In this Instructable, I will show you how to make a donut pan out of foil. This homemade donut pan is perfect for people who don't want to buy yet another pan for their kitchen. Although I do recommend buying a donut pan if you are going to be making donuts all the time. If not, this aluminum/tin foil donut pan option will work great! In this Instructable, I show a few options that you can try. If I can do it, you can do it. Let's get started!

Don't forget to follow me and check out my other Instructables. :)

Follow the easy steps below or watch the video tutorial or do both!

Step 1: Things You Will Need

Here are the items you will need:

Aluminum/Tin foil
Scissors
Baking pan/cooking sheet
Wire rack
Muffin pan (optional)
Round cookie cutter (optional, for a guide)

Step 2: Different Types of DIY Donut Pans

There are a few types that you can try. One is a large standalone donut tray that will be placed on top of a cooking sheet or sheet pan. The other two options will need a muffin pan.

Step 3: Option #1 the Standalone Tray

The first option which also happens to be my favorite option is a standalone tray that sits on a sheet pan.

Cut a piece of foil about 12 by 12 inches. Then cut one more piece which is about 6 by 12 inches. Take the smaller piece and crumble it up into a rectangle cube/ball.

Step 4: Mold the Donut Pan

Now place the ball/cube into the middle of the 12x12 piece of foil. Flip it over and fold/mold the big piece over it. Smooth out the bottom as best as you can. Then fold up the sides of foil which will be the sides of the donut tray.

If you have a round cookie cutter, you can place that inside and fold it up around it. Then remove the cookie cutter and fold the long sides down creating sturdier walls for the pan.

And there you go, easy as that. One donut tray is ready to go.

Step 5: Option #2 Ball in Middle of the Muffin Pan

Another option that is even easier is to take a 6x6 inch piece of foil and ball it up and make sure to flatten out one side of it. Then place it in the middle of a muffin pan. You can make the piece of foil a little bigger if you want the hole of the donut to be larger.

Step 6: Option #3 Donut Tray in Muffin Pan

The third option is exactly like the 1st option, although it is smaller and will fit inside of a muffin pan. Cut a 12x6 inch piece of foil and then cut that in half for 2 6x6 inch pieces of foil.

Ball one piece up then place it in the middle of the other piece and fold it around it. Then fold up the walls, etc. Place it in the muffin pan. This makes a small donut. What is nice about this, is if you make the pan walls a little smaller, the muffin pan walls act as an extension to the walls.

Step 7: Spray the Donut Trays

Now generously spray the homemade donut pans/trays. Spray the muffin pan and the little balls resting in the middle as well.

The spray will help keep the donuts from sticking to the trays.

Step 8: Fill Up the Molds

Now time to fill up those molds with cake donut batter. You can use this yummy chocolate cake donut batter if you like.

I use a small 1/4th cup measuring cup and just pour the batter around the middle part of the mold filling the mold about halfway full.

If you are careful, when filling up the muffin pan ones, the little ball in the middle shouldn't move on you. If it does, just move it back to the center of the muffin pan cavity.

Step 9: Bake and Cool

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 F/176 C for 8 to 10 minutes. Poke them with a toothpick, when it comes out clean they are done.

Allow them to cool in their pans for about 10 minutes.

Step 10: Remove From the Donut Pan

Now you can just pull out the middle part, for that style of donut pan that uses the muffin pan as well. Or for the other two styles, gently peel away the aluminum/til foil pan away from the sides of the donut and pull the donut loose.

Place them on a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.

Step 11: Decorate Those Donuts

Now all you need to do is decorate those donuts however you like. You can dip them in a glaze and add sprinkles, cover them in powdered sugar, etc. Enjoy!