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Home › Recipe

Updated on March 12, 2020 by Liz Marek · This post may contain affiliate links · 114 Comments

Cake Goop Recipe

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Cake Goop Recipe

You'll never have to buy pan release again after you make your own cake goop!

Cake goop is super simple to make and works every time for a perfect cake release.

Seriously, I wish someone had told me about this amazing stuff before. It's stupid easy and takes only a minute to make and you know what? Your cakes will turn out every single time. No parchment. No flour and shortening messes. No using a knife to cut around the edges. No more buying pan release spray!

You're welcome.

cake goop

How to make your own cake goop

It's super simple to make your own pan release. Just mix equal parts flour, vegetable oil and vegetable shortening (or margarine). Then combine it all in a mixer on low or hand stir. If you have some lumps, no biggie. When it's smooth and homogenous, you're done. Easy right?

I store my cake goop in a container and leave it on the countertop because I use it a lot but if you want, you can put yours in the fridge but truly, it doesn't go bad. You don't have to worry.

Tips for success using cake goop

Ok so it's super easy to make, super easy to store and makes all your cakes come out like a dream right. You can't really mess it up. EXCEPT if you use too much. I like to apply my cake goop with a pastry brush and do a nice even coat but early on, I got a little crazy with the layers and put a LOT on there. This can actually backfire and cause your cake to stick. So a nice thin layer is all you need.

cake goop

Some cakes will stick no matter what. You need to know this. Because if the first cake you make with cake goop is strawberry which naturally has a ton of sugar in it and it sticks, you will curse my name and say darn you Liz Marek! You lied to me.

No, it's just the cake. As far as I know strawberry cake, cinnamon sugar and some cakes with high amounts of sugar will stick so it's best to use a parchment circle as well to prevent sticking.

Big cakes sometimes need a little help coming out of the pan. Does that mean your cake goop isn't working? Nope. Sometimes the base of a cake can just stick to the pan from being really warm so putting parchment in the bottom of your pan larger than 12" or sheet cakes can just give you a little peace of mind. I admit though... I never do and haven't had a problem *knocks on wood*

Gluten-Free Cake Goop

You can make your cake goop gluten-free by replacing the flour with gluten-free flour like bobs red mill 1:1 baking flour. 

Recipe

Cake Goop Recipe

Cake Goop Recipe (homemade pan release)

You'll never go back to store-bought after making your own pan release! 
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 818kcal
Author: Liz Marek

Ingredients

  • 7 oz vegetable shortening or margarine
  • 7.5 oz vegetable oil (or other oil you like)
  • 5 oz all purpose flour
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a mixer and combine until white and homogenous. Store in a covered container at room temperature or you can refrigerate it. Apply a thin coat to your cake pans before baking for a flawless release every time.  

Notes

I like to store my cake goop in this cute little jar with a silicone brush!

Nutrition

Calories: 818kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 75g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1.9mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Cake Goop Recipe

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About Liz Marek

Liz Marek is a professional cake artist, sweet and savory recipe developer, and the founder of Sugar Geek Show, where she teaches cooking, baking and cake decorating through detailed tutorials, food science explanations, and kitchen-tested recipes. She has been creating recipes and teaching baking techniques since 2008, helping bakers of all skill levels gain the confidence to make professional-quality desserts at home.

Liz is known for breaking down complex cooking and baking concepts into simple, approachable methods. Her work focuses on helping people understand not just how a recipe works, but why it works. Through Sugar Geek Show, she shares step-by-step recipes, cake decorating tutorials, and practical baking guides designed to make professional techniques accessible to everyone.

Over the years, Liz has taught thousands of students through online tutorials, classes, and educational content focused on real kitchen results. Her recipes are carefully tested and written to help people succeed the first time they make them.

When she’s not developing recipes or teaching baking techniques, Liz also hosts curated travel experiences for women through her travel brand Soul Sisters.

You can find Liz’s latest recipes, baking tutorials, and food science tips at Sugar Geek Show.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy says

    November 18, 2025 at 6:38 pm

    5 stars
    Do you think I could put half of it in the freezer. I am an empty nester and don't bake that often anymore.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      November 26, 2025 at 3:59 pm

      Yes definitely!

      Reply
  2. Sue says

    October 10, 2025 at 11:38 am

    Hi, I made this a few weeks ago and the vegetable oil is starting to separate on the bottom. It's a thin layer, less than 1 cm. Is this supposed to happen? How do I fix this?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      October 10, 2025 at 1:05 pm

      Just mix it up again its ok

      Reply
  3. Erin says

    May 08, 2025 at 12:49 pm

    5 stars
    Easy to flip cake out of pan. What a lifesaver!

    Reply
  4. Sandy says

    April 26, 2025 at 12:25 am

    I don't use seed oils or vegetable shortenings. Would it work with avocado oil and lard?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      April 29, 2025 at 11:40 am

      Yes any kind of oil will work

      Reply
  5. Wendi says

    April 16, 2025 at 5:36 am

    I've had a horrible time getting mini brownie cups to release from my nonstick pan. Do you think your cake goop recipe would work?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Marek says

      April 22, 2025 at 3:52 pm

      I think it would work great!

      Reply
    • Brooke W says

      April 23, 2025 at 9:51 pm

      Does it need to be stored in the fridge? And how long do you think it lasts for? I made it for the first time today. I'm both excited and nervous to use it tomorrow. 😊

      Reply
      • Elizabeth Marek says

        April 29, 2025 at 11:52 am

        It doesnt have to be but if you dont bake very often it could be a good place to store it.

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Hi, I'm Liz! I'm passionate about creating reliable, foolproof recipes that don't just tell you how to cook, but why things work - so you can skip the guesswork and confidently make the best sweet and savory dishes of your life.

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