Even after years of baking, I still forget to get necessities like cupcake liners. Is this to say I’ve abandoned my cupcake recipe for another day? Certainly not! When the cupcake urge strikes, there’s no stopping it.

So, what exactly did I do? So I realized I had to figure out a way to bake cupcakes without a liner. I experimented with a few different alternatives and discovered that the best cupcake liners replacements are parchment paper, aluminum foil, or plain ol’ fashioned grease (butter, spray, oil).

Whether you’re baking for a birthday party, a school bake sale, or just want a bite-sized cake, you can make a new batch without using cupcake liners. (However, the next time I’d purchase some cupcake liners, preferably reusable ones!)

Today, I’ll show you how to make do without cupcake liners while still achieving cupcake perfection.

Top Three Substitutes for Cupcake Liners

There’s no need to worry if you don’t have any cupcake liners on hand. Make your own liners out of parchment paper or aluminum foil. Alternatively, you may forego the liners entirely and just grease your pan.

1. Parchment Paper

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a lot of parchment paper on your hands. Parchment paper is one of those goods that comes in bulk but is seldom used, so it sits at the back of your cabinet for months.

The good news is that you can reuse your handy pack of parchment paper by making DIY cupcake liners. Don’t worry; it’s simple even if you’re not the most skilled do-it-yourselfer.

• Begin by cutting your parchment paper into five-inch-long squares.

• Insert a piece of parchment paper into each cup of your muffin pan. Make sure they’re exactly centered in the oven so they don’t move and create sticking.

• Using a bottle, make a crease in the parchment paper liners.

• Fill the cupcake slots and bake as usual.

2. Aluminum Foil

Another common kitchen ingredient is aluminum foil. And, as you would expect, it can serve as an excellent substitute for cupcake liners.

The advantage of using aluminum foil is that it is bright and glossy, which will lend a splash of color to your cupcakes, particularly if you are baking vividly colored cupcakes or a batch studded with sprinkles.

The method is the same as with parchment paper. Simply follow these steps:

• Cut the aluminum foil into 5-inch squares.

• Fill each cup of your cupcake pan with the cut-up aluminum foil. To minimize batter leakage, make sure they’re centered.

• You may fold the foil with a bottle. However, you may simply bend the very malleable aluminum foil into the required form with your hands.

• Fill the cupcake slots and bake as usual.

3. Grease the Pan

The last (and most traditional) method is to oil the pan! You may now utilize a variety of different substances. At least one of these components should be present in your kitchen.

1. Butter

Mmm, butter (please excuse me drooling for a while). Butter may be found in a wide variety of cuisines and baked items. Why? Because the taste is just tempting. That being considered, it’s no surprise that I placed it in my list of the best cupcake liners substitutes.

Using butter is a little more difficult than using cooking spray. You may either use cold butter and physically oil every inch of the cupcake tray, or you can melt the butter and apply it to the slots using a brush.

It is entirely up to you, and the difference in application is insignificant. You’ll still wind up with a nicely oiled cupcake pan and cupcakes that taste even better. (Many thanks, butter.)

2. Cooking Spray/Baking Spray

Cooking spray is a product that almost everyone has. Why? Because it eliminates sticky, stuck-on problems during cooking and cleaning.

Whether creating scrambled eggs, muffins, or roasted veggies, most people start by liberally coating their pan with cooking spray.

The same goes for cupcake pans. Spray a little spray into each slot. But don’t overdo it. There shouldn’t be so much spray that it collects at the bottom of the cups. This may result in oily and unappealing cupcakes.

Even better if you have baking spray on hand. Baking spray is made exclusively for baked items like cupcakes and does not have an overbearing taste like olive oil cooking spray.

3. Oil

The last alternative is to use oil. Any oil will do, but be cautious since certain oils are more powerful than others and may affect the taste.

I wouldn’t use a strong olive oil in a delicate vanilla cupcake recipe, but I would use coconut oil to offer a twist to a chocolate cupcake recipe.

If you’re worried about taste, you can always use vegetarian oils. Vegetable oils have a neutral flavor profile, so they won’t overpower the flavor of your bite-sized cakes.

To apply, you’ll need a brush or a paper towel. Although I prefer a brush since it is simpler to use, a paper towel may reach those tight places that a brush may miss.

FAQs

Nothing beats biting into a cupcake, and you don’t even need cupcake liners to be successful. You may utilize any of the choices listed above to obtain fantastic results. Continue reading if you want to understand more about this subject.

What can I use if I don’t have muffin liners or parchment paper?

If you run out of muffin liners or parchment paper, you may make your own aluminum foil liners or just grease your baking pan. I prefer using butter to improve the taste, although cooking sprays and vegetable oils also work well.

Can you make cupcakes without cupcake liners?

Cupcakes may be made without using cupcake liners. To begin with, some individuals prefer to make cupcakes without them. This is due to the fact that cupcake liners may be expensive, and inferior liners might cause sticking. It might sometimes be difficult to locate the suitable size.

Are cupcake liners necessary?

Even while I like using cupcake liners, I agree that they aren’t required. Without liners, you can bake delectable cupcakes that don’t cling to the pan. My runner-up suggestions are to make your own parchment paper liners or to oil the pan with butter.

Can I use coffee filters as cupcake liners?

Although this seems to be a clever concept, coffee filters will not serve as an effective cupcake liner alternative. The batter will leak through the coffee filter, leaving you with a large mess.

Final Words

What, no cupcake liners? No worries. Make your own parchment paper or aluminum foil liners to make rockstar cupcakes that won’t cling or crumble. Alternatively, skip the liners entirely and instead grease with butter, spray, or oil.

When you run out of cupcake liners, how do you bake them?