Baking A Pie Without A Pie Pan: 8 Substitutes That Work!


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Have you ever found yourself needing to bake a pie in a pinch and didn’t have the right pie pan? Not to worry! I’ve found several great alternatives for baking a pie without a pie pan that still provides great structure and flavor. These pie pan substitutes will allow you to still bake a pie without any issues!

As a general rule, you can bake a pie without a pie pan by using a round disposable aluminum pan as a substitute. When using a disposable aluminum pan to bake a pie, make sure to increase the baking time by about 10-15 minutes for the crust to fully bake.

While disposable aluminum pans are great for baking a pie, there are several other substitutes that could work for baking a pie without a pie pan.

8 Best Pie Pan Substitutes:

  • Cake Pan
  • Foil Pan (Aluminum Pan)
  • Glass Pan
  • Tart Pan
  • Springform Pan
  • Muffin Pan
  • Baking Paper
  • 13×9 Pan
Baking Pies Without A Pie Pan

*By the way, I recently wrote an article about The Best Ways To Keep Your Pie Crust Dough From Burning. This article breaks down the most effective way to keep your crust from burning in the oven. You can check out this article here!

There are many different tools to use to bake a pie, however, it’s best to know which substitute is right for you. When choosing your substitute, make sure you know what changes are necessary to make to the pie’s recipe in order for it to come out as good as in a regular pie pan.

1. Cake Pan

Since the shape and dimensions are similar, a cake pan can be used to substitute a pie pan for most pie recipes. Like the cake pan with parchment paper before putting the pie crust in.

If I don’t have a spare pie pan on hand when I’m getting ready to bake, I’ll use a cake pan as an easy alternative.

Cake pans tend to be deeper though, so you may want to adjust the temperature you’re baking your pie at in order to avoid burning it.

Another good tip to follow is to use parchment paper as a liner. This will keep the pie from sticking after it has baked and will also make the cleanup process go much more smoothly.

*By the way, I recently wrote an article about The Best Pie Weight Substitutes. This article breaks down all the substitutes for pie weights that you might have at home right now to use for your pie baking adventures. You can check out this article here!

2. Foil Pan (Aluminum Pan)

Foil is an excellent heat conductor. Since foil works well in the oven, a foil pan can be used in place of a pie pan as long as it is sturdy enough to hold the pie with its filling. Make sure to increase the baking time by about 10-15 minutes for the crust to fully bake.

While some people may assume that disposable foil pans are inferior to use when baking pies, this is inaccurate. Foil pans can work just as well as a pie pan, however, with a few important caveats.

When you bake a pie crust using a foil pan, be sure to keep in mind that pie crusts won’t bake as quickly as they do when you’re using a pie pan. You may want to increase your baking time by about ten to fifteen minutes, and check on your pies periodically in order to make sure they bake thoroughly.

Pumpkin Pie Made In Foil Pan
Pumpkin Pie Made In Foil Pan!

*By the way, I recently wrote an article breaking down The Best Pie Thickeners for Thickening Runny Pie Fillings. This article talks about all the potential thickeners that you might have laying around the house that can thicken your runny pie filling. You can check out this article here!

Disposable foil pans tend to not be as sturdy on the bottom. Consider placing your filled foil pans on top of an additional flat baking sheet.

This will prevent spillage during the baking process, and will also make it easier to remove them after they’re done baking.

3. Glass Pan

A glass pan can be used as a substitute for a pie pan in most cases. Glass is not the best heat conductor, therefore, temperature and baking times may need to be adjusted in order to prevent undercooking or burning.

While some people may assume you can never use glass pans in place of pie pans, this is quite inaccurate. It’s true that glass does not conduct heat nearly as well as other materials.

However, glass provides a very even heating surface which then helps to ensure a more even baking process.

Apple Pie Made In A Glass Pan
Apple Pie Made In A Glass Pan!

I usually specifically look for Glass Baking Pans that are allowed to be used in the oven. I recently came across a Set of Glass Pie plates for Baking Pie on Amazon that works great for baking pies! You can check out this Glass Pie Pan Set here!

Make sure your glass pan is oven-safe prior to placing it in the oven. Glass has a higher tendency to shatter when it’s heated quickly. Oven-safe glassware has been tested to withstand the temperatures inside your oven.

Oven-safe glassware will have a small symbol on the bottom telling you it is suitable for oven use.

4. Tart Pan

Tart pans are a great substitute for a pie pan when baking pies. Since these pans are similar in shape and size, they can be used in place of a pie pan and can enhance the aesthetic qualities of a pie if it features fluted sides.

A tart pan makes a great stand-in for a pie pan for several reasons. Tart pans are used to create beautifully sculpted tarts.

Many tart pans also feature a removable bottom tray.

Pumpkin Pie Made In Tart Pan
Pumpkin Pie Made In Tart Pan!

For baking a pie, you’ll have to make sure that you get the right Tart Pan size. I usually use a 9-inch tart pan when I want to bake a pie. I recently came across a great 9-Inch Tart Pan on Amazon that works great for baking pies. You can check out this Tart Pan here!

This is used in order to carefully lift your tart out of the baking tray without ruining the way it looks.

Be careful when you add your fillings to your tart pan. Some fillings have a higher tendency to ooze and seep out around the edges. Be careful not to overfill your tart pan, and keep an eye on it as it bakes in order to avoid burning it.

5. Springform Pan

A springform pan can be used as a substitute for a pie pan when baking a pie. However, most springform pans are deep. Deep dish pie recipes work well when using a springform pan. Make sure to check the inside of the pie often to know when it is ready.

A springform pan is a unique type of bakeware that is used in order to create cheesecakes, tortes, and any other type of dessert or baked good that features deep fillings and delicate crusts. Its removable sides make it ideal for dishes that have a higher tendency to fall apart, as it reduces the amount of manipulation required to remove it.

I’d recommend using a springform pan in place of a regular pie pan for deep-dish desserts and also for creating your own personal takes on classic pie recipes.

Pie Crust Made In Springform Pan
Pie Crust Made In Springform Pan!

If you’re looking to bake different-sized cheesecakes, I found the perfect 3 piece set of Springform Pans that I recently got for myself! This 3-piece set comes with 4, 7, and 9-inch Nonstick Springform Pans, which you can check out on Amazon!

Be sure to roll your dough out a little thicker than usual, as a springform pan is taller than a traditional pie pan. Therefore, you need a thicker crust to support the filling inside.

6. Muffin Pan

A muffin pan can be used as a substitute for a pie pan when baking pies. Muffin pans can be used in order to create miniature versions of popular pie and quiche recipes. Make sure that each individual pie crust is thick enough to hold the filling inside it.

A good baker knows how to think outside the box during times when the right baking tools and accessories aren’t available. The next time you find yourself in a pinch, consider using one of your muffin pans in place of a traditional pie pan to create mini-pies!

This can be a fun way to create personal-sized desserts for a dinner party or a festive family gathering. Your mini pies can be as elaborate or as simple as you desire.

Create small mini-lattice pie crusts for an interesting presentation, or keep them open-faced.

I recently came across a great Set of Nonstick Silicone Muffin Molds on Amazon that will work great for this! You can check out these Silicon Molds here!

Be sure to keep an eye on your baking time, and adjust accordingly. Because you’re baking smaller portions you might not need to leave your muffin pan in the oven as long as you would for a traditional pie.

Since taking the mini pies is hard to do when they are in a muffin tin, I usually try to bake them in a Silicone Muffin Mold instead. This is because it will be easier to pop the pies out of the Silicone Mold than a regular muffins tin.

7. Baking Paper

On average, baking paper can be used to bake a pie. However, this process must be done carefully in order to avoid the contents spilling out from the sides. Make sure to roll up the crust borders around the pie filling to make raised edges for the pie.

Parchment paper (otherwise known as baking paper) can be an essential component of baking pies. Parchment paper makes rolling out pie dough easy since it provides a nonstick surface to work on.

Parchment paper can also be used to line the bottom of any other alternative pie dish in order to make handling after baking easier and more efficient.

Pie Made On Parchment Paper
Pie Made On Parchment Paper!

Some people have successfully used baking paper in place of any other type of baking pan or tool. You can use baking paper in order to bake a pie in the oven.

Paper-wrapped pies are popular in certain areas and are a more traditional way of creating pies that date back hundreds of years.

Paper-wrapped pies are a great alternative for those who don’t particularly care for more structured pie crusts. The key to using parchment paper is to make sure you stack two to three pieces in order to create enough thickness and sturdiness.

*By the way, if you want to know The Real Difference Between Foil, Parchment paper, Wax Paper, and Freezer Paper, I wrote an in-depth article breaking down the Similarities and Differences of each one, which you can check out here!

8. 13×9 Pan

A 13×9 rectangular pan can be used in order to create rectangular-shaped pies if there isn’t a pie pan available for use. Since a 13×9 pan has a bigger surface area, make sure to keep the pies in the oven for 10-15 minutes longer to make sure that all sides of the pie bake evenly.

If the shape and size of your pie aren’t an issue, you may want to consider using a 13×9 pan or casserole dish to create your pie. Traditional circular pie pans will yield a higher filling to crust ratio, however, using a 13×9 pan will give you a thicker crust and a more even distribution of filling.

You can modify your pie recipes and create a shallow pie in order to avoid having to make a deep-dish pie.

Casserole dishes are about two or three inches deeper than most pie pans, and are highly adaptable, and can be used for most pie recipes.

I found a good 13×9 inch, Nonstick Rectangular Cake Pan with Quick Release Coating on Amazon that works perfectly for baking a pie in. You can check out this Pan here!

What Are Pie Pans Usually Used For?

As a general rule, a pie pan is used for baking pies because it helps form and shape pies as they are baking. The pie dough and the filling are placed inside of the pie pan and then put into the oven to bake for the amount of time the recipe requires.

Although most people generally think that pie pans are only used for pies, there are many other uses for these handy baking tools.

Pie pans can be used to create savory pies and dishes as well!

The next time you’re in the mood to bake and don’t have a spare pie pan, take a look around your kitchen! I’m sure you’ll find the perfect pie-baking alternative that will deliver great results!

*By the way, I recently wrote an article about The Best Ways To Prevent Your Pie Crusts From Shrinking. This article breaks down all the reasons why your pie crusts might be shrinking and how to avoid it! You can check out this article here!

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To Summarize…

Whether you’re experiencing an emergency and need something quick or you want to make a pie for a special occasion, you don’t always need a pie pan to bake a pie. Whether you’re baking a pie at home or at a friend’s house, these alternatives to the traditional cooking vessel will guarantee a tasty baked treat!

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Fainna

My name is Fainna! I've been baking desserts ever since I was 10 years old with my grandma passing her baking wisdom down to me with every passing day. I hope you find these tips and tricks helpful here at my little Baking Nook!

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