Greasing Cupcake Pans: No Liners Needed

Greasing a cupcake pan without liners is easy, and there are several ways to do it. You can use butter, oil, or cooking spray to grease the pan. If you're using butter, cut a tablespoon or two of cold butter and rub it around each cup, making sure to get into all the edges, crevices, and the bottom of the cup. You can also melt the butter and use a pastry brush to grease the pan. If using oil or cooking spray, place a couple of tablespoons in a small bowl and use a paper towel or pastry brush to apply an even coating to the cups, or simply spray the pan lightly and evenly.

Use butter to grease the pan

Greasing a cupcake pan with butter is an effective way to prevent cupcakes from sticking to the pan. Using butter to grease a cupcake pan is a straightforward process, and there are a few different ways to do it. Here is a detailed guide:

Firstly, ensure your cupcake pan is clean and dry. Use a scouring pad to remove any baked-on food residue, but avoid using scouring pads on non-stick pans as they can scratch the coating. Instead, soak non-stick pans in warm soapy water and scrub gently with a sponge.

Now, you can choose one of the following methods to grease your cupcake pan with butter:

Method 1:

Take a stick of butter at room temperature and expose one end by peeling back the packaging. Grease the pan with the stick of butter, making sure to reach all the crevices of the cupcake pan. Use your finger to spread the butter around evenly. This method ensures you have more control over the amount of butter used and where it is applied.

Method 2:

If you prefer not to use a stick of butter, or if you don't have enough butter for Method 1, you can melt a few tablespoons of butter on the stovetop or in the microwave. Once melted, use a pastry brush or your fingers to grease each cup of the cupcake pan with melted butter. Ensure that the butter does not pool at the bottom of each cup, as this can lead to overly crispy cake edges. Use paper towels to soak up any excess butter.

Using butter to grease a cupcake pan is a great option, but it's important to note that butter contains water and milk, which may not be as effective in preventing your cupcakes from sticking compared to pure fats. However, butter can add a lovely, golden-brown crust to the edges of your cupcakes.

Melt butter and use a pastry brush

Greasing a cupcake pan with butter is one of the best ways to prevent cupcakes from sticking to the pan. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Melt the Butter

Firstly, melt a small amount of butter. You can do this by placing the butter in a saucepan over low heat on the stove. Once the butter has partially melted, remove it from the heat and let the leftover heat melt the rest of it. Alternatively, melt the butter in the microwave in short intervals of 5 to 10 seconds, checking the progress in between. Depending on the amount of butter, this should not take longer than 30 seconds.

Prepare your Brush

Next, you will need a pastry brush to apply the melted butter to the cupcake pan. If you don't have a pastry brush, you can use a wadded-up paper towel or even a clean, unused paintbrush (a 2-inch brush works great).

Apply the Butter

Dip your brush into the melted butter and use it to lightly coat each cup of the cupcake pan. Make sure to get the bottom, sides, and corners of each cup. You only need a thin layer of butter, so be sure not to apply too much, as this can cause pooling at the bottom of the cups. A tablespoon or two of melted butter should be enough for 2 to 3 cupcake pans.

Remove Excess Butter

If there is any excess butter in the cups, use a few paper towels to soak it up. This step is important, as you don't want butter pooling at the bottom of the cups, as it can lead to overly crispy cake edges.

And that's it! Your cupcake pan is now ready for batter. This method ensures that your cupcakes will release easily from the pan and helps to create a lovely, golden crust on your baked goods.

Use cooking spray

Using cooking spray is an easy and effective way to grease a cupcake pan without liners. There are many cooking sprays available, including avocado oil spray, coconut oil spray, vegetable oil spray, olive oil spray, and the classic PAM butter spray. Any high-heat spray will work, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences.

To grease your cupcake pan with cooking spray, start by ensuring that the pan is clean and dry. Hold the bottle of cooking spray a few inches away from the pan and shake it lightly and evenly until each cup is greased. Be careful not to use too much spray, as it can pool at the bottom of the cups and cause the cake edges to become overly crispy. If you accidentally use too much spray, simply grab a paper towel and spread the oil around the pan until it is evenly coated and there is no pooling.

When spraying, make sure to coat not only the base of each cup but also the sides to prevent sticking. Cooking spray is a convenient option, but it's important to be aware that it can contribute to the wear and tear of your cupcake pan, especially if anything sticks and you have to pry it out. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that you evenly coat each cup to minimize the risk of sticking.

Using cooking spray is a quick and efficient method to grease your cupcake pan without liners. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your cupcakes release easily from the pan and have a nice crispy edge.

Use parchment paper

Using parchment paper is a great alternative to cupcake liners. It is an easy process that will ensure your cupcakes are elegant and easy to remove from the pan. Firstly, cut a sheet of parchment paper into 5-inch-wide strips. If you are using a jumbo pan, you may need squares closer to 6 inches wide. Then, cut each strip into squares of roughly 5 inches. The muffin pan cups vary in size, so ensure the squares are larger than the indent.

Place the parchment paper square over the muffin cup. Take a glass or jar that is slightly smaller than the muffin cup and centre the bottom over the square. Press down firmly to form the paper into a cup shape. Repeat this process for each cup. Once you are done, fill and bake the cupcakes as directed in your recipe.

Dust with flour

Greasing and dusting your cupcake pan with flour is a great way to ensure your cupcakes don't stick to the pan, even if you don't have paper liners. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving this:

Firstly, ensure your cupcake pan is clean and dry. Use a scouring pad to remove any baked-on residue, but if you're using a non-stick pan, be careful not to scratch the coating. Instead, soak the pan in warm soapy water and scrub gently with a sponge. Once clean, dry the pan thoroughly.

Now, it's time to add the butter or non-stick cooking spray. If using butter, melt a few teaspoons in a small bowl in the microwave. Then, use a pastry brush to coat the bottom and sides of each cup generously. Alternatively, dip a paper towel into the melted butter and use it to grease each cup. If you prefer, you can also use cooking spray for this step. Shake the bottle and hold it a few inches away from the pan. Spray each cup lightly and evenly, ensuring you cover the entire surface.

The next step is to dust the pan with flour. Sprinkle about half a teaspoon of flour into each cup. Then, shake the pan gently to ensure the flour coats the bottom and sides of each cup evenly. Finally, turn the cupcake pan upside down over a trash can or sink to discard any excess flour.

Once your pan is greased and floured, it's ready to be filled with batter. Remember to fill the cups only about two-thirds of the way full to avoid any overflow during baking.

Using this method of greasing and flouring your cupcake pan, you can bake your cupcakes without liners and still achieve beautiful, intact results.

Frequently asked questions