Unless the recipe called for a lot of fat or you lined the pan with parchment paper, your cake may have stuck to the tin. A few prayers and a little patience are often enough to resolve the problem, but you can use other methods if the situation cannot be resolved easily.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Take the Cake Out of the Mold
Step 1. Peel the sides of the cake out of the tin using a knife with a rounded tip
If possible, use a dessert or butter one. Slide it vertically between the pan and the edge of the cake, then move it gently around the cake to detach it from the sides. Try to keep the knife as close to the mold as possible to remove the minimum amount of dough from the cake.
- If the dessert is destined for an important occasion, you may want to try the other methods first, because using the one described in this section could run a serious risk of damaging it.
- If the sides of the cake are burnt, try moving the knife up and down to get it out of the tin. To separate it completely you may have to repeat the operation even 4-5 times.
Step 2. Peel off the bottom of the cake using a flexible silicone spatula
Insert it between the mold and the edges of the cake, as you did with the knife. This time try to put the spatula under the cake and to pry it as you move it around the cake. The spatula should be flexible enough to be able to separate the outermost part of the cake base from the mold.
- If the cake doesn't come off, don't try to force it and switch to one of the other methods.
- You can also use a thin metal spatula or pizza shovel. Before trying to remove the cake from the mold, it is advisable to put the utensil under hot running water, as the heat and humidity can facilitate the operation.
Step 3. Transfer the cake to a serving dish
Place a large plate on the mold, then, keeping them attached to each other, flip them simultaneously so that the cake falls back into the plate below. If necessary, gently shake the mold to induce it to come out.
- If you want, you can turn the cake upside down on a rack to cool the cakes. If so, place a plate underneath to catch any crumbs.
- If the cake breaks, go to the section that contains the instructions for repairs.
Step 4. Tap the base of the cake
Lightly beating the base of the mold can be used to detach the cake. Keep it on a plate while you try, at a 45º angle. If this fails, set it flat again and gently tap the edges of the mold against a sturdy work surface.
Step 5. Let it rest upside down
If the cake has not yet come out of the mold, the solution may be to let it cool completely. Turn it upside down on a serving plate and keep your fingers crossed while you wait.
Step 6. Rotate it or try levering (not recommended)
In most cases it is best to attempt to extract it using one of the methods described below, but if you don't have the time or tools to do so, you can try using force. In this case, be prepared for it to break: unfortunately this is a very likely eventuality.
- Hold the cake with your hands or spatula while you rotate the mold.
- At the same time, try to lift the cake by prying it with the rounded tip knife. This time, angle the knife towards the center of the cake to detach the base from the mold.
Method 2 of 4: Using Heat, Steam, or Cold
Step 1. Pour boiling water into a pan with high sides
Choose one large enough to fit the cake mold, then add half an inch of hot tap water.
If you don't have a pan the size you need, dip a tea towel in hot water and wrap it around the base of the pan
Step 2. Put the mold in the pan with hot water
The heat will cause the metal to expand slightly, detaching it from the edges of the cake. Wait a few minutes for this to happen, then try to take out the cake as described above.
Step 3. Use steam
By absorbing the moisture, the cake will swell, so it may come off the sides of the mold more easily. Boil some water in a kettle or small saucepan, then pour it into a cup. Place both the cup and the cake in the microwave or other confined space. Wait about ten minutes, then try again to take it out of the mold.
The microwave is simply the right size to hold the mold, cup and trap the steam in a confined space. Don't turn it on
Step 4. Place ice on the base of the mold
Turn it upside down on a serving plate, then place a bowl full of ice cubes on top. Wait about ten minutes before trying to take out the cake again as suggested above.
Step 5. Put it in the freezer to let it harden
First, let it cool completely to room temperature (this will take about an hour). Once cool, place it in the freezer for 6 hours. Using this method it is unlikely that the cake will spoil, while there is a good chance that it will detach itself from the mold. Run the butter knife along the edges of the cake to detach it from the walls, even if you have already done so before placing it in the freezer. Finally, turn the mold upside down and tap it at the base with light strokes to see if the process worked.
Method 3 of 4: Run for Cover if the Cake Breaks
Step 1. Eliminate the burnt parts
If the cake is overcooked, cut off the burnt edges using a large serrated knife, such as a bread knife. If in this way the shape of the cake is damaged, do not try to remedy it with further cuts, otherwise only crumbs will remain. The best thing to do is to use the glaze as described below.
Step 2. Arrange the small pieces that have fallen off the base of the cake
Try to reposition them in the exact spot. If the dough is moist enough, they should stick quite easily, especially if the cake is still warm.
Step 3. Mask minor damage with frosting
You can easily prepare it by following the recipe in this article. Once ready, spread it on the cake trying to make it look as uniform as possible. You can also use it to fill in any holes or hollows on the surface of the cake.
Whichever frosting you prefer to use, make sure it's thick enough for this purpose
Step 4. Make a sticky icing to hold the cake together
If it broke into several pieces when taking it out of the mold, the only solution is to use a super sticky glaze to act as an adhesive. Among the most suitable options are the caramel glaze, the dulce de leche or this chocolate glaze with an extremely sticky consistency:
- Mix the contents of one can of condensed milk with 3 tablespoons (15 g) of cocoa powder and 2 teaspoons (10 g) of butter.
- Cook the ingredients over medium heat, stirring continuously. Turn off the stove when the mixture reaches a thick, sticky consistency.
- Let the icing cool to room temperature, once it is cold it will become even thicker.
- Reassemble the cake as if it were a puzzle, trying to give it the best possible shape. Finally, use the icing to coat it and fill in any holes.
Method 4 of 4: Save a Cake that is completely stuck to the mold
Step 1. Cut it into squares
Score it horizontally and then vertically, even if the cake is round in shape. Remove the individual pieces from the base of the mold carefully using a large, flexible spatula.
Read on to learn how to use the pieces of cake that are stuck to the sides of the mold
Step 2. Serve it in the pan
The simplest option is to glaze and serve the cake without taking it out of the mold. At the time of cutting it will inevitably break, but until then it will have an attractive appearance.
Step 3. Make the cake pops
If the cake has broken into several pieces, move on to plan B. You can find detailed instructions inside this article or you can follow these simple directions:
- Put the pieces of cake in a large bowl and work them as if you were kneading meatballs;
- Add enough cream cheese or buttercream frosting to make the dough malleable;
- Shape into balls with your hands, then stick them with lollipop sticks;
- Dip the cake pops in the chocolate sauce and sprinkle them with the decorations you want, such as colored sprinkles (optional).
