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Hi Bold Bakers!
Working as a professional chef I have learned a few tricks along the way. A very important lesson is that there is always a solution for every problem. Don’t have a rolling pin? Use a wine bottle! But what do you do if you don’t have a donut pan? Make your own Donut Pan, that’s what!
Recently I wanted to make baked donuts but I didn’t have a donut tin. This wasn’t going to deter me. I looked around my kitchen and I had a light bulb moment! All I needed to make a donut pan were things I already had to hand, yay!
As a rule I don’t buy kitchen equipment that only has one use. I live in a small house in Santa Monica that has what you would call a “comfy” kitchen, which means tiny. Limited cupboard space means that I can only hang on to kitchen tools that I use on a regular basis.
I don’t have space to store a donut tin that I might use a handful of times. Also why spend the money on a donut tin if you don’t have to? One thing I did have to hand was a cupcake tin–it’s one of my kitchen essentials. So I thought, what if I could make my own? Being savvy and fiscally aware I came up with a great solution.
Make Your Own Donut Pan
Ever want to make donuts but don’t have a donut pan? No problem!
All you need is a cupcake pan and some regular old tin foil!
Cut the foil into a 4 x4 square and bend gently around your middle finger.
Remove your finger and press the shape you’re left with into the muffin tin.
The results: You’re left with a perfect donut hole shaped tin that yields you round baked donuts. Check out my Chocolate Cake Donuts and see for yourself how well this tray works.

Did you like this baking tip? I have lots more short videos just like this one that will help you get baking confidently in the kitchen. Get more Bold Baking Basics.