I’m sure that my mother will be laughing out loud when she reads this review, but yes … I am writing a review on pans. Yes, baking pans. Without giving too much personal information on my past, it would be fair to say that cooking wasn’t my forte while growing up. In fact, she likes to bring up the point (every time we see one another) did I expect married life to be like this? Like what? Oh … you know the cleaning, the cooking, etc. No, I guess somewhere in my world I thought that it would be a piece of cake! (No pun intended! Read further on…) At no time did I once imagine myself baking and decorating cakes for my children, let alone writing about my experiences. I don’t considered this regressing … I look at it as becoming a better person, wife and Mother. (Or so I hope!)

So, without further ado … read on to discover why I think Wilton makes some great tools for the baker in your household!


~ I’m going to bake a cake for my son’s birthday! ~

Yes, this is how it really all started. When my son was turning two, I decided that I was going to prove something to myself (okay and others) that I could bake my son’s birthday cake. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to accomplish this, so … I set off one afternoon in search of the tools needed to complete my quest! I went to Michael’s Craft Stores and searched the isle of the cake decorations. After reading the directions on all the cake pans and icing decorating kits, I decided that I could make the football cake for my son’s birthday. I purchased the football cake pan and a number sixteen (star) tip and bag in which decorate (with icing) this cake. Back home I went.


~ I did it! I really did it! ~

At that point it seemed like hours passed, but … when I was finished, I had made one really great looking cake. Really! I had several Moms ask where I had bought the cake and how much did it cost. Yes, I was very pleased to announce that I had made my cake. And if you thought that I was proud, you should have seen my son’s reaction!


~ Okay, now what can I bake? ~

Over the years I have added to my collection of Wilton Baking Products. In fact, I have one shelf in my kitchen solely for the purchase of storing my bakeware/decorating kits. While I have two Wilton Round Pans in my collection, there is one round pan that is definitely my favorite ~ the 12 inch Round, 2 inch deep performance pan.

Made out of aluminum, this round pan is a sturdy pan that is ready to do the job! The entire pan is smooth with no rough textures, and even has a nice rounded edge to the bottom of the pan. During the past seven years I have owned this pan I have found that it bakes evenly, allowing the cake to cook thoroughly from the center outwards. With this size of a pan, it really is a big deal for me to mention this feature.

If you are using boxed cake ingredients for your cake, you will need to purchase two boxes. This round pan requires 7 ˝ cups of batter. Most boxed cake mixes yield 4 to 6 cups of batter. I always measure my batter to ensure accuracy. Yes, this means a bigger mess, but … in the long run, I would rather clean a mixing bowl than cleaning my over because of drippings!

Clean up with this pan is a breeze if you follow these easy directions. To prepare the round pans begin be generously greasing the inside with solid vegetable shortening or butter (This is what I use.). Sprinkle flour into the pan and shake to cover the entire inside pan surface. Turn the pan over and tap to remove excess flour. If needed, touch up those areas needed. While it states that these round pans are dishwasher safe and won’t rust, I have only hand washed and toweled dried mine.

Also, because I have also prepared my pan according to the directions, I have never experienced any problems when it can to releasing the cake.

The other round pan that I own is the 6-inch round, 2-inch deep pan. Some may wonder why I purchased this small of a pan. Simply for the fact that it made a perfect size cake for my daughters first birthday! It was the perfect size cake for her to destroy as she wished, allowing the other cake (made by the 12 inch round pan) for the guests.


~ Are there other sizes? ~

Since Wilton is into the cake decorating business you have probably already figured that yes, there are many other sizes available. Some of the sizes that I have seen available are:

6” x 2”, 8” x 2”, 10” x 2”, 12” x 2”, 16” x 2”, 6” x 3”, 8” x 3”, 10” x 3”, 12” x 3”, 14” x 3”, 16” x 3” and an 18” x 3”.

Considering the number of pan sizes available, one should be able to find the perfect size pan for their needs.


~ Helpful hints! ~

First of all, don’t throw away that paper insert that comes inside your round pan. Every time you go to bake a cake you will want those directions to remember how many cups of batter to make, and … how long do I cook this baby!

Listed on the backside of this insert, besides the directions, are icing hints. These are very, very helpful! And, as an extra bonus, on my 12 inch round pan, the Wilton Buttercream Icing recipe is included. I love this recipe for frosting and have found that this works very well for me when decorating my cakes. And, the taste is quite yummy!

I thought that I would share with you a few cake ideas that I have made throughout the years.

~ Winnie The Pooh Cake ~ I made a two layer cake (which yields approximately 56 servings). My husband had purchased an adorable Pooh plastic bank for my daughter and I placed this bank on the center of the cake. I used my number sixteen (star) tip and decorated the entire cake with a white frosting, and then highlighted with a red and orange trim around the base of the cake, the top of the cake, and around the base of the bank. It turned out terrific!

~ Dalmatian Cake ~ This cake I made for a friend following the same idea as the Winnie The Pooh Cake. She had found a Dalmatian bank and I decorated the entire cake white, with a black edged icing on the bottom, top and base of the bank. Then, I selected several areas of the cake and made black spots. Yes, the Dalmatian cake came complete with spots!

~ Jungle Cake ~ For my sons fourth birthday, I decided to take a really fun cake into his pre-school to help him celebrate. I found several jungle animals, and placed them on this cake. I also had a view palm tress from another cake, and I placed these on corner of the cake. In the center of the cake I made a blue frosting and formed a pond on the center of the cake, perfect for the alligator. Around the palm trees I had brown frosting, forming a beach for the monkey. The rest of the cake was done in green. Needless to say, the kids loved it!

~ Camouflage Cake ~ Okay, this will be the last one. My son decided that on his seventh birthday he wanted an Army cake. (His first request was a Titanic cake!) Lucky for me, I have a very creative husband. I baked a two-layer cake and then we decorated with frosting camouflage colors. Yep! We had gray, green, brown and black just in big patches around the cake. Then we took several of his army trucks, jeeps and airplanes and set them on the top. While the colors may not sound terrific, it made a great camouflage cake.


~ Haven’t made your own cake, why not try! ~

I highly recommend the Wilton Round Pans for your baking needs. During the past several years they have done a great job, and … these pans really do look as good as they did the first day I got them! As far as price goes, I think that they are very affordable. Especially when you consider the quality of these pans. My 12 inch round pan cost me $8.99 seven years ago. My 6-inch pan I found at Factory Card Outlet six years ago for $4.89. If you are a coupon shopper, always check the paper for 50 percent off an item at Michael’s craft stores.

Don’t have a store near you? Fear not, for Wilton also has their own web address at www.wilton.com. Click on their On-Line Store and you will enter a store full of cake decorating possibilities! If you are looking for these Wilton Round Pans, click on the link Decorative Preferred Bakeware.

If you have not tried baking a cake of your own, I think that you may be surprised by just how easy it is. And, it is very rewarding to see the smile on the face of your child when they view the cake you just made them for the first time. It is priceless!


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 8.99