Cake Pans...fat Daddios Vs Wilton Vs Magic Line
Decorating By Erin3085 Updated 8 Sep 2010 , 2:18pm by Karen421
I am slowly but surely building up my cake pan collection and have come to a crossroads. As of now, I only have Wilton pans that I got from Michaels or WM. But the 3 aforementioned pan brands are easily accessible to me and I'm wondering, for those of you fellow cakers with more experience, which of the 3 do you like the most?
There have been dozens of threads on this subject. And of all the ones I've read, there is a definite consensus that Magic Line is, by far, the best...though a few will say they prefer one of the others.
Thank you for the replies though! I use Magic Line pans, but I do have wilton pans. The wilton ones I have are mostly character pans. I find that the Magic Line work really well. Like vwolf said nice sharp corners on the square pans.
Magic Line is worth every penny you will spend 
I'll be a dissenting vote and go with Fat Daddios 
However my vote isn't really fair since I have yet to try Magic Line pans. Magic Line pans are $$$$$ up here and since I can't get them locally I have to factor shipping in on top of that. For what I do the Fat Daddios are great, I get straight corners and level cakes and they bake nicer than in my Wilton pans. I'm slowly changing all my pans over to FD 3" pans.
I have all 3 also and I can make all 3 work for me. So far, I have to say the Fat Daddios have given me the best consistent results. (less humps in the center - and edges cook nicely- golden browning and easy to clean....) I am by no means an expert but it is my findings....
Agreed, Magic Line are top of the line. I do have a few Fat Daddios (I bought them out of desperation when I needed pans those sizes and Magic Line was out of stock) and surprisingly I like them! I didn't think I would. I don't like them nearly as much as my Magic Lines though, and ANYTHING is better than Wilton! 
Not to hijack this thread and I'm going to probably be sorry I asked but what's the issue with Wilton those are the only ones I've ever used just bought a set today for a wedding cake but before I open them should I look into Fat Dadio's or Magic Line?
Not to hijack this thread and I'm going to probably be sorry I asked but what's the issue with Wilton those are the only ones I've ever used just bought a set today for a wedding cake but before I open them should I look into Fat Dadio's or Magic Line?
You're fine. Most of us who have experience with Wilton pans have found the quality to be inferior -- from how they bake to how they hold up. Magic Line pans are super expensive but a great investment.
Plus most of the Wilton pans have slanted sides so they can fit inside each other, stacked on the shelves. I usually like my cakes to have straight sides right out of the pan so I don't have to trim them. Magic Line has perfectly vertical sides.
Plus most of the Wilton pans have slanted sides so they can fit inside each other, stacked on the shelves. I usually like my cakes to have straight sides right out of the pan so I don't have to trim them. Magic Line has perfectly vertical sides.
Artscallion thank you that would totally explain why I can never get a cake to stack perfectly! Thanks for the tips ladies those pans will be going back I'll be ordering a set of Magic Line tomorrow.
Plus most of the Wilton pans have slanted sides so they can fit inside each other, stacked on the shelves. I usually like my cakes to have straight sides right out of the pan so I don't have to trim them. Magic Line has perfectly vertical sides.
My Wilton pans do NOT stack inside each other! I have mostly Wilton Decorator Preferred pans. The only Magic Line pans I have are my 4.5" and 6" square, since Wilton doesn't make those sizes.
That said, I really find no discernible difference in the pans. My Wilton squares and sheets bake up with little hump, perfectly vertical sides and sharp, crisp corners.
Just my not so humble opinion.
Toni Ann
Not to hijack this thread and I'm going to probably be sorry I asked but what's the issue with Wilton those are the only ones I've ever used just bought a set today for a wedding cake but before I open them should I look into Fat Dadio's or Magic Line?
I think it's the sets that are sold sealed all together in cellophane that you should be most wary of. They are VERY flimsy. I bought a hexagonal set and was very disappointed with the quality, but didn't have any other option (now I wish I'd bought good square pans and cut the cake down into hexes but at the time I didn't think about it...)
IMO the 'Decorator Preferred' Wilton aren't too bad - the ones that are sold individually.
My Wilton pans do NOT stack inside each other! ...
That's why I said "Most Wilton pans...". They do have one line that has straight sides.
Plus most of the Wilton pans have slanted sides so they can fit inside each other, stacked on the shelves. I usually like my cakes to have straight sides right out of the pan so I don't have to trim them. Magic Line has perfectly vertical sides.
My Wilton pans do NOT stack inside each other! I have mostly Wilton Decorator Preferred pans. The only Magic Line pans I have are my 4.5" and 6" square, since Wilton doesn't make those sizes.
That said, I really find no discernible difference in the pans. My Wilton squares and sheets bake up with little hump, perfectly vertical sides and sharp, crisp corners.
Just my not so humble opinion.
Toni Ann
WOW you are very lucky, my Wilton squares have rounded edges and have to trimmed to be square. That is why I switched to Magic Line. 
I never tried Fat Daddios. Between the other two, do not doubt it, Magic Line is the BEST.
I haven't tried Magic Line, but I'm in LOVE with my Fat Daddios. I have all kinds of products from this line and I've never been disappointed.
I think this is another scenario where there isn't anything *wrong* with Wilton, it's just that after you try some of the higher quality brands available, you realize that Wilton pans are a more affordable solution, and that is reflected in little details like the thickness of the metal. I have made plenty of gorgeous cakes using Wilton pans, and have many that I still use, however, in an ideal world, I like the higher end pans more. It's not like anyone is saying, "You're a loser if you use Wilton" (at least I'm not... I guess I should only speak for myself) I'm just saying that there is BETTER out there, and if you can invest in them, you will mostly likely not be disappointed.
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