There are many ways to grease a baking pan. But nothing is as surefire as parchment paper. Yet, things can get tricky when you want to use parchment paper with your cake pan. After all, most cake pans are round, and parchment paper isn’t. How do you line it correctly?
To use parchment paper with your round cake pan, you’ll need to perform some strategic cutting. Essentially, you’ll cut a section of parchment paper that’s a bit bigger than your cake pan. Then, fold the paper into a square, then a narrow triangle. Line it up in the center and snip the edges.
Hey, everyone! How’s it going? My name’s Michelle, and I’ve enjoyed baking at home for the past ten years. One thing I love to bake is cakes. And, while I grease the bottom of my pans, I typically use parchment paper, too. There’s nothing wrong with an added layer of protection!
Keep reading to find out how to line a cake pan with parchment paper correctly.
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5 Easy Steps to Line Cake Pan with Parchment Paper
Although it might sound or look complicated, I promise you that lining your cake pan with parchment paper is a breeze.
Today, we’ll focus solely on round cake pans – as other types of cake pans are much easier to line. (All you have to do is cut the parchment paper, so it fits).
Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Cut a Portion of Parchment Paper That’s Bigger Than Your Cake Pan
The first step is to cut off a section of your parchment paper. Make sure that it’s larger than your cake pan.
To ensure it’s big enough, plop your cake pan in the middle of the parchment paper. Do not try to cut around the cake pan in a circle. The measurements will be incorrect. Instead, cut it, so it retains its square/rectangular shape.
Step 2: Fold to Make a Triangle
This next step might make you feel like you’re back in preschool making origami or paper snowflakes; hey, at least you’ll be having a good time, right?
Step two is to fold your parchment paper into a triangle. To do this, start by folding your parchment paper in half. Fold again in the opposite direction to make a square.
Next, fold the parchment paper square in half diagonally to form a triangle. Fold it one more time to make a smaller, narrower triangle.
Step 3: Line the Triangle Up With Your Cake Pan
Grab your cake pan and flip it upside down. Set it down on your workstation.
Then, place your triangle on top of the cake pan. The pointy end should be in the middle of your cake pan. There will be an overhang.
I know this can sound a little complicated. Well, just like you had a teacher to show you how to do it in grade school, I have a video that shows you how to correctly make your parchment paper triangle. Watch it now:
Step 4: Cut Off the Edges
Use a good pair of scissors to cut off the portion of the parchment paper hanging over the side of your cake pan.
Make sure that you follow the curve of your cake pan. Otherwise, the parchment paper will not fit correctly when it comes time to use it.
Step 5: Clean it Up, If Necessary
At this point, your parchment paper should fit perfectly into your pan.
Go ahead and test it out. If you notice any areas that need to be fixed up, do so now.
Option Two: Round Parchment Paper Sheets
The thought of having to line and snip parchment paper every time you want to bake a cake can be annoying. Luckily, there’s an easier way: parchment paper round sheets.
The perk of using pre-cut round parchment paper sheets is that you’ll never have to pick up a pair of scissors to get the “perfect shape.”
The downside is that you’ll have to purchase more than one box if you have different sizes of cake pans.
That said, pre-cut parchment paper sheets may be ideal if you tend to work with a single-size cake pan (nine inches, eight inches, etc.). It’s entirely up to you!
FAQs
See? I wasn’t lying when I said that lining your cake pan with parchment paper was a breeze! If you want to learn more about this fun topic, I’ve added a few interesting questions below. Check them out – you might learn a thing or two!
Do you grease under the parchment paper in a cake pan?
Although it might seem like overkill, you should absolutely grease underneath your parchment paper. This will act as an extra barrier of protection to fend off sticking. After all, nobody wants to bake a perfect cake that simply won’t slide out of the pan.
Do you have to grease parchment paper when baking a cake?
You don’t have to. However, plenty of people do (myself included, sometimes). Greasing with a product like butter will ensure that the cake does not stick while adding some extra richness and flavor to the cake, a win-win.
Which side of parchment paper goes down on the pan?
If you’re using parchment paper to line your cake pan, you want to ensure you do it right. That said, always ensure that the shiny or glossy side is facing upward. Your cake batter will sit on top of the shiny/glossy side of the parchment paper.
Parchment Paper is Easy to Line in a Cake Pan
As long as you have a pair of scissors and about five minutes, you can easily cut your parchment paper, so it fits your round cake pan with ease. The key is to fold it correctly into a triangle and have it placed with the pointy side in the middle of the pan.
Do you have any tips for lining a round cake pan with parchment paper?
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