Q&A for How to Bake Cupcakes Without a Cupcake Pan

If you do have a cupcake pan, you can skip the liners and grease the pan with some butter, oil, or cooking spray. Sprinkle in a little flour and shake it around to coat the greased pan cups easily, then pour in the batter. If you really want to use liners, parchment paper will also work well.

You can if you like, but it’s not necessary. High-quality liners shouldn’t stick too much. It also helps if you let the cupcakes cool completely before you try to peel off the liners.

Yes, and it can serve as a container for baking your cupcakes in a pinch. You can mold the foil first by pressing it into the bottom of a glass or measuring cup. Spray a little cooking spray inside the foil cups to keep the cupcakes from sticking.

Buying a pan might be the easier option, but these methods will work in a pinch. Also, you might only need to bake cupcakes once, thus eliminating the need to always have a cupcake tin on hand.