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Home - Cooking - Substitutes

Latest Updated: Feb 28, 2026 by Andrew Gray

Indulge in Donuts: 5 Best Donut Pan Substitutes

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If you're out of Best Donut Pan, reach for Muffin tin, Cupcake tin, Mini loaf pan, Popover pan, and Round Mold.

Muffin tin

If you're in a pinch and don't have a donut pan, a muffin tin can be used as a substitute.

For cooking, Cupcake tin also works well - adjust the amount to taste.

Craving donuts but your donut pan vanished into the mysterious abyss of your kitchen cabinets?

You're about to uncover the ultimate hacks for making those sweet, circular bundles of joy without the traditional gear.

Picture this: your kitchen transforming into a donut factory, where the only limit is how many you can eat in one sitting.

Grab your apron, because things are about to get deliciously messy.

Indulge in Donuts: 5 Best Donut Pan Substitutes Save for Later!

Table of Contents

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  • The 5 Best Substitutes for Donut Pan
    • 1 - Muffin tin
    • 2 - Cupcake tin
    • 3 - Mini loaf pan
    • 4 - Popover pan
    • 5 - Round Mold
  • Frequently Asked Questions

The 5 Best Substitutes for Donut Pan

If you don't have a donut pan, you can use any of these five substitutes to make your own donuts at home - or consult egg substitute options for meatball binders for alternative binder ideas.

1 - Muffin tin

Indulge in Donuts: 5 Best Donut Pan Substitutes Save for Later!

If you're in a pinch and don't have a donut pan, a muffin tin can be used as a substitute.

Just coat the muffin tin with cooking spray, then fill each cavity about two-thirds full with batter.

Bake according to the recipe instructions, then remove the "donuts" from the pan and let them cool on a wire rack.

If you want to take the extra step of making a glaze or frosting, dip the top of each "donut" into the desired topping, then set them back on the wire rack to let the glaze or frosting set.

With a little bit of improvisation, you can enjoy homemade donuts even if you don't have the right pan - try muffin recipes for breakfast or dessert adapted into donut-style treats.

2 - Cupcake tin

Indulge in Donuts: 5 Best Donut Pan Substitutes Save for Later!

A cupcake tin is a versatile tool that can be used for much more than just baking cupcakes.

In fact, it can also be used to make delicious homemade donuts.

To do so, simply line the tin with parchment paper - or try cupcake liner substitutes for easy lining - and fill it with your favorite donut batter.

Then, bake the donuts at a moderate temperature until they are golden brown and cooked through.

Let them cool slightly before removing them from the tin, and enjoy.

This simple substitution will give you the perfect excuse to indulge in a sweet treat any day of the week.

3 - Mini loaf pan

Indulge in Donuts: 5 Best Donut Pan Substitutes Save for Later!

A mini loaf pan is a kitchen tool that can be used for a variety of tasks.

It is most commonly used for baking bread, it can also be used to make mini cakes, muffins, and even personal-sized pizzas.

When substituting a mini loaf pan for a donut pan, it is important to keep a few things in mind - see loaf pan alternatives for timing and sizing tips.

First, the mini loaf pan will likely require a longer cooking time.

Second, the mini cakes or muffins will be denser than their donut counterparts.

Finally, the mini loaves will be more rectangular in shape than round.

Despite these differences, a mini loaf pan can still be used to create delicious and festive treats.

4 - Popover pan

Indulge in Donuts: 5 Best Donut Pan Substitutes Save for Later!

Popovers are a type of light and fluffy bread made from simple dough.

A traditional popover pan has deep, narrow wells that help the batter to rise and create a crispy outer crust.

However, if you don't have a popover pan, you can also use a donut pan - and pie pan substitutes for baking suggests other pan swaps that affect shape and crust.

Donut pans have wider, shallower wells that will result in a more flattened popover.

However, the flavor and texture will still be similar to that of a traditional popover.

To make popovers in a donut pan, simply fill the wells with batter and bake according to your recipe's instructions.

5 - Round Mold

Indulge in Donuts: 5 Best Donut Pan Substitutes Save for Later!

Round mold is a type of mold that is often used to make round cakes, pastries, and other desserts.

It is typically made of metal or silicone, and it can be found in a variety of sizes.

While it is possible to make round cakes without a mold, using one will result in a more uniform shape and a cleaner finish.

If you do not have a round mold, you can substitute it with a donut pan.

Simply line the pan with parchment paper and fill it with your desired batter.

Then, bake the cake according to the recipe instructions.

Once it is baked, allow the cake to cool completely before removing it from the pan.

Whether you use a mold or a pan, you will end up with a delicious and eye-catching dessert.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best substitute for Best Donut Pan?

Muffin tin, Cupcake tin, Mini loaf pan, Popover pan, and Round Mold. Use it at a 1:1 ratio in any recipe that calls for Best Donut Pan.

Can I use a different ingredient instead?

Absolutely. Muffin tin is the closest swap.

Cupcake tin also works in a pinch. Match the original amount and tweak from there.

Can this substitute be used in baking as well as cooking?

Some work in both, but baking is less forgiving.

Substitutes that alter fat content, sweetness, or moisture can shift the structure of baked goods.

Test with a small batch first.

Does freezing affect how well the substitute performs?

Frozen substitutes sometimes change texture after thawing. This matters more in raw applications like salads than in cooked dishes where texture is softened by heat anyway.

Alternate pans suit different recipes; broiling pan substitutes that work for high-heat cooking lists practical swaps. roasting pan substitutes for even roasting offers additional options when a listed pan isn't available.

Explore more: This post is part of our Ingredient Substitutes Guide.
Andrew Gray

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Andrew Gray - GustoMeadow founder

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Restaurant industry veteran sharing real recipes, honest substitutes, and tips that actually work in a home kitchen.

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