Naturals® Rectangular and Square Baking Pans
Nordic Ware Naturals® Rectangular and Square Baking Pans collection brings together versatile, everyday baking essentials in a range of sizes and shapes. From 8-inch and 9-inch square cake pans to a 9x13 rectangular cake pan and high-sided sheet cake pans, each pan is crafted from pure, uncoated aluminum for even heating and beautifully golden, uniform results. A reinforced steel rim helps keep every pan flat through years of oven use, while every piece is made in the USA and backed by Nordic Ware's Lifetime Warranty. Round out your bakeware collection with our Naturals® Round Cake Pans and Naturals® Sheet Pans for a versatile set ready for every recipe.
What sizes do square and rectangular baking pans come in?
Nordic Ware’s Naturals® collection covers the full range of square and rectangular sizes home bakers need:
- 8-inch square cake pan: Shallower depth, thicker bake, good for smaller batches, brownies, and bar cookies
- 9-inch square cake pan: The standard size for most square cake recipes and bar desserts
- 9×13 rectangular cake pan: Standard size for sheet cakes, casseroles, and double-batch baking
- High-Sided Sheetcake Pan: Designed with higher sides and a generous baking surface, making it ideal for tall sheet cakes, dessert bars, focaccia, and crowd-sized recipes.
- Big Batch™ Pan: Our largest high-sided baking pan, built for feeding a large crowd. Perfect for large-scale baking, roasting, broiling, and family gatherings.
Square and rectangular pans aren’t interchangeable size-for-size. Swapping shapes changes bake time, so check doneness 5-10 minutes early when substituting.
What is the difference between a square cake pan and a rectangular cake pan?
The difference is shape and batch size. A square cake pan (typically 8×8 or 9×9 inches) is used for smaller cakes, brownies, and bar desserts. A rectangular pan (typically 9×13 inches) handles standard sized cake recipes and double batch baking for smaller recipes.
- Square pans work well for brownies, coffee cake, cornbread, and smaller cakes
- Rectangular pans (also called oblong cake pans) are the standard for sheet cakes, casseroles, and large-batch baking
- Nordic Ware carries both in pure aluminum with reinforced rims
What makes Nordic Ware square and rectangular baking pans worth buying?
A few things make Naturals® pans a favorite in home kitchens year after year.
- Pure aluminum construction: Trusted by bakers for its superior heat conductivity, helping cakes, bars, and cookies bake evenly with beautifully consistent results.
- Encapsulated steel rim: Reinforces the pan to help prevent warping and maintain its shape through years of daily use.
- Lifetime Warranty: We stand behind every pan, so you can bake with confidence for years to come.
- Made in the USA: Proudly manufactured by our family-owned Minnesota company using domestic and imported materials.
Built to deliver reliable results bake after bake, Naturals® pans deliver dependable performance you can count on for years to come.
What materials are these pans made from?
Nordic Ware Naturals square and rectangular pans are made from pure, uncoated aluminum with a reinforced steel rim.
- The aluminum body conducts heat evenly and resists rust
- The steel rim adds structural strength and prevents warping at the edges
- No nonstick coating — these are natural aluminum pans meant to be greased before each use
Do I need to grease a square aluminum baking pan before using it?
Yes. Natural aluminum pans are uncoated, but greasing before each use can help with easy release.
- Butter, shortening, or a neutral oil (canola or vegetable) all work well
- Baking spray with flour is a convenient one-step option
- For brownies and bar cookies, lining with parchment after greasing makes removal even cleaner
Do baking times change depending on pan size?
Yes, and it matters more than most recipes acknowledge.
- An 8-inch square pan is smaller and deeper than a 9-inch, so batter takes longer to bake through
- A 9-inch square pan spreads batter wider and shallower, so bake time is shorter
- When substituting a 9-inch pan for an 8-inch, start checking for doneness 5 to 10 minutes earlier
- Aluminum pans heat faster than glass or ceramic, so oven-to-oven timing can vary
When in doubt, use a toothpick test rather than the clock.
Can I use metal utensils on aluminum square cake pans?
How do I clean and care for square aluminum baking pans?
Hand washing is best. Here’s the short version:
- Wash with warm soapy water and a soft sponge after each use
- Skip the dishwasher — it dulls the aluminum finish over time
- Dry thoroughly before storing to prevent any moisture buildup
- A light greasing before each bake keeps the surface in good shape
Aluminum pans can darken with use. That’s normal and doesn’t affect baking performance.
What’s the difference between a rectangular cake pan and a sheet pan
While a rectangular baking pan and a sheet pan may look similar, each is designed for different kitchen jobs. A rectangular cake pan (like 9″ x 13″ Rectangular Cake Pan) features taller sides that provide the depth needed for cakes, bars, brownies, and casseroles.. Sheet pans have a wider surface area and lower sides, making them ideal for cookies, roasted vegetables, and thin sheet cakes that bake evenly from edge to edge.
- 9×13 rectangular cake pan: Perfect for cakes, brownies, bars, coffee cakes, and family-favorite casseroles.
- Half sheet pan: Ideal for cookies, roasting vegetables, meal prep, and thin sheet cakes.
- High Sided Sheetcake Pan: Offers the best of both worlds with higher sides than a traditional sheet pan and plenty of room for sheet cakes, dessert bars, and crowd-pleasing bakes plus added surface area for roasting vegetables and meats.
Not sure which one fits your recipe? Browse the full lineup of Baking Sheets to compare sizes side by side.
What is a “Naturals” pan, and how is it different from nonstick bakeware?
“Naturals” is Nordic Ware’s name for its uncoated, pure aluminum bakeware. Unlike nonstick bakeware, a Naturals pan is crafted from uncoated, naturally nonstick pure aluminum.
- Uncoated Aluminum Design:: Food-grade, commercial-grade material that is naturally nonstick and rust-resistant and holds up across countless baking applications without compromising performance
- Even heat:: Aluminum conducts heat evenly, reducing hot spots and uneven browning
- Requires greasing:: Since there’s no nonstick layer, grease the pan with butter, shortening, oil, or baking spray before each use
Every square and rectangular pan on this page is made of uncoated aluminum, backed by Nordic Ware’s Lifetime Warranty and made in the USA.
Can I use a square pan instead of a rectangular pan?
Sometimes, but it depends on the size of the pan and the amount of batter or food you’re preparing. A square pan and a rectangular cake pan can often be substituted for one another, but changing the shape or dimensions affects depth, cooking time, and yield.
- 9″ x 13″ rectangular cake pan to square pans: A standard 9″ x 13″ pan holds significantly more volume than a single 8″ or 9″ square pan. You’ll typically need to divide the recipe between two smaller pans or reduce the recipe size.
- Square pan to rectangular pan: Contents spread over a larger surface area in a cake pan rectangle format, which can lead to faster baking or cooking and a shallower finished result.
- Sheetcake and sheet pan substitutions: Larger pans create thinner layers and generally require less time in the oven than square or rectangular cake pans, but it does depend on the recipe being made.
When substituting pans, compare capacities as closely as possible and begin checking for doneness a few minutes earlier than the recipe suggests. Whether you’re baking brownies, bars, and cakes or preparing casseroles and savory dishes, choosing a similarly sized pan will help ensure consistent results.