Paper cupcake liners aren't just for baking! We've got seven clever uses for this supply staple, so stock up.
7 Inventive Ways to Use Cupcake Liners (That Aren’t for Baking)
Updated on Nov. 16, 2023
When it comes to cupcakes, who can get enough? These pretty, pint-size treats are a great addition to any party or special occasion. And when it comes to decorating, well, you can get pretty wild with the toppings and even use some funky cupcake liners to boot. But it turns out these festive wrappers can be used for more than just dressing up your baked goods.
With a little ingenuity, cupcake liners be pretty useful throughout the kitchen. So next time you’re at the grocery store, grab an extra package.
1. Top off a mason jar
Homemade gifts delivered in mason jars are the cutest! Jazz up the presentation by slipping a cupcake liner under the lid before screwing on the metal band. A fun, patterned liner will give the topper some color and the crinkled edges will create a pretty ruffle.
2. Try them as single-serve dishes
Serving up small snacks at your next party (like this tasty nut mix)? Use these muffin tin liners as small dishes to hold these miniature munchies.
3. Tell bugs to buzz off
While there’s nothing better than a summer picnic, the bees and flies can be a real pain. Keep them out of your beverages by popping a cupcake liner over the top of your glass. Take the next step and punch a small hole in the bottom to make room for a straw.
4. Use them as disposable containers
Decorating cookies? Instead of dipping into that giant bag of candy or narrow jar of sprinkles, use cupcake liners as small dishes to hold all your decorations. The wide opening gives you easy access to what you need plus they’re a breeze to clean up!
And don’t stop at sprinkles—cupcake liners are great as small prep bowls for measuring small ingredients, like a few teaspoons of dried herbs.
5. Keep ice pops from dripping everywhere
Anyone with a kiddo knows that homemade ice pops are a great treat, but they can be incredibly messy. Keep popsicles from melting everywhere by slipping a cupcake liner onto the stick to catch all those melty drops.
6. Keep sticky jars from making a mess
Even the most organized pantries are subject to the sticky mess that’s the squeezable honey bear or molasses bottle. To keep those gooey drips from making a big mess, simply set your containers inside a cupcake liner. This will catch any extra drips and keep your shelves clean.
7. Keep kids snacks organized
Sending the kids off the school with a homemade lunch is always a great idea. But not every mom or dad has a beautiful divided bento box to keep the carrots from running into the grapes from running into the cheese. For discerning kids that prefer their snacks not to touch, nestle a handful of cupcake liners into a larger plastic container to keep all those treats organized.
While I still think that cupcakes are the best fillings for these liners, some of these hacks are pretty handy!
Try a new twist on your muffin pans with these recipes.
Loaded Chicken Carbonara CupsSpaghetti cupcakes with a chicken carbonara twist make for a tasty, fun family dinner. Whole wheat pasta and reduced-fat ingredients make these quick and easy little pasta cakes nutritional winners, too. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Muffin-Tin Scrambled EggsI made these one year at Christmas as a way to save time, and they were a big hit. I have to make a large batch because my husband and boys can polish them off in a short amount of time. These also freeze very well, if there are any left! —Jill Darin, Geneseo, Illinois
Easy Taco CupsThese zesty little cups rank high on my list of favorites because they combine three things I look for in a recipe: fast, easy and delicious! They make a simply fantastic finger food for parties, and my guests have fun selecting their desired toppings.
—Ashley Jarvies, Manassa, CO
Hot Chocolate BombsWarm, cozy and delightfully sweet, these hot cocoa bombs are an easy treat for a cold winter's day.
Make-Ahead Eggs Benedict Toast CupsWhen I was growing up, we had a family tradition of having eggs Benedict with champagne and orange juice for our Christmas breakfast. But now that I’m cooking, a fussy breakfast isn’t my style. I wanted to come up with a dish I could make ahead that would mimic the flavors of traditional eggs Benedict and would also freeze well. Friends, all I can say is, this one fits the bill! —Lyndsay Wells, Ladysmith, British Columbia
Tuna Noodle CupsOlder kids can get a jump on preparing dinner by stirring up these miniature tuna casseroles. Or serve them for brunch with fresh fruit, a tossed salad and rolls. —Marlene Pugh, Fort McMurray, Alberta
Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu"Cordon Bleu" is a French phrase meaning "blue ribbon"—given as a prize for culinary excellence. The term also refers to a signature dish of chicken topped with a slice of ham and Swiss cheese, usually breaded and sauteed, or in this case, wrapped in puff pastry for a quick and easy finish. —Sharon Laabs, Hartford, Wisconsin
Nut Butter CupsMy indulgent, nutty treat is simple to make and looks fabulous. At our house, we use all-natural ingredients for them. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Ramen SlidersI grew up eating ramen and love it to this day. A fun spin on my favorite type of noodle soup, these sliders are topped with an egg and kimchi. —Julie Teramoto, Los Angeles, California
Broccoli Quiche CupsMake this crustless quiche in muffin cups or in a regular-size pie tin. Either way, there's plenty of bacon-y, cheesy goodness to go around. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
Shortcut Coconut-Pecan Chocolate TassiesYou can garnish these cookies with pecan halves or a couple of chocolate chips before baking, or drizzle with a little melted chocolate after taking them out of the oven. —Deb Villenauve, Krakow, Wisconsin
Parmesan Mushroom TartletsMy easy tartlets loaded with a cheesy mushroom filling take advantage of refrigerated crescent roll dough. I think they’re best warm from the oven with a sprinkling of green onion.—Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Mini Sausage PiesThe simple ingredients and family-friendly flavor of these little sausage cups make them a go-to dinner favorite. And everyone gets their own pies—which makes them even better! —Kerry Dingwall, Ponte Vedra, Florida
Farmhouse Barbecue MuffinsCheddar cheese, fluffy biscuits and BBQ sauce combine to make these hearty muffins. Try them with ground turkey or other shredded cheeses to vary the flavor. —Karen Kenney, Harvard, Illinois
Chicken TostadasA couple of smart shortcut ingredients, specifically taco seasoning and canned tomatoes with green chiles, make these chicken tostadas a snap to assemble.
Pigs in a PoolMy kids love sausages and pancakes but making them during the week was out of the question. I bought the frozen variety on a stick but wasn't keen on the calories, additives or price. This version of pigs-in-a-blanket is a tasty, thrifty alternative. —Lisa Dodd, Greenville, South Carolina
Caramel Apple CheesecakeThis caramel apple cheesecake will bring back nostalgic memories of your childhood visits to the fair. This version is all grown up, with a rich cheesecake filling and its garnish of pecans.
Mini Corn Muffins with Spicy Cheddar FillingI’m an Iowa gardener and I like to feature sweet corn in my muffin tin recipes. These cute, easy-to-eat bites are a fun change from the usual appetizers. —Margaret Blair, Lorimor, Iowa
Mac and Cheese BitesOur mac and cheese bites are everything you love about your favorite mac and cheese recipe in a hand-held, bite-sized appetizer.
Mini Shepherd’s PiesI’m as confident serving these little pies to company as to family. If I have enough time, I’ll use homemade biscuits and mashed potatoes. —Ellen Osborne, Clarksville, Tennessee
Ham & Gruyere Mini QuichesWhen you make this in muffin cups, each person gets a quiche. I have also doubled the recipe and used jumbo muffin cups; bake about 10 minutes longer. —Gena Stout, Ravenden, Arkansas
Buffalo Chicken BiscuitsThese spicy, savory muffins are always a hit at parties. We love them as a simple snack on game day, too. —Jasmin Baron, Livonia, New York
Italian Honey ClustersMy mother made these treats flavored with cinnamon and anise for neighbors, teachers and anyone who stopped by. Make sure the honey doesn’t boil longer than a minute or it could burn.—Sarah Knoblock, Hyde Park, Indiana
BLT MuffinsThese muffins prove that the classic combo of bacon, lettuce and tomato is good for so much more than a sandwich. They're winners at both breakfast and dinner. —Katie Koziolek, Hartland, Minnesota
Ham MuffinwichesI concocted this fun recipe when I was looking for something to pack for lunch. I had leftover ham but no bread, so I got creative with cornbread mix. They freeze well and are handy for an on-the-go breakfast or lunch. —Jenny Wiebe, Villa Hills, Kentucky
Hash Brown Quiche CupsQuiche cups are my showstopper potluck dish. Hash browns and Asiago cheese make up the crusts. Eggs, spinach and bacon do the rest. —Nicole Stone, Gilbertville, Iowa
Creamy Frozen Fruit CupsI love to prepare these cool, fluffy fruit cups to give a refreshing boost to many meals. They've been well received at family gatherings and summer barbecues. There's no last-minute fuss since you make them well in advance. —Karen Hatcher, St. Amant, Louisiana
Muffin-Cup Cheddar Beef PiesMy kids love these beef rolls so much. I always make extra since they heat up so quickly. I give the kids their choice of dipping sauces—spaghetti sauce or ranch dressing are the top picks. —Kimberly Farmer, Wichita, Kansas
Cheddar Corn Dog MuffinsI wanted to riff on hot dogs, so I made corn dog muffins. I added jalapenos to this kid-friendly recipe and won my husband over, too. —Becky Tarala, Palm Coast, Florida
Pecan Butter TartsI searched for the perfect butter tart for ages. After many attempts, I discovered this favorite that begs for a scoop of ice cream on top. —Susan Kieboam, Streetsboro, Ohio
Cheddar Ham CupsWhen a college classmate and I threw a party for our professor, a friend contributed these savory appetizers. Everyone in the class requested the recipe before the party was done. Try the cups with chicken instead of ham if you'd like.
-Brandi Ladner
Gulfport, Mississippi
Cloverleaf RollsWhen I was a girl, it was a rare occasion when Mom made a gourmet meal. Most often, she relied on traditional muffin tin recipes like this one. My sister and I ate more than our share of these versatile golden rolls.
-Brenda DuFresne, Midland, Michigan
Loaded Pulled Pork CupsPotato nests are simple to make and surprisingly handy for pulled pork, cheese, sour cream and other toppings. Make, bake and collect the compliments. —Melissa Sperka, Greensboro, North Carolina
Mini Sausage QuichesThese bite-sized quiches are loaded with sausage and cheese—and all nestled into easy crescent roll dough. Serve the cute muffinettes at any brunch or potluck gathering. —Jan Mead, Milford, Connecticut
Orange-Cranberry Nut TartsMy friend gave me a recipe for orange cookies. I just had to embellish it. Now my friends and family crave these tarts. —Nancy Bruce, Big Timber, Montana
Sloppy Joe Biscuit CupsI’m a busy teacher and mom, so weekday meals with shortcuts are a huge help. I always have to share the recipe when I take these to school. —Julie Ahern, Waukegan, Illinois
Fried Chicken and Pulled Pork Cornbread PoppersThese fun little apps are an instant conversation starter wherever they're served. We love them on game day, but they'd be a hit at brunch, too. —Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
Baked Veggie CupsThese colorful veggie cups are not only tasty, but they also pack in a surprising amount of nutrition! The addition of mozzarella and Parmesan is the perfect Italian touch. —Cathy Horvath, Surrey, British Columbia
Crepe Quiche CupsWhen it comes to trying new muffin tin recipes, I'm always up for the challenge, and crepe cups have turned out to be one of my favorite things to serve while entertaining. They're a nice change for breakfast on those holiday mornings when family is gathered around. —Sheryl Riley, Unionville, Missouri
Trail Mix Cookie CupsMy granddaughter helped create these cookie cups for the first time by using ingredients from my pantry and fridge. We used trail mix to jazz them up. —Pamela Shank, Parkersburg, West Virginia
Mini Ham QuichesThese quiches are delightful for brunch when you don’t want to fuss. Replace
the ham with bacon, sausage, chicken or shrimp, or use chopped onion, red pepper or zucchini instead of olives. —Marilou Robinson, Portland, Oregon
Meat Loaf MuffinsThese freezer-friendly meat loaf muffins are a simple-to-make family favorite recipe. Make them for dinner tonight or to freeze later for quick weeknight meals.
Mini Pork PiesAs a child, I discovered my love of pork pies. I used to help my father deliver oil on Saturdays, and we would stop at a local place to have the meaty pastries for lunch. —Renee Murby, Johnston, Rhode Island
Maple Toast and EggsMy home's in the country, right next door to my sister and brother-in-law's. They and their two children all enjoy this dish each time I serve it as a special evening meal—although it can also be made for breakfast or lunch. —Susan Buttel, Plattsburgh, New York
Ground Beef Snack QuichesMy husband, Cory, farms, so supper can sometimes be quite late. A hearty appetizer like these meaty mini quiches is a perfect way to start the meal. They taste super made with ground beef, but I sometimes substitute bacon, ham, ground pork or sausage. —Stacy Atkinson, Rugby, North Dakota
Stuffin’ MuffinsIf you love stuffing, you won’t be able to get enough of these fun muffin cups that make use of not only leftover stuffing but also green beans, turkey, mashed potatoes, cheddar and gravy. It’s a taste of Thanksgiving in every bite! —Pauline Porterfield, Roxboro, North Carolina
Egg Baskets BenedictA little puff pastry turns Canadian bacon and eggs into a tasty update on eggs Benedict. We use a packaged hollandaise or cheese sauce for the finish. —Sally Jackson, Fort Worth, Texas
Muffin-Tin Tamale CakesWe needed snack inspiration beyond peanut butter and jelly. These muffin tamales have all of the flavor of tamales without the fuss. Pair with skewered fruit. —Suzanne Clark, Phoenix, Arizona
Garlic Bread Mini MuffinsThese little garlic bread bites make a terrific addition to any buffet spread. We make sure to serve them warm. —Kathy Yarosh, Apopka, Florida
Broccoli-Cheddar TassiesOur family adores broccoli casserole. I wanted to try it as an appetizer, so I used a pecan tassie recipe for the crust. The result? We’re talking scrumptious. —Gail Gaiser, Ewing, New Jersey
Bacon-Sausage Quiche TartsAs a teacher, I attend many meetings and also have special celebrations with rest of the staff. The other teachers are very fond of this treat and often request that I bring it to our functions. —Jackie Milliken, Pittsboro, North Carolina
