how to make a parchment paper round

how to make a parchment paper round!

No more stuck cakes ever – here’s how to make a parchment paper round for your cake pans!

parchment paper circle in a round pan next to vintage scissors

This is one of my favorite baking tips, so grab your scissors and let’s learn how to make a parchment paper round for perfectly turned-out cakes!

proper lining of your baking pans is KEY – here’s why!

If you’ve ever turned out a cake – only to have a chunk of it remain in the pan – you know that particular brand of heartache. But the good news is that this is TOTALLY preventable, with proper prep of the pan before baking.

springform pan

I’ve written about just how to prepare a baking pan in this post, and one of the keys is to place a piece of parchment paper at the bottom of the pan. While you could, theoretically, just grease and flour, I love that extra bit of insurance that the parchment paper bottom provides.

I’ve been doing this for the almost 40 years that I’ve been baking and haven’t had a “stuck cake” since!

why you should always put a piece of parchment paper at the bottom of your pan!

Typically, a recipe that calls for a baking pan will go something like this:

“allow to cool in the pan on a wire rack for…………minutes, then run a thin knife or spatula around the edges and invert the cake onto the rack to cool completely”.

So you’ll notice that – even if you grease and flour – you still need to carefully loosen the sides for a clean release. Easy enough to do, but how do you loosen the bottom?

That’s where the parchment comes in. Parchment paper is treated with silicone, making it non-stick. This guarantees that when you invert your pan onto the wire rack the cake will come out intact.

parchment paper is NOT wax paper!

While I have rolls of both parchment and wax paper, there are instances where you do not want to use wax paper. In addition to being non-stick, parchment paper can withstand much higher temperatures than wax paper. As the name implies, wax paper is coated with paraffin, which will melt beyond a certain temp, so never ever use it in the oven or microwave!

you “could” buy parchment paper rounds…………..

If you bake a lot of round cakes you might want to invest in a package of pre cut parchment rounds. But it is truly so easy to make a parchment paper circle, and you can customize so that it fits any size cake pans you own!

I’ve shared a video, below, that shows you how to do it, but here are some step by step pictures to walk you through the process:

To start, tear a sheet of parchment paper that is slightly larger than the pan. Fold it in half, from bottom to top.

springform pan topped with a piece of parchment paper

first step of how to make a parchment paper round

Fold in half again, this time from right to left.

second step of how to make a parchment paper round

Now fold the top right corner down to meet the bottom left corner.

third step of how to make a parchment paper round

Fold the top edge down to meet the bottom.

fourth step of how to make a parchment paper round

Turn your baking pan upside down and place the folded “point” into the center.

folded parchment paper and vintage scissors on top of a round cake pan

Make a cut just inside the edge of the pan; continue cutting in a slight curve.

folded parchment paper on top of a round cake pan

Open the paper up – you should have a circle that fits perfectly in the bottom of your pan.

parchment paper circle in a round pan next to vintage scissors

Easy, right?

So pull out all of your cake recipes, because whether you’re making a layer cake, a one-bowl cake or an ice cream cake, that little parchment circle will ensure that it is as beautiful as it is delicious!

parchment paper circle in a round pan next to vintage scissors

How to Make a Parchment Round!

sherisilver
No more stuck cakes ever - here's how to make a parchment paper round for your cake pans!
5 from 4 votes

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Tear a sheet of parchment paper that is slightly larger than the pan.
    springform pan topped with a piece of parchment paper
  • Fold the paper in half, from bottom to top.
    first step of how to make a parchment paper round
  • Fold the paper in half again, this time from right to left.
    second step of how to make a parchment paper round
  • Fold the top right corner down to meet the bottom left corner.
    third step of how to make a parchment paper round
  • Fold the top edge down to meet the bottom.
    fourth step of how to make a parchment paper round
  • Turn your baking pan upside down and place the folded "point" into the center.
    folded parchment paper and vintage scissors on top of a round cake pan
  • Make a cut just inside the edge of the pan; continue cutting in a slight curve.
    folded parchment paper on top of a round cake pan
  • Open the paper up - you should have a circle that fits perfectly in the bottom of your pan.
    parchment paper circle in a round pan next to vintage scissors
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5 Comments

  1. Annie+Diamond on February 23, 2023 at 11:07 pm

    5 stars
    I always learn something new!!

    • sherisilver on February 24, 2023 at 8:21 am

      I find that hard to believe but thank you! xoxo

  2. Linda Oxman on March 10, 2023 at 11:18 am

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for this! I have struggled for years trying to do this by tracing around my cake pan. It never works right. So I started buying pre-cut circles, however now I can stop that and use your method! Appreciate you!

    • sherisilver on March 10, 2023 at 5:27 pm

      Oh this makes my day! The pre-cut circles are great but I don’t feel like investing in every size I need!:)

  3. Linda Oxman on March 12, 2023 at 1:37 pm

    5 stars
    I totally agree!

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Hi! I'm Sheri!

Welcome to my little corner of the web where you’ll find easy, delicious recipes, the best kitchen hacks and simple tips for turning your home into a clean haven that is free of toxins. So glad you’re here!