Cooking in a Cup - Easy and Fun with Muffin Liners!

Cooking in muffin cups or silicone cups is a fun way for kids to create individual snacks, desserts or dinner items. We recommend spraying each muffin tin or cup and/or using muffin liners to prevent messy clean up. We've included 6 ideas on muffin tin cooking here including a breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner and desert recipe.

Getting started is simple - all you need is a 12-cup muffin tin, a pastry brush, two mixing bowls, and an ice cream scoop. For a smoother cooking experience, use the pastry brush to lightly coat your muffin tin with oil or nonstick spray. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Using an ice cream scoop helps ensure even portions when adding batter to each muffin cup. Keep a roll of kitchen paper nearby to wipe up any spills along the way.

Safety First!

Before you begin, ask a parent or guardian for help with any chopping or stovetop preparation, especially when ingredients like pasta need to be pre-cooked. Always wear oven mitts when handling hot muffin trays - safety comes first in every kitchen!

Helpful Tips for Cooking with Kids:

• Read the recipe and instructions all the way through before starting
• Set out all your tools and ingredients ahead of time
• Start with clean hands and a tidy workspace
• Use fresh ingredients for the best results
• Be patient - kids may need more time for each step
• Supervise closely, especially when using the oven or sharp tools

Think Beyond Muffins!

Cooking in a muffin cup isn't just for baked treats. Many of our savory recipes begin with a simple crust base. Try lining your muffin cups with:

• Wonton wrappers
• Tortilla pieces
• Biscuit dough
• Crescent roll dough
• Pie crust
• Bread slices (crusts removed)

Once you have a crust, the possibilities are endless - mini quiches, pizza cups, taco bites, and more! Don't be afraid to get creative and experiment. And if you come up with a new favorite, let us know!

Pro Tip: For stress-free cleanup, always use muffin liners or silicone cups. Even when using liners, it's a good idea to lightly grease them with oil or cooking spray, especially for recipes with sticky ingredients or cheese.

Breakfast in a Muffin Tin- Potato and Egg Cups

• 3 or 4 medium russet potatoes or frozen shredded potatoes
• Salt and ground pepper
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 12 large eggs

Preheat the oven to 205°C/400°F. Shred 3-4 potatoes. Brush a 12-hole muffin pan with melted butter use liners or silicone cups for easier clean up. Press 3 to 4 tablespoons of grated potato into each muffin hole, using your fingers to shape the potato into a nest. Brush lightly again with melted butter, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Allow the nests to cool and then crack an egg into each one. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake for about 15 minutes until the whites are set.
Makes 12 cups

Dinner in a Muffin Tin

Taco Pie

• 2 puff pastry sheets or pie crust, cut into circles
• can refried beans
• 1 lb ground beef, cooked
• 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning mix
• Shredded cheese
• Shredded lettuce
• 2 chopped tomatoes
• 1 chopped avocado

Add ground beef and taco seasoning into a skillet, cook until no longer pink and drain. Preheat oven to 180° C/350°F. Brush muffin pans with olive oil. Line each pan with pastry. Press the pastry to fit neatly into the cups. Spoon refried beans into each cup and top with ground beef. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with lettuce, tomato, onions and/ or avocado.
Makes 12 pies.

Spaghetti Pies

Mini Spaghetti Pies

Lunch in a Cup

Along with the Taco pies and Spaghetti pies that can be used for lunch recipes try this pizza recipe:
Pizza Cups Recipe

Dessert in a Muffin Tin- Cherry Pies

Make mini cherry pies in muffin cups.

Cut pie dough into small circles. Press dough into muffin tins and add cherry pie filling. Bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden brown.

Snack in a Muffin Tin

Hummus Salad Cup

• 12 mini ready-made pie crusts
• 1 Cup hummus
• 1/2 Cup chopped tomato
• 1/2 Cup chopped cucumber

Preheat oven to 180° C/350°F.  Brush muffin pans with oil and place one pie crust in each cup. Bake for 10 minutes or until pie crust is crisp and golden.

Download this picture recipe here.

Hash Brown Cup

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 Cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 eggs
• 2 lbs bag frozen diced hash browns *

Directions
Preheat oven to 180° C/350°F.
Add muffin liners to muffin pans.
Brown beef in pan and drain fat.
In a large bowl, mix beef, cheese, and eggs.
Add hash browns and stir to combine.
Use an ice-cream scoop to place spoonfuls of mixture into muffin pan, filling each muffin tin to the top.
Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown.
Makes 24 muffins.
Serve with ketchup if desired.
*You can use fresh potatoes but you'll need to chop them. Then boil them in a pan of water until soft.

A Note to Parents

Cooking is one of the best ways to spend quality time with your kids - it’s fun, creative, and a great opportunity to teach healthy habits and kitchen skills. With a muffin tin or silicone baking cups, you can create an amazing variety of perfectly portioned snacks and mini meals that are just the right size for little chefs.

• Simple enough for kids to follow
• Designed for easy cleanup
• Delicious for the whole family

While many steps are child-friendly, adults should assist with tasks that involve knives or stovetops.

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