This Is the Best Way to Line a Loaf Pan, Hands Down

When I’m lining a pan with parchment paper, I’m afraid to admit that I’m not exactly neat and tidy about it. I don’t generally care about how rough, torn edges look, but I do hate wasting my time trying to get the parchment paper to lay flat. And I don’t like when creases in my parchment paper give my baked goods an unexpected wrinkle. And while I know you can use scissors to create flaps so your parchment paper fits snugly in your baking pan, frankly, I’m always down for an alternative that uses even one fewer tool.

That's why this hack on TikTok stopped me in my tracks. Instead of shoving a piece of parchment into the bottom of a loaf pan and trying to smooth out the sides, or hunting down a pair of scissors to cut flaps, you just fold a piece of parchment paper around the outside of the loaf pan first, then drop your perfectly shaped parchment paper into the loaf pan. 

How to Make a Parchment Paper Liner for a Loaf Pan

Start by flipping your loaf pan upside-down. Then, get a piece of parchment paper that hangs roughly 2 or 3 inches over the base on all sides. Fold the edges of the parchment paper over the ends, as if you were wrapping a gift, folding in the corners. Then, lift your shaped parchment off the pan, flip your pan right-side up, and plop the shaped parchment paper liner into the pan. It should fit snuggly with no creases. You can also apply the same technique to 8x8-inch and 9x13-inch pans.

While we generally think that the deliciousness of your baked good is more important than its appearance, we love an attractive presentation. (Hot tip: If you love the look of a perfectly puffed crack in the top of a loaf or pound cake or banana bread, you can easily achieve the look by piping softened butter on top of your cake batter before baking.) This technique is perfect for loaves you plan to gift, giving a bit of a bakery-window look to homemade goodies.