From the page: The Tetra Pak gives much more than it seems
Idea 10
Disposable cake mold
Tetra Pak was born to withstand hot liquid during pasteurization, so it handles an oven at up to 200 °C for a short time without leaking or deforming much. Home bakers and community projects have used milk cartons cut in half for decades as individual molds for mug cakes, cheese bread and muffins — the tall, square shape helps batters rise evenly.
What you need
- Clean Tetra Pak cartons (one yields 1 to 2 molds)
- Scissors
- Parchment paper or a drizzle of oil for greasing
- A shallow baking sheet to support the molds in the oven
How to make it
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1
Wash and dry the carton well, then cut it in half horizontally, right at the middle — you create two lidless boxes with a solid base.
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2
If you want smaller molds, cut at a height of 5 to 7 cm from the base and save the top for another batch.
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3
Wash each mold and make two small slits on opposite sides near the top, if you want to attach a strip of parchment paper as a "handle" to unmold easily.
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4
Grease the inside with a drizzle of oil or line it with cut parchment paper — the inner layer holds up, but the grease guarantees a clean release.
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5
Fill only up to half the height, because the batter needs room to rise without overflowing.
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6
Place the molds on a shallow baking sheet and put them in the oven at up to 200 °C, always keeping an eye on the last few minutes.
Finishing touches
They're great for individual portions of party cake or for gifting already baked. For frequent oven use, prefer fresh molds from new cartons: heavily creased cartons can split at the folds.
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