Best Silicone Baking Cups
Baking cups are those cute little receptacles into which we pour cake batter to bake up moist and delicious cupcakes or muffins. It used to be that baking cups were made out of paper, which you used once and then discarded, but these days, you can find baking cups made of reusable, non-toxic silicone.
Silicone baking cups come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and a rainbow of colors and have a number of advantages that make them an ideal choice over other paper. Food-grade silicone is environmentally friendly, versatile, can be used over and over again and has a high resistance to heat. Silicone baking cups can also be put in the microwave and the freezer.
There are many silicone baking cups on the market, so which are the best to buy? Well, that depends on the quality of the silicone, your baking style and what you plan to use them for.
Below we feature a list of silicone baking cups you can purchase online. Read on to find which kind would be the best for you.
1. Best Jumbo Size: The Sweet Baker Professional Jumbo Silicone Baking Cups Premium 12 Piece Set
What’s better than a cupcake or a muffin? A jumbo-sized one, of course! Because not only does a larger size mean more deliciousness to eat, but it also means you can be more creative and use the baking cups to make more than mini-cakes.
These jumbo silicone baking cups are made from EU LFGB-approved 100 percent food-grade silicone, so you know they are safe and non-toxic, with no fillers or chemical coatings. These large baking cups measure 3.6-inches and can hold up to six ounces. Super sturdy, they stand on their own so you can just place them on a cookie sheet instead of needing a muffin tin.
The silicone baking cups have a smooth design and are non-stick, so whatever you bake in them will slide out easily when done. They come in a rainbow of colors, are oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe, and the 12 reusable cups come in a space-saving storage container.
Pros:
- Smooth cup design
- 100 percent food-grade silicone
- Jumbo size
Cons:
- Only 12 in the package
- Size may be too big for some people
2. Best Bulk Value: R Horse 42Pcs Silicone Molds Cupcake Multi Flower Shapes Silicone Baking Cups
If you have a large family, love to bake or even have your own home-based cupcake and muffin business, you’ll need a large number of silicone baking cups to get you through all the batches you want to make. We’ve included this 42-piece silicone baking cup set for a number of reasons, including the value-packed amount you receive for an affordable price.
Made from food-grade silicone, this set includes six different flower shapes – sun flower, rose, sunflower, dahlia, malus spectabilis, and redbud. You receive seven of each shape in each of the six different colors – blue, green, pink, purple, red and orange.
These baking cups are small in size, measuring two inches wide, with a depth of .8 inches, so you can make adorable bite-sized treats. They sit well on a cookie sheet, or you can use them to line a muffin tin. The non-stick surface makes it easy to peel the cups away from the food, or once baked, you can store them in the freezer in the baking cups and warm them in the microwave when you’re ready eat them.
Pros:
- 42 pieces
- Six different flower shapes
- Value priced
Cons:
- May be too small for some uses
3. Best for Lovers: Jell-Cell Silicone Baking Cups Muffin Molds Hearts
Every February, thoughts turn to matters of the heart with Valentine’s Day and we rush out to buy flowers and chocolates or bake delicious little heart-shaped cakes for our loved ones. But you don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day to make a mini cake in the shape of a heart – this type of treat can be shared any day of the year to send out a sweet message of love.
These cute red baking cups are made of 100 percent food-grade silicone, and since they are reusable, you can use them over and over again for birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers and of course, Valentine’s Day.
The package contains 24 baking cups that are flexible but sturdy enough to stand on their own on a cookie sheet in the oven. Each cup measures approximately 2.75 inches in diameter at the top, approximately 2.36 inches in diameter at the bottom and approximately 1.18 inches deep. The non-stick material releases food easily without added shortening and these little baking cups are easy to clean with a small brush or you can pop them in the dishwasher.
Pros:
- Oven, freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe
- Made of 100 percent food-grade silicone
- Can be used to make cakes, egg tarts, chocolate and pudding
Cons:
- Some users said the baking cups were difficult to clean by hand
4. Best Variety Pack: IELEK Silicone Cupcake Liners Baking Cups
Sometimes you want to bake small cupcakes, sometimes you want to bake large ones while other times you want a rectangle shape instead of round. The solution? This 30-piece variety pack that contains different shapes and sizes to meet all of those needs.
Made with BPA and PVC-free 100 percent food-grade FDA and European LFGB certified silicone, you know these baking cups meet the kind of stringent health standards that will give you peace of mind. The set includes a combination of 12 standard-sized rectangle baking cups measuring 3.15 x 1.97 x 1.18 inches; 12 pieces of standard round baking cups measuring 2.75 x 1.25-inches; and six jumbo-sized cups that measure 3.74 x 2.68 x 1.85 inches.
All of the baking cups are non-stick and can withstand temperatures from -104 degrees Fahrenheit to 446 degrees Fahrenheit, making them microwave, oven, refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher safe. Because you have a choice of different sizes, you can use them for so many things — from making cupcakes, muffins and mini loafs to chocolate and even as small containers for your child’s Bento box.
Pros:
- Variety pack of different sizes
- FDA and European LFGB certified silicone
- Comes in a rainbow of different colors
Cons:
- Some users found the silicone to be thin
5. Best Set: 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
6. Best Budget Buy: 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. Honorable Mention: 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. Also Consider: 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
Things to consider when looking for silicone baking cups:
You’d think that purchasing the right silicone baking cups for your needs would be an easy task, but like most things in life, it’s not that simple. There are a lot of brands and products out there, some that are better than others, and it’s helpful to know the advantages and disadvantages of the different silicone baking cups so you can choose the best ones for your needs.
We’ve already discussed the advantages of silicone, that it is reusable, non-toxic, non-stick and heat resistant, and while most of these features can be universally applied to most silicone baking cups, it’s not true for all of them.
The type of silicone: This is probably the most important factor to consider when looking for silicone baking cups. Not all silicone products are created equally. The kind to purchase should be made of 100 percent food-grade silicone. Many products state they are made of food-grade silicone, but if it’s not 100 percent, it could contain fillers that can affect the quality of the product. Plus, you don’t know what those fillers may be, and how or if they could affect your health after long-term usage. To be really sure, choose silicone baking cups that have been FDA or European LFGB approved.
Shape and size: Silicone baking cups come in a large variety of shapes and sizes, from small, standard and jumbo, to round, rectangular, stars, flowers, hearts, diamonds and more.
Before making any buying decisions, it’s best to think about what you will be making in the baking cups to determine the size and shape you need. The smaller the size, the greater the chance you’ll need a muffin tin to place them in before baking. This is because small silicone baking cups can be thin and very flexible, so they might collapse under the weight of the cake batter. If you are going to use small cups and don’t have a muffin tin, place them on a cookie sheet and only fill them halfway. There will be less of a chance that they will collapse and still bake up into bite-sized treats.
Quantity: Because silicone baking cups are reusable, you will need less than paper baking cups. Nonetheless, think about how many you would use at a time and buy accordingly. Luckily, silicone baking cups come in a huge selection when it comes to quantity, from 12 pieces to 42 and more.
Photo credit: Sombat Muycheen/Shutterstock