November 15th is National Bundt (Pan) Day

 November 15 is National Bundt Cake Day!

Everyone loves Bundt cake, the beautifully shaped cake from the distinctive, ring-shaped mold. The first Bundt pan was created in 1950 by H. David Dalquist, founder of the Nordic Ware company.

According to the company's history, the Minneapolis Chapter of the Hadassah Society asked David and his wife, Dotty, to make a traditional kuglehopf (or gugelhopf) pan. Dalquist obliged but started marketing his pan to department stores as a bund pan (the German word "bund" means a gathering or alliance, which the cake was perfect for!). He then added a "t" for trademark protection.

The popularity of Bundt cakes didn't really take off until the 1960s, when a Texas housewife won second place in the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest with her Tunnel of Fudge cake.

Bundt cakes are a good choice for beginner cooks who want to make a cake that looks good and that's actually going to turn out. Just make sure you prep the pan first with cooking spray or flour so the cake won't stick.

Nordic Ware has increased their offerings in recent years, with lots more shapes than the customary circular one with the hole in the center, including a cathedral, a French fleur-de-lis, a rose and even a castle. Since 1950, Nordic Ware has sold an estimated 60 million Bundt pans. That's a lot of cake!