A helpful guide on how to use muffin pans for cupcakes, muffins and other savory foods.
Wondering how to use your metal non-stick and silicone muffin pans for baking and cooking?
You’ve come to the right place! With helpful suggestions on how to use your muffin pan for baking muffins, cupcakes, egg cups and more, this guide is a great resource for muffin pans big and small!
Is there a difference between cupcake and muffin pans?
If you’re wondering if a cupcake pan is the same as a muffin pan, the answer is yes! Though generally called muffin pans, they can be used to bake cupcakes, muffins and even savory items, like egg cups.
How to grease a muffin pan
The easiest way to grease your muffin pan is to spray it with a non-stick vegetable spray. You can also use baking cups, which prevent your batter from sticking to the pan.
If you’d rather not use vegetable spray and you don’t have baking cups on hand, simply use a paper towel or your finger to rub some butter into each cavity. Lightly dust each cavity with flour and shake out any excess. This is especially helpful with jumbo muffin pans.
How to use a silicone muffin pan
To use a silicone muffin pan, place it on a cookie sheet (which offers added stability), grease or spray your silicone pan with a non-stick vegetable spray then fill with your desired batter. You can also use baking cups in a silicone pan, if you’d like.
Since silicone does not heat up like a metal pan, keep in mind that your baked goods may not brown like they would in a metal pan (but they’ll still taste delicious!). Silicone is also flexible, so your muffins and cupcakes should pop out easily.
Wondering if silicone bakeware is right for you? Check out our Bakeware Comparison Chart and Guide for all the tips and tricks you need to know!
What is a muffin top pan?
A muffin top pan allows you to make the best part of the muffin – the top! With wider cavities, this pan skips the stump and bakes a round muffin top that’s perfect for serving with tea or coffee.
Of course, the fun doesn’t have to stop there! This pan is also great for making whoopie pies, eggs, cornbread, cake layers, brownies and more.
How to make eggs in a muffin pan
You can bake eggs or cook mini quiches in your muffin pan for a quick and easy breakfast on the go! To prevent your eggs from sticking to the pan, you can use parchment paper or cupcake liners, or use a silicone pan for easier removal.
You can also use a slice of ham as your cavity liner, like in these Baked Ham and Egg Cups.
And if you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast or brunch recipe, these Spinach and White Cheddar Egg Bites are my favorite go-to!
Can you make brownies in a cupcake pan?
You absolutely can make brownies in a cupcake pan – just keep in mind that your brownies may bake faster than if you were to bake them in a square pan.
I love using my mini muffin pan to make brownies, especially these Caramel Pecan Brownie Bites, which are a hit every time I make them. These Slam Dunk Brownies are also great for birthday parties or tailgating with friends.
How to make cheesecake in a cupcake pan
Both muffin pans, and mini muffin pans, are great for making cheesecake. You can make small bite-sized treats with this Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa No-Bake Cheesecake or indulge in that delicious peanut butter-chocolate combo with these Buckeye Cheesecake Bites.
How do you clean a muffin pan?
Most non-stick and silicone muffin pans are dishwasher safe; however, we suggest hand washing them in warm, soapy water for best results.
If you have stubborn bits of batter or egg on your pan, you can soak it for a few minutes in warm, soapy water before lightly scrubbing the crumbs off.
What’s your favorite way to use your muffin pan? Let us know in the comments below!
Wilton is my absolute favourite brand 🙂 I am getting so many decoration ideas from your social media pages and learning a lot 🙂
Good job
you can buy them at Hobby Lobby.
I used my Wilton silicone mini-muffin pans for the first time to make cornbread muffins. I didn’t think I needed to grease the pan, so dropped cornbread batter directly in. The muffins looked perfect when they came out of the oven. But when I tried to turn them out of the pan, they wouldn’t release. I turned the pan over and pressed on the bottom of a muffin and the top half broke off, but every part that touched the pan was stuck. Every muffin in both pans did the same thing. I ended up scraping the bottom half of each out with a spoon, so I had 24 little muffin tops and a bowl of crumbs. After soaking the pans overnight in plain water, I still had to scrape the remains out of each cup with my fingernails and then follow up with a soft nylon scrubber to get them clean. Please advise whether I can ever use these for baking or if I just have a couple of expensive ice trays.
Hi Leilani,
We would suggest trying a light coating of grease or non-stick cooking spray. It can also be easier to get things out of silicone pans once they’re fully cool.
Do you sell the larger papers for the giant muffin pans or tell me where I can purchase them?
Hi Alice. We do sell parchment paper on Wilton.com