Do you want to know how to make cupcakes without cupcake pan? You’re in the right place.
Summertime came- my favorite time of the year. I spent the holidays with the kids but couldn’t bake cupcakes for them because my pans were broken. I quickly ordered another set, but they didn’t come as fast as I wanted.
I was devastated and began searching for ways to make cupcakes without a pan, and that’s what I will share with you today.
Ready? Let’s delve in.
Paper Liners
I know what you’re thinking: Aren’t paper liners too thin to hold anything?
You’re right, but if you stack three to five paper liners, you’d be surprised at what it can hold. It will comfortably hold your cake until it’s ready.
- Firstly, stack the papers on each other until it feels sturdy or firm.
- Then, gently pour the mix into the liners so they don’t wrinkle.
- The next step is to arrange the liners on a baking tray and toss them into the oven. If your oven is set around 350°F (175°C), baking should roughly take 15 to 20 minutes. Once it’s ready, serve your delicious cupcake.
- You can go a step further by decorating with frosting or sprinkles.
Here’s how you can make paper liners at home (it’s super easy!):
Tips and Tricks for Making Cupcakes with Paper Liners
What should you consider when using this method?
Use Non-stick Cooking Spray
Always apply a non-stick cooking spray to your pan before pouring your batter. Why should you do this? Removing a cupcake from paper liners can be difficult and messy. The non-stick spray allows the cupcake to come out flawlessly.
Fill Only ⅔ of the Batter
As a general rule of thumb, NEVER fill your pans to the brim. This tip also applies to paper liners. Filling the liner to the brim can distort the cake’s shape and overflow when it rises.
Double the Liners
Always use two or more liners when making cupcakes with this method. Paper liners are ultra-light and can easily tear if you use only one.
Ceramic Mugs
Again, I know what you’re thinking: Ceramic Mugs? How’s that even possible? Are they oven-safe?
Yes, ceramic mugs are oven safe and fantastic for baking cupcakes. If you don’t have a cupcake pan in your home, use any ceramic mug lying around. In most cases, the standard mug is almost the same size as a cupcake.
All you have to do is pour the batter into the mug, toss it in the oven and leave to bake for 20 to 25 minutes at around 350°F (175°C).
Tips and Tricks for Making Cupcakes with Ceramic Mugs
What tips should you bear in mind when baking cupcakes with this method? Let’s find out.
Grease the Interior
As much as baking with ceramic mugs sounds fun and adventurous, washing ceramic mugs with sticky batter all over them isn’t as fun. Greasing the mug’s interior allows the cupcake to come out beautifully with no sticky residue.
Test the Microwave
Most ceramic mugs can withstand oven temperature, but it’s always good to test before baking. Ensure it’s in the right setting.
Decorate the Top with Treats
Since you’re using cupcake mugs, they may not necessarily have the perfect shape of cupcakes made with pans. Adding toppings like chocolate chips, fruit bits, or nuts can make your cupcakes look lush and extravagant.
You’d be shocked at how much of a difference that will make.
Silicone Cupcake Cases
Never heard of silicone cupcake cases? Now, you have. These cases are popular for making cupcakes without a pan. They’re also stronger, more reliable, cost-effective, and, most importantly, completely reusable.
However, not every silicone cupcake case is good for baking. Most people compromise on quality to purchase these cases cheaply and are shocked when they don’t last long. How would they?
Never go for cheap quality. You can use cheap quality cases for snack holders, egg separators, gelatin holds, or spoon rests, but not for baking cupcakes.
Like paper liners, it takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to bake at 350°F (175°C).
Tips and Tricks for Making Cupcakes with Silicone Cupcake Cases
If you use silicone cases to make your cupcakes, what should you consider?
Use Non-stick Cooking Spray
Silicone cases are generally non-sticky, but using a non-stick cooking spray to allow the cupcake to come out easily never hurts. You’d only need to do this for the first couple of times.
Leave to Cool Before Removal
Always allow your cupcakes to cool before removing them from the case. Cakes can be vulnerable and fragile when hot. Removing it in that state can crumble it.
Look at Baking Time and Temperature
Always be watchful of baking time and temperature. The baking time when using silicone cases differs from the time when using normal pans (often takes longer). But don’t allow it to burn or overbake. Also, preheat the oven before putting the cases in.
Cutting Corners
Imagine baking a regular cake and then cutting off the edges to make a cupcake shape. While this may sound unconventional, you can have lovely cupcakes that look and taste good when done. How do you do this?
- Firstly, bake your cake in a regular pan. It should be as thick as a cupcake.
- When the cake is done, use a cookie cutter the same size as the cake and carefully cut circles in the pan.
- Place the cakes in a cupcake wrapper and decorate with toppings or frostings.
Tips and Tricks For Making Cupcakes by Cutting Corners
When using this method, here are some tips to bear in mind:
Always Preheat First
What is the essence of preheating your oven before baking? Preheating allows your oven to reach the appropriate temperature before putting your cupcake in, so it can rise properly.
If you’re using a large cupcake pan, rotate it 180 degrees and put it back in to ensure even heat distribution.
Your Cookie Cutter MUST be Sharp
There is no alternative to this. Your cookie cutter must be sharp, or else, you’ll distort your cupcake’s shape.
Jar Lids
Do you remember those jar rings that hold the jar in place? You previously discarded them, right? Well, it’s high time you stop throwing them in the trash because they’re helpful for making cupcakes without cupcake pans.
Drop the jar rings on the baking pans, place paper liners in each, and slowly pour in the batter. Remember to stack multiple liners as usual. Then, toss them in the oven and bake like you would if you used only paper liners.
The rings are only there to maintain the cupcake’s shape as a conventional cupcake pan would.
Tips and Tricks for Making Cupcakes with Jar Lids
What should you consider when making cupcakes with jar lids?
Use an Appropriate Jar Lid
You must choose an appropriate jar lid depending on the number of cupcakes you want to produce. Don’t use an undersized or oversized lid. For a mini-cupcake, use a normal-sized jar lid. For a standard-sized cupcake, a large jar lid would be suitable.
Don’t Overfill
Remember that jar lids aren’t as wide as regular cupcake pans. If you fill the liners to the brim, the cake mix will have little to no breathing space and possibly spill.
Ramekins
These are perfect for making cupcakes in the absence of cupcake pans. Surprisingly, it also creates a cupcake shape that suffices for the conventional one. How do you use ramekins in this case?
Carefully pour the batter into the ramekins, toss it into the ovens, and allow to bake for 20 to 25 mins at the set temperature of 350°F (175°C). If you’re too worried about its bare appearance, you can be creative with the decoration- frostings, toppings, and sprinkles.
Tips and Tricks for Making Ramekins
You want to use ramekins to make cupcakes; now what?
Grease Properly
As with most unconventional cupcake pans, you must grease the ramekin’s interior properly before pouring the batter into it to prevent the cake from sticking. Greasing allows the cupcake to come out very smoothly.
Preheat the Ovens
As explained earlier, preheating the oven helps to distribute heat evenly. This tip is vital, especially when you’re using ramekins. You wouldn’t want your batter to spend so much time in the oven baking.
Monitor the Baking Time
When you bake cupcakes in ramekins, it typically takes longer than conventional cupcake pans. So you have to effectively check when the cupcake is ready using a toothpick or fork, or it will burn.
Foil Liner
You’ve probably heard of foil liners, but did you know they can replace cupcake pans? They are strong, shiny and give the cupcake shape. You won’t have to worry about the cake crumbling or falling apart when removed.
The first step is to pour the batter into the foil and line it on the baking sheet. Once you’ve set everything, toss it into the oven and allow it to bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 350°F (175°C)
Tips and Tricks for Using Foil Liners
What tips should you keep in mind when using foil liners?
Use a sturdy platform.
Ensure you place the foil liners on a sturdy platform or surface before pouring the batter to keep the cupcake in shape.
Early Doneness Check
Foils are excellent heat conductors. Heat spreads through foil at an alarming rate, so if you leave it in for too long, your cake will burn!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are questions that people commonly ask? Let’s find out.
What Can I Use Instead of Cupcake Trays?
You can use foil liners, paper liners, silicone cupcake cases, ramekins, or jar lids. You mustn’t necessarily use cupcake trays.
Is it OK to Make Cupcakes Without Liners?
Of course, you can make cupcakes without liners, and it will be okay. You’d probably have to deal with the stickiness afterward, though.
What is the Duration of Making Cupcakes?
In most cases, it takes around 15 to 20 minutes to bake a cupcake. But you have to be careful here, different methods take varying times.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, people. If you’ve always wanted to know how to make cupcakes without cupcake pan, you have all the information you need right here.
I used the techniques outlined in this article to bake cupcakes that the kids and I enjoyed, and I hope you find them helpful too.
Michael Johnson is the founder of The Pan Handler, Inspired by his blacksmith grandfather’s legacy has a deep appreciation for hand-crafted pots and pans, he provides invaluable guides, reviews, and recipes to enhance your culinary journey.