When planning a party, my first question is always, “What are we going to eat?” I’ll promptly put together a menu of fun snacks and finger foods. I love using my cast-iron skillet for baking savory dips and my sheet pan for roasting vegetables for a charcuterie board.
Equipment
A Mini-Muffin Tin Is a Party Planner’s Best Friend
From appetizers to dessert, this little powerhouse does it all.
By Published Apr. 4, 2023
But one handy piece of equipment has changed my party planning for the better. Enter: the mini-muffin tin. (I use our best buy, the Wilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Mini Muffin and Cupcake Pan.)
Here are a few reasons why a mini-muffin tin can take away some of the stress of party planning.
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Reason #1: You Can Make Plenty of Appetizers in Just One Batch
If you’ve ever cooked for a crowd, you know how much work it takes. Mini-muffin tins allow you to make many snackable appetizers at once. My Wilton Mini Muffin tin has 24 cups—with two tins I can whip up 48 appetizers in no time.
Start the night with cocktails and mini–crab cakes. Impress your guests with craveable and crispy Cheesy Potato Cups. Show such elegance with spinach and ricotta pastry puffs. Serve up a sweet finish with mouth-watering chocolate chunk financiers. There’s a whole world of possibilities!
Reason #2: It Makes Planning Ahead Easy
Making food and garnishes in advance alleviates stress on the day of the party. I use mine for creating pats of compound butter. My go-to is the roasted garlic compound butter. I divvy the softened butter into the mini-muffin tin cups and store it in the freezer. The next day they’ll be ready to use. These little circles of joy are perfect for melting over grilled steaks or corn on the cob.
My tin is also ideal for scaling down larger make-ahead recipes such as frittatas.
Equipment Review
Mini-Muffin Tins
These tins make adorable, bite-size treats. With so many options on the market, which one is best?See Our Winner
Reason #3: It Makes Beautifully Uniform Food
Whatever you choose to make, our winning and best buy muffins tins have nonstick coatings that release food with ease. They’re also constructed from steel which helps make delectable evenly browned food every time, and their narrow cups produce attractive well-risen shapes.
They help you produce photo-worthy food with minimal effort.
Reason #4: It Cleans Up Easily
Although cleaning up after a party is a headache, both of our favorite mini-muffin tins are nonstick and dishwasher-safe. If you don’t have a dishwasher, they effortlessly rinse clean in the sink.