I love anything that makes cake-making easier. So, instead of greasing and flouring the bottom of cake pans, I always use parchment paper rounds. You can cut them yourself or buy a box of parchment paper rounds already perfectly sized to the pans you use. But what if you have no parchment paper, but you do have wax paper? You may be tempted to use this instead. Wax paper is nothing like parchment paper. So, can you use it for lining a cake pan in a pinch? Good news! You can! But read on before you get carried away.
Yes, Wax Paper Works For Lining Cake Pans (But That’s It)
You cannot use wax paper as you would parchment paper for pretty much any cooking purpose. It won’t take the heat, and it will smoke, and the wax will get melty, and all sorts of trouble will ensue.
But, you CAN use wax paper to line the bottom of a cake pan! See, since you are covering the wax paper with a semi-liquid batter, the paper will not reach a smoking point. The cake won’t stick to the wax paper, and it will work like a charm. I still prefer parchment paper, but in a pinch, if all you have is wax paper, go ahead and try it. It works.
Just understand that lining the bottom of a cake pan is the only thing you can use wax paper for in place of parchment paper. You can’t bake cookies on wax paper, you can’t wrap fish for en papillote. You can’t do anything that will let direct, dry heat get to the wax. It will melt.
How To Line the Bottom of Cake Pans
Whatever you use, parchment or wax paper, you only need to line the bottom of the cake pan. You do not need paper on the sides. The cake should draw away from the sides of the pan, enough to keep it from sticking, anyway.
If you don’t already have round pre-cut pieces of parchment or wax paper, you can easily make your own.
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All you have to do is place a sheet of parchment paper on a cutting surface (like a cutting board), place the cake pan on top of it, bottom side down, and carefully cut the paper out around the edge of the pan using an Exacto knife or another razor-bladed knife (carpet knife, utility knife, box cutter). Make sure to hold down the cake pan well so it won’t slip while you’re cutting. Remove the circle and pop it into the bottom of the pan. Pour the cake batter on top carefully and bake as normal.
Whatever you use, parchment or wax paper, you only need to line the bottom of the cake pan. You do not need paper on the sides. The cake should draw away from the sides of the pan, enough to keep it from sticking, anyway.
