Best Baking Cups
They are known as baking cups, those cute little receptacles into which we pour cake batter and then pop into the oven until it bakes up into moist and delicious cupcakes or muffins. It used to be that baking cups were made out of paper but these days, they are made from a range of materials including tin foil, aluminum, and silicone.
And while the concept is still the same – making cupcakes and muffins – baking cups are now used for a wide range of dishes, from egg bites and pudding to Jello and créme brulée.
Which baking cups are the best to buy? Well, that depends on your personal preference and what you plan to use them for. There are no right or wrong answers, but there are advantages and disadvantages to the different baking cups out there, so it can take a bit of time figuring out the “best” ones.
Below, we feature eight different kinds of baking cups you can purchase online. Read on to get an idea of which kind would be the best for your needs.
1.Top Pick: Juzanl Aluminum Foil Baking Cups with Lids
There are lots of ways to make cupcakes, but it usually involves baking cups lining the crevices in a muffin pan. And while this is a time-honored method, being able to do so without the extra pan is a handy alternative, especially if you don’t have a muffin pan. That’s why we love these aluminum baking cups from Juzanl.
While you can put them into a muffin pan to bake if that is your preference, you don’t need to. You can place them on a cookie sheet or even directly onto the top rack in your oven and still get beautifully baked cupcakes or muffins.
Made from 100 percent recyclable food-grade aluminum, the surface of these baking cups is smooth, slightly waterproof and oil-proof, with a five-ounce capacity to make small cupcakes, crème brulée, muffins, mini pies or Jello.
The pack of 50 baking cups also comes with 50 transparent plastic lids. When it comes time to put icing on your cupcakes, you can protect your fancy artwork and any additional sprinkles, whipped cream or candies, by covering it with the lid. This also makes them easy to transport and keeps the dust off your baking masterpieces as they sit nicely arranged on the table at your next event or celebration.
Pros:
- Do not need a muffin pan to use
- Made of 100 percent recycled aluminum
- Comes with transparent plastic lids
Cons:
- Small capacity
2. Best Runner Up: Iefoah Tulip Cupcake Liners Baking Cups
The most important thing about making cupcakes or muffins is the batter, right? After all, it’s all about the moist and delicious taste of these mini-cakes baked in their own wrapping. However, once you’ve reached the peak of your baking perfection, the next most important element is the presentation. Even though the outer part – meaning the baking cup it is made in – is quickly stripped away to get at the goodness within, having an elegant looking baking cup just adds to the overall pleasure of baking and eating.
These tulip-shaped baking cups are made from unbleached parchment paper with a silicone coating that can withstand temperatures up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can feel confident they will bake your cupcakes to perfection. The 100-cup set comes in two colors – 50 brown and 50 natural – with a tulip design that will add a touch of elegance to your finished product.
These baking cups are odor free and will not stick to the food, so they are easy to remove. They each measure 1.97 x 3.15 x 3.15 inches and fit a standard-sized muffin tin. These tulip shaped baking cups make an ideal choice for everyday use or for special occasions like a bridal or baby shower or birthday.
Pros:
- Made of unbleached parchment paper coated with silicone
- 100 baking cups in two colors
- Elegant look
Cons:
Some users said food stuck to the brown baking cups, but not the natural-colored ones
3. Best Bulk Buy Large Size: Solut PET Fluted Wall Round Baking Cup
If you do a lot of baking either for your family or your home baking business, then you know that buying the items you use frequently in bulk is a money saver. That’s why we included these large, round fluted baking cups that are not only hold more batter (or whatever you want to fill them with), but they come in a package of 750 – that’s enough to bake 62.5 dozen cupcakes or muffins.
But that’s not the only reason why we think they are a good option. The baking cups are sourced from sustainable forestry mills and are made from 100 percent post-consumer, recycled content, making them a sound eco-friendly choice. They are also coated with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which means food slides easily out without you having to add any extra shortening.
Oven safe at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for up to an hour, they can also go into the freezer and the microwave. And while the sides are low, the baking cups have an eight-ounce capacity and measure 4.5 inches in diameter and 1 1/8-inches deep.
Pros:
- Eight-ounce capacity
- Recyclable
- Oven safe to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Cons:
- May be too shallow for some needs
4. Best Eco-Friendly: If You Care Unbleached Large Baking Cups
So many of us want to maintain our habits without harming the environment or ourselves, and that includes what we bake or cook our food in and what we end up consuming in terms of toxins.
With these baking cups from If You Care, you get a whole lot of good things and none of the bad things that sometimes lurk inside the products we use. Made from 100 percent unbleached, beige greaseproof paper, the baking cups do not contain chlorine, a chemical that is harmful for the environment and not particularly good for us.
This set includes six packages containing 60 baking cups each for a total of 360 cups, so you’ll be set for a good amount of baking, whether you use them for cupcakes, muffins, or anything else that suits your fancy.
Manufactured in Sweden, they are microwave and oven safe and measure 2.5-inches in diameter and because they are coated with a natural silicone, you don’t have to grease them to ensure an easy release of whatever you are baking. They are also biodegradable.
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Unbleached, do not contain chlorine
- Biodegradable
Cons:
- These are standard size and not “large”
5. Best Variety: LetGoShop Silicone Cupcake Liners Reusable Baking Cups
Variety is the spice of life, even when it comes to baking cups, and why not? Making delicious cupcakes or muffins is fun, so why not add a touch of whimsey by baking them in colorful baking cups in a variety of shapes?
All the pieces in this set of 24 baking cups are made from 100 percent food-grade, BPA-free silicone and come in a rainbow of colors and an assortment of shapes to fuel your creativity and imagination. There are four shapes – round, star, heart and rose – and each shape comes in six colors – red, pink, purple, yellow, blue and green.
Ideal for making muffins, cupcakes, egg bites or candy, these baking cups are eco-friendly, non-toxic and the best part? They are reusable, so you don’t have to go out and buy more every time you bake a batch of cupcakes.
Similar to all silicone products, these baking cups are non-stick and can be used in the microwave, oven, fridge and freezer and can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher. They are not large, with a volume capacity of 2.2 ounces, and measuring 2.75 ×1.57 × 1.18 inches.
Pros:
- A variety of colors and shapes
- Non-stick
- Reusable
Cons:
- Small size
- Not all shapes fit into a muffin pan
6. Best Budget Pick: Honbay 12PCS Silicone Rectangular Reusable Cake Cup
We understand that when you’re on a budget, every penny counts, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a reliable and reusable set of baking cups. We’ve included these baking cups from Honbay because they are very affordable and at under $10, are within the reach of even the strictest budget.
The pieces in this package of 12 baking cups are rectangular in shape, which makes really cute loaf-like goodies, whether you choose to bake muffins, cupcakes, pudding, Jello or egg bites. Each one measures 3.27 x 1.81 x 0.79 inches, and you will get two each in one of six bright colors – orange, pink, red, yellow, green and blue – for a total of 12.
Soft and pliable, the non-stick nature of these small baking cups makes for an easy release of whatever food you choose to cook in them. They are easy to clean and fit perfectly into a Bento box for added convenience. They are also reusable and available in round or heart shapes.
Pros:
- Made of food grade silicone
- Affordable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Small size
7. Also Consider: To encounter Silicone Cupcake Baking Cups
Our next selection is a set of 24 baking cups made from food-grade silicone, and these 3.75-inch cups come in soft, rainbow colors with six different shaped bottoms, ideal to make pudding, chocolate or custard molds, as well as cupcakes and muffins.
Reusable and durable, just place the cups on a cookie sheet and fill them with whatever you desire, then stick them in the oven and bake. Because the silicone is non-stick, you don’t have to add any grease or butter; they will slide out when done. Freeze them and when you’re in the mood for a treat, put them in the microwave or even the oven to reheat and enjoy.
Easier to clean than metal or aluminum, these baking cups can go into the dishwasher, or you can wash them in warm soapy water and air dry. And unlike paper baking cups, these are reusable, so you don’t have purchase new ones after the baking is done.
Pros:
- BPA free
- Safe for oven, freezer, microwave and dishwasher
- Non-stick
- Reusable
Cons:
- Need to be put on a cookie sheet, cannot stand alone while cooking
8. Honorable Mention: Amazon Basics Nonstick Muffin Baking Pan Set of 2 & Reusable Silicone Baking Cups
The final choice on our recommendation list is worth mentioning since it contains everything you need to make an array of different foods in baking cups.
While there are many advantages to using silicone baking cups, more often than not, these soft-sided cups will collapse under the weight of batter if they are standing alone. To use them correctly, it’s best to put them into the cups of a muffin tin.
This set comes with two muffin pans, each of which has 12 cups, for 24 cups in total. The pans are oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and are made of heavy weight steel construction for fast, even heating.
You also receive 12 colorful baking cups made of food-grade silicone that fit perfectly into the tins. These silicone baking cups measure 1.38 inches high and come in two of each color — pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, are safe up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit.
Reusable, freezer and microwave safe you can line the muffin pans with the baking cups, fill them with your favorite cupcake batter, and when they are done, remove the cups and freeze them until they are ready to eat. This baking cup set makes an ideal gift for the baker in your life.
Pros:
- Makes an ideal gift
- Set includes two muffin pans and 12 silicone baking cups
- Each pan measures 13.9 x 10.6 x 1.2 inches
Cons:
- Small size baking cups
- Not everyone needs the muffin tins
Things to consider when buying baking cups:
There’s nothing like homemade cupcakes and muffins. One of the easiest ways to make them is by using baking cups, either on their own or in a muffin tin. Although it may seem simple to choose baking cups, there are actually a lot of different kinds available on the market. Although there is no real right or wrong kind of muffin cup, they do have different characteristics that may or may not enhance your cooking experience. Before you make a purchase, read below to see a number of factors you may want to consider before choosing the baking cups that are best for you.
Material: Baking cups are made from different materials, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages.
Paper: Paper is a popular choice for baking cups. It can be bleached or unbleached paper, the advantage of unbleached being it doesn’t contain Chlorine, which can be harmful to your health. Often, paper baking cups have a non-stick inner surface, so food doesn’t stick to the paper when you peel it off the cupcake or muffin, but not all paper baking cups do, so if non-stick is important to you, make sure you pick the right kind of paper. Finally, while most paper is recyclable and biodegradable, it is not reusable, and therefore can be more costly than other materials that are not one-time use.
Silicone: Silicone is another popular choice because food-grade silicone is non-toxic, biodegradable, can withstand hot and cold temperatures and is inexpensive and reusable. It is also non-stick and food releases easily without the need for added grease or shortening. The downside to silicone is that the sides can be soft and floppy and collapse when filled with batter. The solution to this is to place them in a muffin tin, which will keep the shape of the baking cups intact.
Aluminum: Some people enjoy using aluminum or tin baking cups because they add a glittery appearance to their muffins or cupcakes, but there are other reasons this material works well. Aluminum is generally sturdier than paper or silicone, so you don’t need a muffin tin in the baking process. Also, aluminum distributes heat more evenly, which will bake your muffins just a little bit faster. The downside of aluminum is that it is not reusable and, in some areas, it is not recyclable.
At the end of the day, when it comes to choosing baking cups, it all comes down to your personal preference and what makes your baking experience pleasant.
Photo credit: gangnavigator/Shutterstock