of the oven.
And speaking of silicone, we've removed the Sorbus Fluted Mold, but we ultimately opted to keep one silicone choice, the Boxiki Kitchen Pound Mold. Not everyone will be a fan of this model, as it doesn't release as cleanly as its metal competition. On the other hand, it's very lightweight, boasts a bright red body, and won't warp, so it's a good option for those who gravitate toward silicone bakeware sets.
Special Honors
Nordic Ware The Minneapolis company that made the first Bundt pans sells its whole range direct, including the seasonal and decorative cast shapes that come and go from stores, plus spare tools such as a brush for cleaning detailed pans. It's the place to look for a specific shape or size this list doesn't cover. nordicware.com
Cups, Not Inches: Match The Pan To The Recipe
When a maker doesn't list a capacity, fill the pan with water from a measuring cup once and write the number on a piece of tape inside a cabinet door.
Bundt pans are sized by how much batter they hold, not by width. Most recipes are written for a 10- to 12-cup pan, and the Nordic Ware Original holds 12. A bigger pan with a smaller recipe bakes a squat cake, while an overfilled pan spills over the rim. Nordic Ware tells bakers to fill its pans no more than three-quarters full.
If a recipe names a different pan, convert by volume. A standard 9-inch round cake pan holds about six cups, so a 12-cup Bundt recipe fills two of them or one 13-by-9 pan (Wikipedia: Bundt cake). When a maker doesn't list a capacity, fill the pan with water from a measuring cup once and write the number on a piece of tape inside a cabinet door.
Cast, Stamped, Steel Or Ceramic
Cast aluminum is the traditional Bundt metal. It's thick, so it spreads heat evenly through a deep batter and molds sharp, deep flutes. Nordic Ware still makes its Bundt pans only in aluminum (Wikipedia: Bundt cake). Stamped or formed pans are thinner, lighter and cheaper, and their flutes are softer. Aluminized steel, as in the USA Pan and Cuisinart pans, is heavy and rigid. Ceramic-coated steel avoids classic nonstick chemistry but asks for gentler care. Silicone molds flex, so they don't hold a crisp pattern, and we left them out. The Kitchen Conservatory shop shows how many shapes the cast pans now come in.
Most Bundt pans carry a nonstick coating. Older nonstick coatings are made with PFAS, a family of chemicals the FDA explains are used in cookware for their nonstick properties. Nordic Ware, Wilton and casaWare now say their coatings are made without PFAS, and USA Pan says its silicone coating has no PTFE. Those are the makers' claims; we found no outside lab testing them.
Getting The Cake Out In One Piece
A nonstick label doesn't mean you can skip greasing. Every groove needs a coat of soft butter or shortening and a dusting of flour, or a baking spray that contains flour. A pastry brush reaches into detailed pans like the Heritage and Gingerbread House far better than a paper towel. Most recipes call for a short rest in the pan before you flip it, so the cake firms up but doesn't steam itself onto the metal.
Cleaning is where pans differ. Nordic Ware's cast pans, the ProForm and the casaWare are hand wash only, while the Wilton and Cuisinart pans can go in the dishwasher. Use mild soap and a soft sponge, as USA Pan advises, and keep metal tools and scouring pads off any coating. For crumbs stuck in deep flutes, Nordic Ware sells a small three-in-one brush, scraper and pick (Kitchen Conservatory).
How we researched this
We compared about 20 Bundt and fluted tube pans from six brands, read each maker's capacity, material, coating, warranty and care details, studied owner reports on sticking, release and coating wear, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall records. We found no independent lab tests of these pans, so the ranking rests on those documents and owner patterns.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rated Bundt pan?
Cast aluminum Nordic Ware pans have the longest track record, and the Nordic Ware Original Bundt is our pick for most bakers. For a lower price, the Wilton Gold Fluted Tube pan is a reasonable everyday choice.
Is Nordic Ware or Wilton better for Bundt pans?
Nordic Ware's cast pans bake crisper, deeper flutes and carry lifetime warranties. Wilton's pans cost much less, go in the dishwasher and bake a plainer cake. Both work for everyday cakes.
What size Bundt pan do I need?
A 10- to 12-cup pan fits most recipes. Pick a 15-cup pan for pound cakes and doubled recipes, and a mini tray for single servings.
Do nonstick Bundt pans need to be greased?
Yes. Grease every groove with butter or shortening and dust it with flour, or use a baking spray with flour. Detailed pans stick most.
Are silicone Bundt pans any good?
They're flexible and won't rust, but the soft walls blur the fluted pattern and can sag when full. Metal pans give a sharper, more even cake.
Can a Bundt pan go in the dishwasher?
Some can. The Wilton and Cuisinart pans here are dishwasher safe, while Nordic Ware's pans and the casaWare ceramic pan should be washed by hand.
