Foil cupcake liners: you're probably using them wrong
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What in the world are you supposed to do with those little paper liners in between the foil cupcake liners? I'll tell you!
Cupcake liners
The other day my friend Shannan posted this revelation on Facebook: "So all my life, I have been leaving the paper liners inside the foil cupcake liners when I bake. Guess what, y'all? YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO!"
I chuckled to myself. Of course you're supposed to remove the paper from foil cupcake liners. It says so right there on the package!
I thought Shannan and my husband were the only people who didn't know this. But based on my extensive research (which consisted of reading the comments on her Facebook post) I realized that most people were doing this wrong. Am I the only person who reads instructions?
[Now, I should note here that when I first wrote this post, all of the foil liners I had in my kitchen had instructions on the package clearly stating that you're supposed to remove the paper separators. But people in the comments and on Facebook told me that they know how to read, and their liners had no such instructions. Know what? They were right! The ones I have in my cabinet right now don't have instructions. The ones I directed you to in that link up there don't have instructions. So it seems to be hit or miss: some companies are clear and helpful, others just assume you were born knowing what to do.]
Are you using foil cupcake liners wrong? Find out the secret you've probably been missing!Those paper separators are just there to keep the foil cupcake liners from sticking together. Even though they look the same as the non-stick paper liners, they're not. Good paper liners are usually coated with either quilon or silicone, both of which keep your muffins and cupcakes from sticking to the paper liners. The paper separators don't have that coating.
Paper separator test
Will they work? Sort of. They won't be terrible, but they won't be great.
Here's a cupcake baked in a regular paper separator. You can see that some of the cupcake stuck to the paper as I was removing it.
Now, here's a cupcake baked in a non-stick paper liner. That's a big difference!
Cookie sheet vs. muffin pan
But what about the other directions on the foil cupcake liner package?
That's right, you're supposed to put the foil cupcake liners on a cookie sheet!
Will it hurt anything to use the foil cupcake liners in a muffin pan? No. But you're wasting money. If you have muffin pans, you can use paper liners, which are cheaper.
Now, Shannan pointed out that she doesn't put her foil cupcake liners on a cookie sheet because she's afraid that they will spread out flat. They won't. But, they will spread out some.
Here are cupcakes baked in foil cupcake liners. The ones on the left were baked in a muffin pan, the ones on the right baked on a cookie sheet.
I'd filled all of them ¾ full, but because the ones on the cookie sheet spread out as I added the batter, those ended up being 42 grams, versus 31 grams for the ones in the muffin pan. If you want bigger cupcakes, great! But if you're trying to make normal-sized cupcakes, you really need to use a muffin tin, no matter which kind of liner you use.
Of course, you could just fill the cookie sheet ones half-way instead, but they'll be wide rather than tall. Or, go ahead and fill them three-quarters for bigger cupcakes and a wider area to decorate. Just remember that you'll end up with fewer cupcakes.
Decorative cupcake liners
There are also foil cupcake liners that have decorative paper on the outside. Not only are these pretty, but I've found that they don't spread out quite as much when baked on cookie sheets. The foil combined with the paper makes them a bit stiffer than the ones that are just foil.
The bottom line is, even if you're doing it wrong, you're still going to wind up with something delicious and acceptable. But if you want your cupcakes and muffins to be prettier, follow the instructions! And if you're using muffin tins, you can totally get away with using pretty paper liners. No reason to waste money on the foil liners!
Now that we've gone through all of that, what are you going to put into your muffin pan liners? You can try my Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter Banana Muffins, or my Reese's Banana Muffins.
Why not use the paper liners used as separators for the foil liners on the outside of the foil just to bake your cupcakes? Would they help to keep your foil liners from spreading out as much? Then remove the paper after baking.
My complete guess is that they wouldn't be strong enough against the weight of the batter, but I'm happy to try next time I make cupcakes!
Wow. Who knew. Thanks for the useful tip.
Thank you; so informative, especially for my friends! I already knew, but now they don't just have to take my word for it! ❤️
Thank you for writing this article!!
Funny, I had to look this up. I’ve always used paper liners, but my husband picked up foil ones for me. They were store brand and had no instructions at all. The description was merely ‘cupcake liners’ on the package. Since I’ve never eaten a cupcake with a foil liner, I was really confused. I thought the foil was there to keep the paper liners from sticking to each other! But I had my doubts. So here I am. Too bad the company omitted the instructions for the ‘unfoiled’, ha! Glad I found this, thank you!
I'm so glad it helped!
@Patti,That is hilarous. I am 60 years old and I always thought the foil was there to separate the paper liners too. Glad to hear I am not the only one, haha!
Cooking cupcakes in foil liner do you change temp. My recipe said 375 for 20 minutes. They burned
I don't change it for foil liners, although I do usually lower all directions for cakes and cupcakes by 25 degrees, which helps to give a flatter top (and some directions also say to lower the temp by 25 degrees for a dark, non-stick pan). However, 375 for cupcakes does seem high to me.
@Sheila, too hot 350 pans or 325 for cupcakes. 30 minutes but keep a close eye
Nope nope!! Gotcha. I'fyou use a paper liner for delicious cherry , cheesecakes,after just a half day or so, the paper cup falls off! Foil cups do not; they hold their shape and subsequently the dessert, even after fridge overnight. Txs!
I have never even questioned that they were supposed to be used together....to me it was always use the foil & then use the paper ones as white cupcake liners.....as far as your pictures that show they don't work as well the only difference I see is one cupcake is cooked more....hence the difference of what sticks to the liner.
Thanks, I had no idea, no wonder we wandered in the desert so many years in the Bible. I am definitely going to up my cupcake game.
Also this article made my day, always a good day when we learn something new
Good to know, but I have no intention of passing this on to my wife and daughters. I may be dumb, but I'm not *that* dumb..!
If you want both the paper lined cups and the metallic exterior, Hobby Lobby carries a paper lined metallic baking cup. The paper is fused to the metallic exterior so there are no questions as to how to use them. Just use them with a muffin tin. No matter the type of cup, cupcakes always turn out prettier when they are the same size and shape. Another tip, bake your cupcakes at 400 degrees to get that pretty rounded top. I have been baking professionally for over 30 years and have never cared for the foil cups. If I need them I go to HL.
Tip from a professional bakery,
When using the cups on a cookie sheet, to keep them from spreading out and to help hold their shape, wrap a strip of scotch tape around the cup.
Oh wow, great tip! I'm going to try that.
I was thinking of setting the cups into porcelain ramekins.
Question... for a professional bakery. Wouldn't the consistency of the muffin vary between a restrained foil-cupped cupcake and one allowed to spread freely? I would expect a difference even if attention is paid to dropping an equal weight of batter into each. More density in the former, with the latter being a bit lighter and fluffier.
Excellent question!! I think I need to do more experiments...
Seriously?! If you want the end result to look good the tape will damage the liner. Not to mention what a tedious pain in the ass!
@Retta, absolutely
ha! thanks for this. mine also had no instructions and i actually pulled them out to count how many of each there were (32) and then figured since they were advertised as "foil" liners that must be the right ones to use but still wasn't sure. i will remember this tip for the rest of my life now, thanks! :)
Interesting. I have been using the paper with the aluminum foil cupcake liners forever. Early on, in my baking life, I'd even roll my eyes at my non-baker sister as she commented in surprise about always finding two layers of liners when eating my cupcakes.
I didn't like how the themed or colored paper liners lose their brightness and get saturated with the oil/butter in the batter as they bake. I've tried different brands of these at different price points and the results are always the same: Fainted color or design and slightly greasy exterior. Hence, I'm an avid aluminum liner (and paper separator, lol) user only. I look forward to experimenting with the foil, minus the separator, the next time cupcakes are on the dessert menu.
Clearly, I have too much time on my hands or I'm just a ruthless procrastinator. I've never felt the need or wanted to respond to a blog in the past, yet this Covid-19 pandemic environment has produced surprising behaviors. And now.... back to work.
Agreed on all counts! I use almost exclusively foil liners because what you see on pretty paper liners while in the package is NOTHING like what you get in the end, I I find it quite unappealing! Also, nowhere in any of my years using various types of foil liners did I see anything about removing paper liners. And while baking with any kind of liner, who doesn’t have a muffin tin to use to keep them spiffy and uniform? ♀️
Thanks for the post Amy! My liners did say to remove and discard the paper. But I didn't know why the paper ones couldn't be used for regular muffin pan liners, so I saved them. Now I know. Thanks for the info. I googled things to do with muffin liners and lots of ideas pop up for crafts, organizing, etc. So they won't go to waste anyway.
I have never thrown away the paper liners....I think that is just a way for these companies to make more money.