Customer Reviews

Nordic Ware Cast-Aluminum Nonstick Baking Pan, Shortcake Baskets

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A bit pricey but after using them I am definitely glad I made the purchase. Make with chocolate cake and fill with chocolate mousse or white cake and fill with chocolate pudding and top with whipped cream and your guests will marvel. Of course, the usual- fill with berries, etc., and pipe on a little whipped cream ...all make for spectacular desserts.

A few tips: Make sure to spray well with a flour cooking spray for easy release. Just cover the flat surface with batter if you want a little smaller cake (not as high). If you don't have one buy a large pastry bag and a large head for piping in mousse, whipped cream, etc.. Also- use half steam pan aluminum trays with the edges twisted up for easy storage of 6 muffins if you like to pipe filling on high.

These will get tons of use. You might want to buy 2 for convenience.

The first time I used this pan I tried a box of yellow cake mix (the kind with pudding in the mix). I followed the baking instructions for the "Butter Shortcake" recipe that came with the pan, 325 degrees for 20 minutes. I also put a baking sheet under the cake pan. I used Wilton "Cake Release" and let them cool for exactly 10 minutes before I easily removed them. Although they were fully baked, there was no browning on the outside so the basket definition just wasn't there. They looked more like the regular store bought shortcakes. Looking at the picture on the box it seemed to me they used a much denser cake recipe similar to a pound cake. So, for effort #2 I tried the "Butter shortcake" recipe that came with the pan. DISASTER!!! They stuck badly, and again, seemed underdone and pale in color. I finally decided to try my no fail Rum Bundtcake recipe (just google Bacardi Rum Cake) which always produces a nice brown crust. Instead of rum I used Grand Marnier. Baked it at 325 for 20-25 minutes, until the tops were a nice dark golden brown (unlike the previous attempts). I did not use a baking sheet underneath this time. Although the basket pattern is still not as smoothly defined as the photo on the box, they turned out nicely browned and I am satisfied enough to serve them for Mother's Day. I plan to glaze prior to filling them which I hope will help bring out the basket pattern some more. I probably would have given this product more stars had it not taken 3 attempts to get a satisfactory result. Has anybody out there produced a finished product that looks like the one on the box? If so, I would love to hear how you did it!
By the way, I have used the Nordic Ware mini bundt pans with the Rum cake recipe and they always turn out great.

I can"t tell you how much money I have spent on pre-made shortcake cups! This Pan Makes it very easy! Just make sure to grease it well or they will stick! Arrived Very fast!

I have made several batches of cakes & shortcakes and the basket definition does not come out on the cakes. You can't even tell that it is a basket which is disappointing to me since the picture on the advertisement of this pan is so cute. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I used this pan for the first time today - I almost forgot I had it until my boyfriend brought over some strawberries and suggested shortcake. The pan came with a recipe but I already had a white cake mix I wanted to use up. I checked everywhere on-line for tips on using the pan with a mix but to no avail. Here's what happened. I baked the first batch at 350 degrees for 21 minutes - a little overdone, but edible. I put a little too much batter and it ran over the top. As suggested here, I used ALOT of floured cooking spray and they popped right out of the pan, but they didn't look much like the picture. The second batch, I used regular cooking spray and didn't put as much batter in, and only left them in for 19 minutes. They came out much better, but still the shape left a little to be desired. I think if I bang the pan down on the counter a couple of times to get rid of the air pockets, they will probably come out much better shape-wise. All in all, I'm please with the pan and hope my review helps others in my situation.

As they say I sprayed and floured the pan quite well I thought but the cakes still stuck in the pan. I'll try again.

This is a great little pan for making individual shortcakes. The recipe that is attached to the pan is absolutely wonderful. Just make sure you grease the pan liberally or they will stick. My only complaint is the basket detail show in the picture is not what the final product looks like at all. I even tried to overbake the last time for more browning, but still does not look like a basket.

I made shortcakes for my party, following the recipe that came with the pan. They were a big hit with my guests. I sprayed the pan with Pam for baking and they came out perfectly.

This is a fatastic baking pan that can be used for so much more than making shortcakes! Since my grandson's first birthday was so close to Easter this year I made little Easter basket cakes for the party. They were a huge hit with kids and adults alike, only I knew how easy it was! This pan is incredibly durable,the cakes slip right out- no sticking- and clean up is a breeze. I also used it as a gelatin mold. I really love this pan!!!

I love the ease of baking with Nordic pans, and this berry basket pan is easy to use and very pretty for baking both sweet and savory baked goods. I am going to get another one for a friend who also loves to bake.