Have you ever wondered what's the best way to line pans with parchment paper? What's the easiest way to line square and rectangular pans? And what about round cake pans? In this article I'm sharing all of my tips - including detailed instructions and a video - for how to easily line baking pans of all different shapes and sizes with parchment paper.
I get the same question every time I share a behind-the-scenes baking video in my Instagram story: how the heck do you line baking pans with parchment paper so neatly?! The short answer is through a lot of trial and error and years of baking experience.
You may already know that the seemingly simple task of placing parchment paper into a baking pan is easier said than done. Plus a quick internet search for how to line pans with parchment paper will yield a thousand tutorials for a thousand different ways to line your pans.
Guess what: I've tried all the methods so that you don't have to! Some are overly complicated. Some leave some of the sides or corners of your pan unlined. Through this research and my own baking experience I've discovered the best simple, fool-proof methods for lining baking pans of all shapes and sizes.
So, without further ado, here's my much-anticipated tutorial for how to line pans with parchment paper!
Jump to:
- What is parchment paper?
- How to Line a Baking Sheet with Parchment Paper
- How to Line a Rectangular 9x13 Baking Pan with Parchment Paper
- How to Line a Square 8x8 or 9x9 Baking Pan with Parchment Paper
- How to Line a Round Cake Pan with Parchment Paper
- How to Line a Loaf Pan with Parchment Paper
- Parchment Paper FAQs
- Video: How to Line Baking Pans with Parchment Paper
- More Baking Tips
- Comments
What is parchment paper?
Parchment paper is paper that's been coated with silicone to provide a food-safe, non-stick surface that's also heat resistant*. It is a staple in a baker's kitchen and has many uses, including lining baking pans and layering between stacked baked goods so that they won't stick together. Parchment paper helps to promote even baking, reduces spreading, and keeps desserts from sticking to the pan.
Have more questions about parchment paper? Check out the FAQs at the bottom of this article.
*Most brands of parchment paper are heat-resistant to temperatures above 400ºF, but be sure to check the packaging of your paper, as this can vary.
TIP: I highly recommend buying pre-cut sheets of 12 in. x 16 in. parchment paper and storing them flat (rather than on a roll). This is the perfect size for lining half sheet pans and 9 in. x 13 in. pans, and it can be easily trimmed down for use with smaller pans. And unlike parchment paper that's stored on a roll, flat sheets of parchment won't roll back on you while you're trying to line your pans.
If you do choose to use parchment that's on a roll, use this tip to keep it flat. Cut a piece of the parchment to size, then scrunch it up into a ball. Spread the parchment back out onto a flat surface and smooth it out flat with your hands. It will now lay flat (no need to worry about the creases in the paper) so that you can more easily line your pans.
How to Line a Baking Sheet with Parchment Paper
Baking sheets are the easiest type of pan to line with parchment, so this will be a breeze!
- If you're using 12 in. x 16 in. parchment paper sheets to line a half baking sheet, then your parchment is already sized for your pan and all you need to do is place the sheet onto the pan.
- For smaller baking pans or if you're using a roll of parchment paper, simply trim the parchment paper to a rectangle that fits the bottom interior of the pan.
How to Line a Rectangular 9x13 Baking Pan with Parchment Paper
This method will work for any size rectangular pan, such as a 9x13 pan, and it is the same basic method that I use to line square and loaf pans as well.
- Place a piece of parchment paper underneath your pan. Lift up the edges of the paper to ensure that they reach up each of the sides of the pan, and use a pair of scissors to trim off any excess. (If you're using 12 in. x 16 in. parchment paper sheet to line a 9 x 13 in. pan., then you shouldn't need to trim your paper.)
- Using the scissors, make a cut in the paper from one side towards one corner of the pan. Repeat for the other 4 corners. Remove the pan from atop the paper, and add another roughly ¼ inch snip to slightly lengthen each of the 4 existing cuts (this will give you a little more wiggle room when shaping the corners).
- Place the paper into the pan and fold one flap behind the other at each of the 4 corners so that the paper fits neatly inside the pan.
- Using your fingers, crease the paper along the 4 horizontal edges of the pan. Then crease the paper along the 4 vertical corners so that the paper fits perfectly into all corners of the pan. (The sides of the paper may not lay flush with your pan, but they should be close (see photo below). Once you fill the pan with dough or batter the parchment will lay against the pan.)
Watch the video at the bottom of this post to see these steps in action!
How to Line a Square 8x8 or 9x9 Baking Pan with Parchment Paper
This method will work well for any size square pan, including the popular sizes of 8x8 and 9x9.
- Place a piece of parchment paper underneath your pan. Lift up the edges of the paper to ensure that they reach up each of the sides of the pan, and use a pair of scissors to trim off any excess.
- Using the scissors, make a cut in the paper from one side towards one corner of the pan. Repeat for the other 4 corners. Remove the pan from atop the paper, and add another roughly ¼ inch snip to slightly lengthen each of the 4 existing cuts.
- Place the paper into the pan and fold one flap behind the other at each of the 4 corners so that the paper fits neatly inside the pan.
- Using your fingers, crease the paper along the 4 horizontal edges of the pan. Then crease the paper along the 4 vertical corners so that the paper fits perfectly into all corners of the pan.
Watch the video at the bottom of this post to see these steps in action!
How to Line a Round Cake Pan with Parchment Paper
You can purchase pre-cut rounds of parchment paper sized to your pans, but this method works using sheets or rolls of parchment for any size cake pan. Note that for round cake pans you do want to grease the interior sides of your cake pan to ensure that your cake doesn't stick to the sides of the pan, since the parchment will only cover the bottom of the pan.
- Place a piece of parchment paper underneath your cake pan and use a pencil to trace an outline of the bottom edge of the pan onto the parchment paper.
- Use a clean pair of scissors to cut a circle just inside the outline you drew. (We're going slightly smaller than the circle you drew to accommodate the thickness of the pan, since you traced the outside edge and the paper will sit on the inside of the pan).
- Spray the interior sides of the cake pan with cooking spray, then place the circle of paper into the bottom of the pan.
Watch the video at the bottom of this post to see these steps in action!
How to Line a Loaf Pan with Parchment Paper
To line a loaf pan I use the same method as a rectangular or square pan. Because loaf pan sides often taper inward, it's likely that the corners won't lay perfect flat. Not to worry - once you fill the pan with dough or batter the parchment will lay flat against the pan.
- Place a piece of parchment paper underneath your pan. Lift up the edges of the paper to ensure that they reach up each of the sides of the pan, and use a pair of scissors to trim off any excess.
- Using the scissors, make a cut in the paper from one side towards one corner of the pan. Repeat for the other 4 corners. Remove the pan from atop the paper, and add another roughly ¼ inch snip to slightly lengthen each of the 4 existing cuts.
- Place the paper into the pan and fold one flap behind the other at each of the 4 corners so that the paper fits inside the pan.
- Using your fingers, crease the paper along the 4 horizontal edges of the pan. Then crease the paper along the 4 vertical corners so that the paper fits perfectly into all corners of the pan. The corners likely won't lay flat against the pan, but they will when the batter is added.
Watch the video at the bottom of this post to see these steps in action!
Parchment Paper FAQs
Parchment paper is primarily used to keep baked goods from sticking to the pan, but it can have multiple purposes. When used to line pans, it also stops baked goods from over-browning and cookies from over-spreading during baking. It can also be used to help lift baked goods up out of their baking pan.
This is a really common question about parchment paper. Do you need to grease the paper or spray it with cooking spray? The answer: nope! Parchment paper is already non-stick, so you do not need to spray or grease your parchment paper. And if you're baking cookies, greasing the parchment paper will likely cause your cookies to overspread and become greasy, so definitely skip the grease. With that said, if the recipe you're using says to grease the parchment paper then you may want to do so, especially if it's your first time making the recipe.
In some cases waxed paper or aluminum foil can be used in place of parchment, but these are not all-around substitutes for parchment paper. Waxed paper is coated with paraffin wax, so it is non-stick but not heat resistant and should not be used to line pans that will go into the oven. Aluminum foil lacks the non-stick coating of parchment paper, so it won't stop your desserts from sticking to their pans as parchment will.
Video: How to Line Baking Pans with Parchment Paper
Love this baking tutorial? Be sure to check out my other helpful baking tips! And don't forget to subscribe to Always Eat Dessert for even more baking tips and easy scratch-made dessert recipes.
Ryan says
The corner cuts for the square pans is brilliant. Thank you
Hazel Livingston says
Do I always spray it when I use it?
Allison Ferraro says
Hi Hazel! There's no need to spray your parchment paper. In fact, I never do. It's naturally non-stick, and spraying/greasing the paper could negatively impact your baked goods (for example, it would cause cookies to spread too much).
- Allison
Dorothy Hanks says
Why did my parchment paper disappear after baking pumpkin bread in my bread pans?
Allison Ferraro says
Hi Dorothy! I have not experienced this and cannot say for sure, but my guess is that your parchment paper actually stuck to the bottom of your loaf and became so soft and transparent that you didn't realize it was there. A very wet dough, like pumpkin bread dough, that bakes for a long time could cause this to happen.
- Allison
Irene Cook says
Love your helpful hints/information. Thanks a bunch, Irene