Checklist · 11 picks · 5 categories
Links to Amazon are affiliate links. I earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you, and it never decides a pick. How I make money
Affiliate link.
Box mix is fine, but a from-scratch birthday cake hits different. The good news: you don't need a pro bakery setup.
Start with two light-colored round pans, since America's Test Kitchen slightly preferred light pans (dark ones can brown faster), plus an offset spatula, whose angled blade keeps your hands out of the frosting. A hand mixer handles batter and buttercream without eating your counter, and a cooling rack gives the layers somewhere to cool before you frost. ATK picked the pans, spatulas, mixers and racks, and BestReviews picked the carriers for getting it to the party. Each card shows the drawback the outlet called out, like a lid that's loose for travel or a pan that browns a little less evenly.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you mostly bake cookies; the Holiday Baking list has cookie scoops, rolling pins, baking mats and a stand mixer.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
Pick a budget to see your plan.
Your plan lives in this link. Copy it or email it to yourself so Safari doesn't forget it.
Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 1, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
0 of 4 on your list · tap one to see your options
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nordic Ware Naturals Nonstick 9" Round Cake Pan | budget | $15-25 | your first pair of cake pans | 1 outlet |
| Nordic Ware Naturals Nonstick 8" Round Layer Cake Pan | budget | under $15 | three thinner layers instead of two | 1 outlet |
| USA Pan 9" Round Cake Pan | mid | $25-50 | a heavy pan that lasts | 1 outlet |
Best cake panbudget pick · 9 in
Best for your first pair of cake pans
America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy cake pan: it nearly matches the winner at about half the price, with tall, fluffy, level cakes.
Heads up. Cakes browned a hair less evenly than the winner's, and cinnamon buns came out too pale
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best Buy cake pan.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link. I may earn a commission at no cost to you.
budget pick · 8 in
Best for three thinner layers instead of two
America's Test Kitchen highly recommends it: a slightly more budget-friendly pan that made evenly browned cake layers and pizza crust.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen highly Recommended 8-inch cake pan.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · 9 in
Best for a heavy pan that lasts
Recommended by America's Test Kitchen: a sturdy pan with consistent browning and level layers.
Heads up. Cakes weren't as tall as the winner's, and looked less nice when the pan was greased with baking spray
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen recommended 9-inch cake pan.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best offset spatulamid pick · 7.75 in
Best for smooth sides and swoopy tops
America's Test Kitchen's winning offset spatula: it aced every test, and its medium-length blade made quick work of frosting cakes of all sizes.
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning offset spatula.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget pick · 8 in
Best for frosting on a budget
America's Test Kitchen highly recommends it: a midsized, relatively thin blade with good flex and good control.
Heads up. The squared-off handle edges are less pleasant to grip, and the handle is a little short for big hands
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen highly Recommended offset spatula.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best hand mixerbudget pick · Compact
Best for cookie dough and frosting without a stand mixer
America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy: it performed like the winner, with a wide speed range and the most intuitive controls.
Heads up. Skips the winner's extras, like a timer, light and pause button
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best Buy hand mixer.
$50-100
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge pick · Compact
Best for bakers who use a hand mixer every week
America's Test Kitchen's winning hand mixer: fastest at creaming and whipping meringue, with wide beaters that don't clog.
Heads up. The most expensive of ATK's top picks
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning hand mixer.
$150-200
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best cooling rackbudget pick · Small
Best for small kitchens and small batches
America's Test Kitchen's best quarter-sheet rack: strong, holds a dozen cookies, and goes in the dishwasher.
Heads up. It shifted a bit inside a small baking sheet
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen best quarter-sheet cooling rack.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Standard
Best for cooling full batches of cookies
America's Test Kitchen's winning cooling rack, reinforced with an extra support bar so it stays flat and lasts.
Heads up. Slightly wider grid, and a little wiggle room in baking sheets
1 outlet. America's Test Kitchen winning cooling rack.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
Best cake carriermid pick · Round, with handle
Best for getting a birthday cake to the party in one piece
BestReviews' best of the best cake carrier: a durable, see-through carrier with a built-in handle and a latch that keeps cakes fresh.
Heads up. Can be heavy, especially with larger cakes
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the Best cake carrier.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
budget pick · Round
Best for keeping a cake fresh on the counter
BestReviews' best bang for the buck cake carrier: a reliable keeper with a clear top and a centering ring to line up the cake.
Heads up. The lid fits somewhat loosely, so it may not be great for transport
1 outlet. BestReviews best Bang for the Buck cake carrier.
$15-25
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Either works. America's Test Kitchen says you can use 9- or 8-inch pans for almost any cake recipe, and the batter for two 9-inch layers can make three thinner 8-inch layers instead. Those bake faster, so check them a few minutes early, and plan on about one extra cup of frosting for a three-layer cake. Nine-inch rounds are thick enough to split into four layers; 8-inch rounds generally aren't.
Light, by a little. America's Test Kitchen slightly preferred light pans, since dark pans absorb more heat and can brown food a little faster. If you only have dark pans, check for doneness a minute or two sooner. It also suggests pans at least 2 inches deep with straight sides for tall layers.
The angled blade keeps your hands out of the frosting. America's Test Kitchen's winner, the OXO Bent Icing Knife, has a medium-length blade that's sturdy yet flexible, with a 28-degree angle that reaches easily inside cake pans too.