How To Make DIY Cupcake Liners & Muffin Cups With Parchment Paper

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.

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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!

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!