You have all of your ingredients and are ready to create your tray of cupcakes. Then you see a line on your recipe that says “line your cupcake tin,” and you realize you don’t have any left.

Is this anything that has occurred to you? It most certainly has for me. Whether you bake as a hobby or as a vocation, there are days when you are just unprepared. So, what do you do? That one dozen cupcakes must still be made in some way.

Don’t worry, you can still finish them even if you don’t have cupcake liners. You may easily create your own, or you can just omit them and oil your muffin pans.

My name is Angie, and I’ve been making cupcakes for almost ten years. In this post, I’ll teach you how to bake cupcakes without using liners and save yourself a trip to the store.

Keep reading and lets get baking!

What is Cupcake Liners for?

Cupcake liners offer a few more functions in baking besides keeping our cakes tidy and attractive. Cupcake liners are constructed of foil or parchment paper. When we use cupcake liners to line our muffin pans, the liner functions as a barrier between our batter and the metal tin.

A barrier prevents the batter from adhering to the pan, making removal of the cakes faster and simpler. They also make the finished cupcakes less oily on the surface and more sanitary to grasp.

The cupcake liner also works as an insulating barrier between the cupcake pan and the batter, preventing the cake from burning and ensuring uniform baking.

What to Do If You Don’t Have Cupcake Liners?

You can still create cupcakes even if you’ve ran out of cupcake liners. Your cakes will come out just great as long as you fulfill the functions of cupcake liners described above!

Make Your Own

Wait till you try creating your own cupcake liners if you think store-bought ones are wonderful. Homemade cupcake liners are very simple and affordable to create, provide the same function as a cupcake liner, and offer a rustic aesthetic to your cupcakes.

A pair of scissors, some parchment paper, and a tiny glass or bottle are all you need. Just make sure the bottom of the glass or bottle fits into the cupcake tin’s holes. Cut your parchment paper into six-inch squares (no need to be perfect).

Turn your cup upside down, set your parchment paper on top, and push down until a crease forms. For a cleaner effect, shape your paper around the border of the glass. Place the crumpled cupcake liner in your muffin tray and insert your glass for a minute or two to assist your liner keep its form.

I learnt this idea from Cupcake Jemma, so be sure to watch her video for a more full visual explanation on how to create your own parchment paper cupcake liners.

Grease Your Pan

If you are in a hurry or just do not want to bother with the parchment paper origami, there is an even simpler option. All you have to do is grease the pan.

Greasing your pan prevents your cakes from sticking to it and might make removing your cupcakes simpler. You may use whatever oil you choose to lubricate your pan. Using baking spray is definitely the simplest and least messy choice.

Baking sprays include oil and flour to provide a nonstick barrier for baked items. With a light layer, it will reach all the corners of your baking pan.

If you don’t have baking spray, you may grease your pan with a brush of oil or butter instead. The result is the same. Just be careful not to brush too much, since you don’t want your cakes to get too oily.

Removing Cupcakes without Liners

Without cupcake liners, removing your cupcakes may be more difficult than normal. Here’s a trick for making it easier to remove unlined cupcakes.

Check the doneness of your cupcakes by poking them in the middle with a toothpick. When your toothpick comes out clean, they’re done. If necessary, run the same toothpick around the edge of the cupcake to free it from any adhering.

Place a clean towel on top of your cupcake tray, making sure it covers the whole tray. Hold it tightly enough on both sides to prevent your cakes from falling. Flip the tray over, and your cupcakes should come out on their own.

FAQs

In this section, I’ll address some frequently asked questions on the subject.

Can I use aluminum foil instead of cupcake liners?

Yes, it is feasible! You may construct foil cupcake liners using the same manner as described before. Because aluminum foil lacks the nonstick properties of parchment paper, you should combine the two ways and butter the foil liners before pouring batter into them.

Can you bake cupcakes without a cupcake tray?

Using silver foil liners, you may bake cupcakes without a cupcake plate. They are rigid enough to keep their form on their own, so there is no danger of them toppling over or spilling. A stack of five or more ordinary cupcake liners may alternatively be used as one cupcake cup.

Why are my cupcakes sticking to the liner?

Because they haven’t entirely cooled, your cupcakes are most likely stuck to the liner. They will shrink and harden up as they cool, making them less attached to the liners.

Can I use wax paper instead of cupcake liners?

Although wax paper and parchment paper have a similar texture, they are not the same. Silicone is used to coat parchment paper, whereas wax is used to cover wax paper. Wax melts at high temperatures and may even catch fire. So, no, you cannot use wax paper for cupcake liners.

Final Thoughts

Isn’t it easy? So, if you ever run out of cupcake liners again, don’t worry. Cupcakes may still be made without them. If you have any other questions about baking cupcakes without cupcake liners, please ask.

Do you have any suggestions or techniques to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

About Angie