Brownies are a popular, simple dessert for many families, and they can become even easier to make. A parchment paper sling is a simple baking trick that makes it easy to lift brownies out of the pan in one piece. By leaving a little extra parchment hangin
A parchment sling uses two sheets of parchment paper lining the bottom and sides of your baking pan, with 1 to 2 inches of extra paper left over the edges to serve as handles. Once baked and cooled, you can easily lift your brownies, bars, cakes, and quick breads out of the pan using these DIY parchment handles.
There are plenty of ways to use a parchment paper sling. It’s a great choice for brownies, bars, sheet cakes, quick breads, and other treats baked in square or rectangular pans—especially when you want to lift them out easily for slicing and serving. If you’re using a rectangular loaf pan, see how to line a loaf pan, which is a slightly different way to create a parchment sling.
Can I make a foil sling for baking instead?
Yes, you can make a foil sling, but a parchment paper sling is preferred because it’s non-stick and doesn’t require oiling like foil does. Using foil in a pinch is fine, but you might need to adjust the baking temperature and time. It can cook your batter faster and lead to darker bottoms if you're not careful. Learn more about baking with parchment paper vs. foil.
You can line any size brownie pan using this technique, whether it’s a rectangular 9- by 13-inch or square pan.
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Step-by-step directions:
Step 1: Cut the parchment paper to size
Cut one sheet of parchment paper to fit the width of your pan, leaving about 1–2 inches overhang on each end. The parchment paper should be trimmed so that it doesn’t touch the oven racks or walls. These overhanging edges will become your handles after your baked good cools.
Step 2: Line the pan and create the handles
Cut a second sheet of parchment to run alongside the other side of the pan, again leaving about 1–2 inches of overhang on each end. The two crossing sheets cover more of the pan and create handles on all sides for easier lifting.
Step 3: Add the batter and bake
Pour your batter in slowly and bake, following your recipe. Let cool completely after baking.
Step 4: Cool and lift brownies out of the pan
After your baked good has cooled completely, use the overhanging parchment to gently lift the brownies, bread, or cake out of the pan to slice.
A parchment sling uses two sheets of parchment paper that line a baking pan, with extra paper extending over the sides. Use the parchment paper extending over the ends of the pan like handles to lift brownies, bars, quick breads, and other baked treats out of the pan, then slice and serve.
Yes, lining a brownie pan with parchment paper helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup easier. For even easier removal, leave a little parchment hanging over the sides to create a sling, so you can lift the cooled brownies right out of the pan. See the step-by-step directions above.
When creating a parchment sling, leave about 1–2 inches of parchment overhanging the sides of the pan. Always trim the overhanging parchment paper so that it does not touch the oven racks or walls.
No. Parchment paper is non-stick and doesn’t need to be greased. Simply line your pan with parchment, add the batter, and bake as directed for easy removal and cleanup.
No, brownies generally won’t stick to parchment paper because it provides a non-stick surface. For best results, let your brownies cool before using the parchment sling to lift them from the pan and peel away the paper.
Yes, you can bake brownies in a glass dish. Just keep in mind that glass heats differently than metal, so you may need to adjust the baking time or temperature. Always follow your recipe and the pan manufacturer’s instructions for the best results.
