Fresh out of cupcake liners? Here's the easiest way to make diy cupcake liners (and muffin cups) out of parchment paper! Bonus: they're as adorable as they are useful...
DIY Parchment Paper Muffin Liners
I. like. BIG. muffins and I cannot lie... (Did you just sing that? I totally did in my head while typing it, LOL!) But it's SO true -- I can pass up almost any dessert, but fluffy bakery style muffins get me every time. And if they happen to have still warm and melty chocolate chips? ZERO willpower.
Judging by the response to the peanut butter banana muffins I shared last week, the same is true for many of you. But then again, what's not to love about a little peanut butter + banana + chocolate chip action that's ready to stuff in your mouth in just 30 minutes?! Good thing they're mostly healthy-ish. Right?
Anyhow, I received so many emails asking where I got those cute lil' tulip-style muffin liners that I figured I'd just turn it into a quick tutorial on how to make parchment paper cupcake liners for you all. Because I didn't actually BUY them (although you can) -- I MADE THEM! And they're so unbelievably easy...
Wanna learn how to make muffin liners with parchment paper? Read on, my friends.
DIY Cupcake Liners / DIY Muffin Cups
QUESTION: Are you for or against liners when baking cupcakes and/or muffins? I am decidedly in the the liner camp -- the paper ones, definitely not those silicone ones that are a total pain to clean. If you've read this far, I'm guessing you agree.
I mean, you for sure need something so they don't stick, but greasing the muffin cups with baking sprays just tedious and messy (although here's an easy no mess cooking spray hack). Liners are neater overall, and they add that high-end touch to your baked goods.
So what's the case for DIY-ing them? Well, for one it saves quite a bit of money. And two, they're just SO cute! Kind of like snowflakes, no two are identical -- which gives your cupcakes and muffins loads of character.
Supplies for DIY Tulip Cupcake Liners
Making DIY muffin liners is super simple, especially when you start with a pack of these 5" parchment paper squares. Of course, you can always cut a regular roll of parchment paper into 5-inch squares yourself, but I'm all about going for the easiest route to maximum results. Plus they come in a sturdy box that makes them waayyy more compact to store!
Next you're going to need a can/glass/jar that fits the bottom of the cups in your muffin pan. Get creative -- I used the top of a champagne glass here, but I've also used a tomato paste can in the past. It doesn't have to be perfect... Close is good enough in this case.
How To Make Tulip Muffin Liners
Basically you just center a parchment square on top of whatever you're using as a "mold". Then press the sides down around the mold, creasing the pleats with your hand. Turn the can/glass/jar over into one of the muffin cups, and lift it straight out leaving behind your pretty little cupcake liner!
Repeat for the remaining cups, fill each cup with your muffin or cupcake batter (2 scoops using this large cookie scoop is ideal), and bake as usual.
Want more symmetrical pleats like the traditional tulip shape? Instead of just using your hand to form the cup, take a little extra time to smooth down four creases that are more or less equidistant from each other. Most days, though, I'm good with my quick and easy imperfect liners!
How To Make DIY Cupcake Liners & Muffin Tin Liners
Equipment
- 1 champagne glass or any glass that fits in a muffin tin cup
Materials
- 12 (5-inch) square parchment paper sheets
Instructions
- Center a parchment paper square on top of the champagne glass you're using as a "mold".
- Press the sides of the parchment paper down around the glass, creasing the pleats with your hand. For a more traditional tulip-style cupcake liner, take a little extra time to smooth down four creases that are centered between each sheet corner.
- Turn the glass over into one of the muffin cups, and lift it straight out leaving behind the folded diy cupcake liner. Repeat for each of the remaining cups.
- To use: Fill each lined muffin tin cup with your favorite cupcake batter or muffin batter. Two scoops using this large cookie scoop is ideal. Bake according to recipe instructions.
Notes
- For mini cupcake liners: use these 3-inch parchment paper squares.
- For jumbo muffin liners: use these 7-inch parchment paper squares.
Ready to try your hand at some DIY cupcake liners? Here are some of my favorite muffin and cupcake recipes:
- luscious homemade strawberry shortcake cupcakes
- bright & zingy lemon poppy seed muffins
- apple cinnamon oat bran muffins
- espresso chocolate chip muffins
- bonus: learn how to make BIG bakery-style muffins with crunchy tops
I'd love to see your DIY muffin cups in action... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check them out. Enjoy!
Andrea+Metlika says
This is a great money saving idea. It also makes the cupcakes and muffins look fancy.
Haley D Williams says
These look so good! I love them for dessert all week long! I really like how you used the glass to put them in the muffin tin!
Jeannette says
What an incredible idea! I've never even thought to make it myself, but now I know how to! I can definitely think of some recipes that I can use for this technique. Thanks!
Adrianne says
Wow, the ones with the pleats sound fancy! I make muffins all the time so I am going to try your technique! Cheers
Alison says
These are so cute! What a great idea! I've found myself in a pickle where I reach for my muffin liners only to realize I'm all out! Now I'll know what to do next time!
Tayler Ross says
I've always loved that look, so I'm glad to have found out how to do it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Allison says
It never even occurred to me that I could make these at home. Brilliant! Thank you!
Rachael Yerkes says
love how simple these are and so cute too!
Kimberly says
Why I've never thought to make my own I don't know, but this tutorial is awesome and I'm going to make some the next time I bake cupcakes or muffins!
Matt Taylor says
Very cool idea in case you run out of cupcake liners. Thanks for sharing!
Cindy says
I loved those liners when I saw them last week! I was going to ask you where you got them. Like you, I have the same exact pan and it is really the worst pain to get clean. I will definitely be making liners from now on. Actually, my mind has been working because I have a lot of scrapbooking scissors that will make scalloped edges and designs if I just give the liners a quick snip around the edges. Thank you, Tara, What a clever idea!
Tara Kuczykowski says
Oh, that's such a good idea! I have some too that I'll have to pull out and try.
MThomp says
@Cindy,
Another idea is to use water based food color and water, and paint the edges for a cool watercolor effect.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Oh, I love this idea!! That would be so pretty. Thanks for sharing!