Today I wanted to share a short and simple tutorial on how to make muffin liners out of parchment paper. All you need is some parchment paper, scissors, and a small can! These add a bakery-esque flair to your favorite muffin recipe!
“Where did you get those muffin liners?”
I get this question all. the. time. from people who have made my chocolate chip muffins or my banana nut muffins. Honestly. you can buy muffin liners made out of parchment paper. I think they’re often called tulip liners or something like that and they’re a bit more expensive than your standard white, ridged muffin liners.
I’ve never bought them, though, I just make mine out of parchment paper. Usually out of necessity because I’ve forgotten to stock up on those standard white liners, but I have to admit that they do add a bakery-esque touch to your muffins.
Since so many of you have asked I decided to make a short tutorial with pictures (there’s also a brief video at the bottom of the post, too).
What You Need:
- Parchment paper. white or brown will work.
- Scissors.
- A small can. You want a can that fits snugly into your muffin tin. A can of tomato paste works perfectly for most standard muffin or cupcake tins.
- A ruler. Not entirely necessary and you can approximate if you don’ t have one! If you happen to have at least one standard muffin liner lying around you can use that as a rough guide for cutting out your parchment squares instead.
How to Make Baking Liners
- Cut parchment into squares that are about 4.5-5″ across.
- Place the parchment paper over the base of your can. Most parchment paper tends to curl one way from being rolled up, if yours does then turn that curl away from the can. This will help encourage the muffin liners to spread open a bit (rather than fold in toward themselves) when you put them in your muffin tin, which will make it easier to dollop your batter into the liner.
- Run your finger or thumbnail around the base of the can to make a strong crease in the parchment. Press your hand firmly along the parchment against the can to set the creases of the parchment.
- Transfer muffin liner to muffin tin. I like to place the can in the liner while I do this just to firmly set it in place.
That’s it! Fill with muffin or cupcake batter and bake as indicated!
Now you have the liners, here are a few muffins to try them out!
- Basic Muffin Recipe (with so many add-in options!)
- Banana Muffins
- Chocolate Muffins
- Apple Crumb Muffins
- Pumpkin Muffins
How to Make Parchment Paper Liners
Recommended Equipment
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Small can that fits snugly into muffin tin (a can of tomato paste is great for this!)
Instructions
- Cut parchment into 5" squares.
- Place the parchment paper over the base of your can. Most parchment paper tends to curl one way from being rolled up, if yours does then turn that curl away from the can. This will help encourage the muffin liners to spread open a bit (rather than fold in toward themselves) when you put them in your muffin tin, which will make it easier to dollop your batter into the liner.
- Run your finger or thumbnail around the base of the can to make a strong crease in the parchment. Press your hand firmly along the parchment against the can to set the creases of the parchment.
- Transfer muffin liner to muffin tin. I like to place the can in the liner while I do this just to firmly set it in place.
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Debbie
Hello Sam, I love your video to make your own parchment liners. I made the liners today. I filled my batter into the liners, but it was hard to not get the batter on the liner. Can you give use a trick?
Thank you, Debbie
Sam
Hi Debbie! I find an ice cream scoop with the lever on it works really well. 🙂
Gabby Simpson
What can I use if I don’t have a tomato can or any kind of can?
Sam
Hi Gabby! Unfortunately a can is vital to making these look so nice and fit so perfectly in the cupcake tins.
PJ
Hi – I used a plastic cup that fits well into the muffin pan cup – that way I know it will match up inside the muffin tin. Good luck!
tennisnut
easy understandable and practical information. thank you
Jennifer
Oh girl, HOW DID YOU KNOW? When I lived in Albuquerque, my Smiths had some inexpensive parchment muffin liners that I bought all the time. Now we live in northeast Louisiana, and I haven’t been able to find any! I also LOVE that you put the amounts of ingredients right after each step in your recipes so we don’t have to scroll back up and find out how much. PERFECT! I’m telling all my kids about you!
Lin Braswell
Thank you! I’ve been a baker for 40 years!! Just never tried this!! But I am using today for a ladies luncheon.
donna
Hi Sam….Just wondering if I can use a brown paper bag instead of parchment paper?
thanks, Donna
Sam
Hi Donna! I wouldn’t recommend a brown paper bag here. 🙁
Julie
Hello, thank you for great tutorial. Can I make these for jumbo silicone baking cups for large muffins. ?
Sam
Hi Julie! That will work just fine. 🙂
Ella
I make it very easy on myself- lol. For regular size muffin tins I cut out 6 inch squares. For large muffin tins I cut 8 inch squares. These two dimensions always work out perfectly for me. I find the small can used in the video to be too small for my regular muffin pan, so I use a regular size (Campbell’s) soup can.
Denice Ornelaz-Perez
Love it! Would you be willing to add measurments of the square for the larger muffin pans? I intend to play with sizes to figure it out but could be helpful for others wondering. I am excited to try this today!
Sam
Hi Denice! I actually haven’t done them for jumbo muffin tins. It would be the same idea. It would just be a little trial and error to get the exact dimensions. 🙂
Phil
Brilliant! You deserve a medal for this public service revelation!
AngeL
I’ve been so curious how to make these . . I immediately thought OMG My Sam MUST have some trick on her thingie!! And alas – as always you save the day!!
I WILL be using this tomorrow with your updated Blueberry Muffin with 2 Temperature Recipe. . I can’t wait to try it!! Thx Again Sam – As always You ROCK!! 💕
Sam
🤣 Thank you so much! I hope you love the muffins. 🙂
Isobel Margaret Feisst
Parchment paper muffin liners was so helpful
love your recipes thankyou from
Australia.
Elizabeth Brooks
Thank you for the liner instructions 🙂
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy they were helpful for you, Elizabeth ☺️
Lina
This is really useful ! Thanks for sharing !
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you think so, Lina! 😊
Veera
Perfect! Used these to make red velvet muffins for Valentine’s Day. Came out perfectly and easy to take out from the tray too.
Sam
Wonderful, I’m so glad this was helpful, Veera! I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day (and if there were red velvet muffins involved I’m sure you did… yum!).
Debbers
Thank you! I recently went to a baby shower and they had berry muffins in the parchment paper sitting out on a tray. The presentation was so much nicer than using the regular muffin cups. I wondered if they were store bought. So glad to know how to make them now myself….thanks to you !
Sam
You’re welcome! It’s so easy and looks so nice! 🙂