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I want to bake cakes and pies for a fundraiser bake sale useing aluminum pans but how do I go about getting the cakes and pies to bake all the way throught?

Help Please!

Hi MommaStephens: Here is the response from one of our Kitchen Experts, Mary Kaye:

"You should have no problem baking the cakes in aluminum pans just do the toothpick test for inserting in center and if it comes out clean it is done. Pies can be a little tricky in the aluminum pans as they are thinner, conduct heat differently and you can't check the bottom donenes as you can for glass pie plates. I would suggest to bake the pie as directed on the recipe and add 5 to 10 minutes but cover the top of the pie with foil to prevent over-browning."

Sincerely, Cate

Another idea for the pie is to choose a recipe that bakes up solid enough to slide out of the pie pan to a disposable plate.  Otherwise, have you ever tried a tart pan?  They come in similar sizes to pie pans so they shouldn't affect your recipe too much and then the bottom comes out and then you can slide it onto a disposable plate to send it to your bake sale.  This all has to be done once the pie has cooled so it's solid enough to handle the unmolding.  Good Luck!  I remember bake sales, they are so fun.  And there's nothing like being the one that made the recipe that sells out right away, huh?  My mom used to make a fudge recipe off the package that sold out in minutes everytime and it was just like tiny squares!  

Oh I just thought of another idea.  Bake your pie like normal, let it cool (maybe even refrigerate if necessary to fim up), then slice and arrange it back onto a disposable plate in the same circle only already sliced.  It will save the time of cutting at the bake sale too plus you can control portion size to get the most fundraising out of your pie.   I'm sure they will appreciate that's it's pre-cut and easier to serve when they are trying to handle all the money, or tickets, etc.  If you want it to look pretty and whole when you get it there though, try the tart idea, I think that would have the nicest look.