Have you ever been ready to pour muffin batter and discovered you’re out of liners? Don’t worry—using a roll of parchment paper, a few common tools, and about 10 minutes, you can make simple tulip-style muffin liners at home.
One time I ran into this while making almond poppy seed muffins and ended up improvising with parchment paper. After a short bit of folding and cutting, I had liners that worked perfectly and gave my muffins a rustic, homemade look. These DIY parchment liners are handy for muffins or cupcakes and can be made to fit jumbo, regular, or mini pans.
What You’ll Need to Make Parchment Paper Muffin Liners
Gather a few basic items and make sure everything that will touch food is clean:
- Parchment paper – nonstick and oven-safe; unbleached or natural papers work well.
- Scissors – sharp paper scissors for clean cuts.
- Muffin pan – the instructions work for jumbo, regular, and mini pans.
- Clean glass or can – the base should fit inside your muffin well; a pint glass or food can often works.
Everything will contact your baked goods, so keep tools and surfaces sanitary. A ruler is optional because this method uses folding rather than precise measuring.
Because muffin pans vary, exact measurements aren’t required. Use a glass that fits your wells and adjust as needed. If you prefer guidelines, the step-by-step notes below include suggested square sizes. For this tutorial I used a 6-well jumbo pan about 1.5 inches tall.
Step-by-Step Video and Photo Instructions
Step 1: Fold the short end of a sheet of parchment inward (a “hot dog” fold). Place your glass on the fold so the paper extends about 1–2 inches beyond the glass base—this creates the walls of the liner. For a jumbo pan I folded about 6 inches.
Suggested square sizes as a starting point:
- Jumbo muffin pan: 6-inch squares
- Regular muffin pan: 5-inch squares
- Mini muffin pan: 3–4 inch squares
Step 2: Cut the bottom layer of the parchment along the fold so you have a single, neatly folded strip. Hold the paper taut and cut with the inner edges of the scissors to avoid jagged edges.
Pro Tip: Keep the cut smooth by guiding the paper with your free hand and cutting in one continuous motion.
Step 3: Fold the strip into three equal parts across its width, like a brochure, creating creases that will result in squares when cut. Adjust the number of folds for your paper size—the goal is equal squares.
Step 4: Cut along the creases so the strip separates into equal squares—if you used the suggested sizes, you’ll end up with six squares from the folded strip. Save extras in a drawer so you can skip the cutting next time.
Step 5: Shape each square into a liner by placing it over the base of your glass and creasing the paper around the glass to form a cup. Press the folds firmly so the paper holds its shape.
Step 6: Press the glass and paper into the muffin well, twist slightly to set the shape, then lift the glass away. You’ll have a tulip-shaped parchment liner ready for batter.
Which is Better: DIY or Store-bought Muffin Liners?
Both options have advantages. Homemade parchment liners bring a charming, rustic look and are easy to peel away from the baked goods. Store-bought liners save time, can be stored neatly, and reusable silicone cups offer convenience when washing and reusing.
Pros of DIY Liners
- They give baked goods a handmade, rustic appearance and a personal touch.
- Parchment is easy to peel away and tends to release muffins cleanly, reducing sticking.
- You can size the liners to fit any pan.
Pros of Store-bought Liners
- They’re ready to use and easy to store.
- They save prep time so you can focus on baking.
- Reusable silicone cups are an eco-friendly option that can be washed and used again.
Do you prefer homemade or store-bought liners? Comment below and share your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Muffin liners hold individual muffins, prevent batter from sticking to the pan, and make serving more hygienic.
Yes, but grease the pan thoroughly. Liners help prevent sticking and overflowing, so they’re recommended for easier cleanup and better presentation.
Parchment is generally nonstick, so greasing isn’t necessary. For very rich batters or fruit-filled muffins you can use a light spray to be safe.
Any oven-safe, nonstick parchment paper will work. Natural, unbleached paper is a good choice.
Next time you want a homemade look, try making parchment paper liners instead of reaching for store-bought cups. They’re quick, adaptable, and add a charming finish to your muffins.
Muffin Recipes with Homemade Liners
Here are some muffin recipes that work beautifully with parchment liners:
-
Almond Poppy Seed Muffins
-
Sourdough Discard Blueberry Muffins
-
Jumbo Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Muffins
-
Easy Cinnamon Banana Bread Muffins
Tried this tutorial? Leave a rating and tag @brokenovenbaking if you share your results on social media.
📖 Recipe
How to Make Muffin Liners From Scratch
Kayla Burton
10
10
Equipment
-
Parchment paper
-
Scissors
-
Muffin pan
-
Glass or can that fits inside muffin pan
Instructions
-
Fold a sheet of parchment paper into a hot dog fold. Place the glass base on the fold so the paper extends 1–2 inches beyond the glass. Crease the paper.
-
Cut the paper where the fold ends to get one neatly folded sheet.
-
Fold the strip into thirds across its width to create even creases for squares.
-
Cut along all creases so you end up with multiple equal parchment squares.
-
Repeat until you have one square per muffin, keeping extras for next time.
-
Place a square over the bottom of the glass and fold it into a cup shape. Press the glass with the paper into the muffin well, twist to set the shape, then remove the glass and repeat.
Video
Notes
Materials: Make sure all materials are clean and dry before starting since they will touch food.
No ruler needed: This folding method relies on the glass or can size rather than exact measurements, making it adaptable to different pans.
General measurements to use as a guide:
- Jumbo muffin pans: cut 6-inch squares
- Regular muffin pans: cut 5-inch squares
- Mini muffin pans: cut 3–4 inch squares
Leave a comment below & tag @brokenovenbaking on social!