Do you ever feel like lining your cake or your brownie pan with parchment paper is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole? I did for years until I figured out these quick little tricks and I will never go back.  In my example, I am using a 9-inch round cake pan and a 9x9 square pan but this trick is universal as long as the parchment paper is big enough to cover the bottom of the pan! 

Supplies Needed:

• Sheets of Parchment Paper (I prefer the kind that is in individual sheets)
• 9-inch Round Pan
• 9x9 inch Square Pan
• Scissors

9-inch Round Pan Directions:

1. Fold one piece of parchment paper in half (widthwise). Fold the sheet in half again, be sure to press the edges down.
2. Proceed to create a triangle by bringing one edge to line up with the other, creating a not perfectly even triangle (don't worry about the access on one side). Fold the triangle in again making another triangle. For a third and final  time fold the triangle in again. Throughout this process please press the fold down.
3. Flip over the round pan and measure the length of needed paper by placing the triangles tip in the center of the round pan. Mark the edge of the pan and trim off all access parchment paper. 
4. Unfold the freshly cut triangle, flip over your pan and “viola” the circle of parchment paper should fit perfectly inside your round pan!

9x9 Square Pan Directions:

1. With one piece of parchment paper and a 9x9 square pan. Flip the pan upside down and place the parchment paper on top. 
2. With one hand flat on the bottom of the pan, trim the side of the parchment paper to have an even square, keep in mind that the parchment paper is still larger than the pan but now is an even square.
3. Using scissors create 4 cuts from the corner of the paper to the corner of the pan, with one being on each side of the pan.
4. Flip the pan over and place the parchment paper inside. By using the small slits that were created you can fold in each of the four corners.
5. Now you are ready to bake with a pan that is lined with appropriate fitting parchment paper.

If you are more of a visual person, you can also check out my Reel that shows me doing this process step by step!

Photographs by Standish Ryan and Elizabeth Poett