Why Brownies Stick to Parchment Paper | Plus 10 Ways to Stop It

Brownies can stick to parchment paper if is used the wrong way up, if the oven is too hot, if the parchment paper is of low quality or if the brownie mix is extra thick. To avoid brownies sticking buy good quality parchment paper, place it ‘shiny’ side up and grease it before baking. Coat the inside edges of the paper with butter or oil and then shake flour or cocoa on top.

This will form a barrier to stop brownies from sticking. This article will explore the top reasons why brownies stick to parchment paper plus loads of easy ways to stop it.

Why brownies stick to parchment paper

Brownie mixes that are extra thick, contain loads of egg or chocolate pieces can stick to the parchment paper. If the brownies are cooked at a temperature that is too high they can form a crust which will also stick to the parchment paper.

The type of parchment paper you choose matters too. Low quality parchment paper may not have a good non-stick surface causing the mixture to stick when it bakes.

Some parchment paper is also only non-stick on one side if you use the wrong side, then the brownies will stick to it as they bake.

Check to see if your parchment paper is shiny to see if it is non-stick.

These easy tips will help to avoid brownies sticking to parchment paper as they bake.

10 Ways to stop brownies sticking to parchment paper

Check out these easy ways to stop brownies from sticking to parchment paper.

1. Buy good quality parchment paper

The first step is to buy good quality parchment paper. It should feel thick and smooth on both sides. This will mean that the non-stick coating will protect the brownies from sticking. Look out for parchment paper that has a non-stick coating made from plant-derived ingredients.

Choose good quality parchment paper to avoid your brownies sticking.

2. Make sure you have parchment paper the right way up

Some parchment paper is only non-stick on one side so if you put it the wrong way up your brownie mixture will stick.

Check both sides of the parchment paper and if one side is shiny and the other isn’t then you have one sided non-stick paper. Make sure you put the shiny side up in contact with the brownie batter. This will be the non-stick side.

3. Rub the parchment paper with butter

To stop brownies from sticking to parchment paper you can rub it with butter. Let your butter sit on the bench until it is soft to touch. You can then grab a piece of the wrapping on the butter or a small piece of parchment paper and rub it all over the base.

Make sure you cover all of the surfaces that the brownie mixture will touch. This will stop the brownie mixture from sticking.

It is easier to rub butter onto parchment paper before putting it into the brownie tray. That way you can wipe it on flat.

4. Use vegetable oil to make a non-stick surface

If you prefer you can also grease the parchment paper with oil. I like to splash oil in the base of the pan and then spread it around with a pastry brush. Brush it up the sides to make the whole area extra non-stick.

Use a pastry brush to spread the oil evenly.

5. Spray the edges with vegetable oil

Another easy way to stop brownies from sticking to parchment paper is to spray it with vegetable oil. Spray oil will quickly coat all of the parchment paper evenly.

Spraying the edges with vegetable oil is an easy way to get an even coating.

6. Dust the pan with flour, semolina or cocoa powder

After oiling or buttering your pan you can then coat the fat with flour, semolina or cocoa powder. Put 1-2 tablespoons of flour in the base of the pan on top of the parchment paper.

Move the pan around until all of the base and edges are covered. This will form an extra layer of protection stopping the brownies from sticking to the paper.

Use cocoa powder if you are making chocolate brownies and you won’t see it on the edges once it is baked. If you use white flour you may see white on the edges of the brownie once they are cooked.

7. Preheat the oven first

To avoid your brownies sticking to the parchment paper make sure you preheat your oven first. Putting a brownie pan in the oven before it has preheated will expose it to much higher temperatures than the brownie mix needs to cook.

This will form a solid crust on the outside that is more likely to stick to the parchment paper.

Wait until the oven has fully heated up before putting the baking tray and brownie mix in.

8. Set the oven temperature correctly

Make sure your oven is not to hot before putting the brownie batter in to avoid it sticking to the paper. Overheating the brownie mix will cause the outside to get hard and stick to the parchment.

Most brownie recipes recommend a cooking temperature of 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius) in a fan forced oven.

9. Avoid overbaking

Avoid leaving the brownie mix in the oven for too long. Overcooking brownies will cause them to stick to the parchment paper.

At 320 degrees Fahrenheit, most brownies will take 35-40 minutes to cook through. Check them with a skewer after 30 minutes to see if they are cooked.

10. Let the brownies cool at room temperature

Before you try to remove the brownies from the parchment paper let them cool for 10-15 minutes. This will make it easier to remove them from the parchment paper and reduce their chances of sticking.

I like to let my brownies cool for 10 minutes in the pan before taking them out.
My brownies came out perfectly and did not stick to the parchment paper.

Why Brownies Stick to Parchment Paper | Summary

Brownies can stick to parchment paper if the oven temperature is too high, if they are overcooked, if they don’t have extra oil or fat to protect them or if the parchment paper is of low quality. Adding a layer of oil and then flour over the top is an easy way to avoid them sticking.

Happy cooking.