A batter bowl is used for mixing the batter for items such as pancakes, muffins, biscuits, or cakes. The design of the bowl allows the mixture to be prepared in the bowl and then easily transferred to cookware or bakeware by using its specially designed pour spout. Batter bowls come in a variety of sizes, styles, and prices and can usually be purchased in department stores, kitchen goods stores, and online.
Glass, stoneware, and plastic are the most common materials used to make a batter bowl. Most are dishwasher safe, which makes clean-up easy. Some styles are also microwave safe, a convenient feature for melting chocolate. Batter bowls can also be freezer and oven-safe to certain temperatures. The manufacturer's guidelines for the specific batter bowl should be followed before placing it in the microwave, dishwasher, freezer, or oven.
A slip proof, rubberized texture can often be found on the bottom of the bowl, which helps to keep it stationary while ingredients are added and mixed. The drip-proof pouring spout and the handle on the opposite side of the bowl from the spout, make pouring the batter into another receptacle easy and virtually mess-free. Some batter bowls come with a lid so that the unused portion of batter can be easily stored. It also comes in handy when making a recipe that calls for a part of the batter to be refrigerated. Other styles have measurement guidelines printed on the outside of the bowl, much like an over-sized measuring cup.
A batter bowl can be used for any mixing needs and not just for cake batter. Cookie dough, bread dough, pie filling, and whipped cream are just a few things that a batter bowl can be used for. The size of the bowl, combined with the rubberized bottom make it a versatile bowl that can be used for just about anything.
One unique feature of an oven-safe batter bowl is that it can be used to bake a cake. The bowl needs to be properly greased or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray before the batter mixed. It is then placed in the oven, and the cake is cooked directly in the bowl. When the cake is done and has cooled it is removed from the bowl in one piece making a half dome shape that can be used for baseball cap cakes, pumpkin cakes, or the dress portion of a doll cake.