Monday, August 3, 2009

Muffin Tin Mondays and a Giveaway!


We've been on the hunt for muffin tins and supplies ever since our first Muffin Tin Monday meal. The girls really enjoyed it and I've been looking forward to participating again. Today's theme is Party/ Celebrate which is perfect because Julia's 2nd birthday was yesterday. We didn't get a chance to make her cupcakes so we did that today instead. I had planned to make them with her yesterday after nap, but Daddy decided we should take a trip out to the beach. The girls had an absolute blast at the beach and were more than happy to make cupcakes with me today instead.


Now, making muffins is NOT what Muffin Tin Mondays are about! But... seeing as its a party theme and I had some new silicone muffin cups to review for my blog, I figured this would work. I also thought all you MTMers might want to enter the giveaway.

I had never tried silicone bakeware of any kind before and was skeptical. However, in looking for a safe toxin free muffin tin, I didn't have many choices. All of the muffin tins I could find at the store were non-stick, meaning they include Teflon. I hate Teflon. (The fumes from cooking with non-stick cookware are known to kill small birds.) I also hate how it scratches off and I just can't see letting my kids eat off of it. I was unable to find a stainless steel muffin tin locally. (There is this one on amazon, but it would cost me $25 to get two of them.) In all of my research on plastics, I haven't come across any negatives about silicone. I decided to try the silicone baking cups and use those on top of our non stick muffin tins since I trust the silicone more than the Teflon.


Le Creuset makes silicone baking cups that are 100% silicone with no added plastics in them. They offered to send me two of the six cup packages for review. (and two more for giveaway... more about that later...) I received a package of bright blue and one of bright yellow. When I opened the package the baking cups seemed rather thin and flimsy. I tried to tear one of them and it held up; there is a bit of stretch to them so they don't rip. They did fit in the muffin tin nicely, even better than paper baking cups that end up flying all over the place as I'm trying to pour batter into them. We mixed up our cupcake batter and poured it into the cups. Here are my two helpers...


Like I said, I had never baked with silicone before, but I was pleased with how the cupcakes turned out. The baking cups peeled right off, even better than paper liners do. I tried one while it was still warm and it came out of the baking cup perfectly. They also washed up easily, much easier than my muffin tin does.


I normally try not to use the paper liners because I hate peeling them off of muffins, they always make a mess. There's also the paper waste of it all that I don't like. I usually end up trying to pry my muffins out of the pan and then of course have the yucky pan to clean up afterwards. I'm totally hooked now. No wasteful liners, no yucky pan to clean, no cooking spray, no broken muffins. The cupcakes also cooked nice and evenly with perfectly rounded tops- I'm not sure if that had to do with the silicone or not. I had planned to just use these for Muffin Tin Mondays, serving fun lunches to my girls in them, but I'm going to have to buy some more since I loved them for baking with so much. You actually don't even need to use a muffin tin, just place the cups on a cookie sheet and bake. They are oven, freezer, microwave, and dishwasher safe (although I'd think they would fly around the dishwasher and not come clean all the way).

Would you like some silicone baking cups of your own? Le Creuset is offering two of their six baking cup sets for giveaway. I'll choose two winners and each will receive one set. If you'd like to enter, please leave a comment and include your email address (or be sure that email is enabled on your blogger profile page). For an extra entry subscribe to my blog in one way or another and let me know that you did or already do in a separate post. This giveaway will close on September 1st at midnight.

We thoroughly enjoyed our cupcakes and will be back to celebrate Muffin Tin Mondays with an actual muffin tin lunch next time!

*Giveaway is now closed. Two winners have been contacted, thanks for your interest.*

89 comments:

  1. I will be linking to this tomorrow!

    awesome giveaway!

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  2. I have wanted to get some silicone baking cups for a while now but was worried about how the cupcakes would bake in them. Glad to hear that you liked them. I hope I win some if not I am definitely going to go buy some.

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  3. I have been wanting to buy some silicone baking cups too. Thanks for the info. I always love your product reviews because I usually want to try the same stuff.

    Kyra Sandstrom

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  4. It is great to see these actually in use and doing what they are supposed to do!! I would love to try them out too!!

    Tracey from JJG

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  5. What a great week to have a celebration theme for you guys! Happy Birthday!!

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  6. This comment is to enter the giveaway! LOVE silicone baking cups!! Just used some for the first time yesterday!!

    Susana @ Our Homeschool Fun
    customblog@gmail.com

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  7. I'd love to try these new silicon baking cups! I bought some at Target but after reading your review am concerned that perhaps they do have some added plastics?! I'll have to look out for these if I don't win! I love baking cupcakes and muffins- My son calls all such pastries cupcakes!
    inalak@msn.com

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  8. I would love to try these! Thanks for the chance!

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  9. What a brilliant product!! I have seen the silicone muffin baking trays but never for individual muffins. I always have a lot of trouble with peeling off the paper or scrubbing trays too, so these would be great. Thanks!! I have my fingers crossed.

    marypres(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. I love silicone muffin cups. I need more :)

    wohltmannm2 (at) winthrop (dot) edu

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  11. My family loves muffins and silicone baking cups just might make me love them, too!

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  12. What cute kids! I would love to be entered into the giveaway.

    katie[at]starttofinishsupplies.com

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  13. These are great! We have the mini ones from Williams Sonoma. So far, they are lasting and the cupcakes come out easily.

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  14. I've been wanting to try out some of these for a while now. My muffin pans always end up so yucky. I can never get them totally clean, and they always seem just a little slimy.
    pw0105(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. I'd love to win - I haven't tried silicone for baking yet, but want to SO BAD!

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  16. What a great baking find. Count me in to try and win these please.

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  17. I'd love to try these! my daughter always makes a mess when she tries to put batter in the paper liners. :(
    mommy super shopper at gmail dot com

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  18. I've been wanting to give these a try myself. And I agree, I like how there's less waste from using them.

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  19. I bake muffins all the time and use silicone cups. I love how easy they are to peel off, and skipping the greasing and washing muffin tins. The only problem I have is that my husband EATS the muffins but WON'T wash the cups...

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  20. I would these to eliminate the waste of the paper cups.

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  21. What a great product- I'd love a set! Thanks for the great give-oh-way!

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  22. I was wondering about silicone baking cups. I hope I win a set, but if not, I am just going to have to buy some! I haven't started MTM yet, but am going to be joining in soon. Can't wait!

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  23. Oooh, those look fantastic! Great giveaway! in

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  24. I have subscribed to your posts!

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  25. What a fun MTM! Love the cups, and I'd definitely love to enter the giveaway. Thanks for thinking of us MTM peeps!

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  26. I have wanted to try these our. I have yet to buy. I have a hard time sometimes even finding cute paper cupcake holders.

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  27. We love making cupcakes with our 3 kids! I didn't even know they made reusable muffin tins, what a great idea. I agree with you that the paper waste of regular muffin cups is a major no-no, and I'm glad to see someone has come up with another option!
    Cassie
    cjm92995@yahoo.com

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  28. I would love to try these.

    njfoley(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  29. I've never tried silicone bakeware and would love to try these!
    Michelle Zang
    zang28@embarqmail.com

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  30. These sound great, and I would love to try them!

    acm211 [at] gmail [dot] com

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  31. I've always wanted to try these!
    katiekarr at gmail dot com

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  32. These look extremely helpful!

    ellybean (at) connected2christ (dot) com
    http://www.connected2christ.com

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  33. I love this!! I have been looking for some!! I'd love to be entered!!

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  34. I've added you to my google reader!!

    mom.kristi.e @ gmail . com

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  35. Great giveaway! These baking cups are something I have always wanted to try, but haven't yet!

    hkwright10@yahoo.com

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  36. Great giveaway! The colors look fabulous too. :)

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  37. ...and I already follow you, thanks to MTM!

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  38. I haven't tried these yet. Sounds like they're pretty great. Thanks for a chance to win some!
    Dina

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  39. I'm adding your blog to my bloglines feeds! Thanks for another chance to win!

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  40. I'd like a chance to try this, they look really nice, and I hate using liners too since they stick to the muffins and are a waste of paper, and my muffins always stick if I dont use liners though. We are a big muffin family so I think these would be useful. Thanks for the chance.
    unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

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  41. Great contest! I will be subscribing too.

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  42. Hi Christy,
    Looks like you guys had fun making cupcakes! Yum.
    I would love the silicone cupcake liners, enter me in the drawing please!

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  43. those are really cool
    deefna at gmail dot com

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  44. i subscribe
    deefna at gmail dot com

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  45. I would love these!

    Christie
    dctm at bellsouth dot net

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  46. I have always wondered about these too...I'd love to have the chance to give them a try!

    Thanks!
    Heather

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  47. kathemc(at)gmail(dot)comAugust 5, 2009 at 10:27 PM

    wow-- have been wanting to try these! great giveaway!

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  48. These muffin cups sound great. I cant tell you how many times I have gone to make em and I was out of liners.
    jen62728@aol.com

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  49. I'd love to try these! I hate buying the papers and they still tend to stick to the muffins. Great giveaway!

    rprmsr(at)gmail(dot)com

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  50. What fun! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIA!
    I've been wondering if silicone cups were safe. I hope so, it would be nice to have another option.

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  51. I am the cupcake Queen and make them for every celebration and have been eyeing these. I love anything Le Creuset so I would love to win!
    leetiebug1@aol

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  52. I added you to my feed reader (bloglines)

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  53. I just found your blog and I love it already!

    I've been looking for some silicone for mtm myself, so I loved this review!!

    I hope I win!

    ke_osborn@hotmail.com

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  54. Would love to give these a shot - sounds so much better than paper!!
    Kimberly
    fishinmomwantstowin@gmail.com

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  55. I'm following your blog!
    Kimberly
    fishinmomwantstowin@gmail.com

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  56. Mmm! This really has me in the mood for fresh muffins. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  57. thank you so much! would love to win these

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  58. I have seen these on blogs, but haven't found any in stores. I've wanted to try them for a while. I hope I win some, but if not, I'll have to find someplace online to buy them!

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  59. I would love these! :)

    aprilandevan at gmail dot com

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  60. We're new to Muffin Tin Monday as of last week and these would be a welcome addition to our supplies!
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    sweetems (at) gmail (dot) com

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  61. I just added you to my google reader. Thanks!

    sweetems (at) gmail (dot) com

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  62. I would love some muffin cups!!! Hope I win :0)

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  63. I am a follower

    kme0310@yahoo.com

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  64. I would love to try these out, I have a silicone mini muffin tray, but all I've ever used it for is making baby food, I'd love to give these a try, we avoid Teflon as well

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  65. I have wanted to try these. I sure hope I win some!

    hill.jands@gmail.com

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  66. I've been wanting to try the silicone baking cups but was worried they'd tip over. I am glad to see you liked them, we will definitely need to try these!

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  67. I haven't used silicone cups, but have a square pan that I use once in a while! The cupcake cups look fun!
    siouxsan@sbcglobal.net

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  68. I'd love to try these - I have some trouble cleaning out the Calphalon cups that I currently have. Thank you for the giveaway!

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  69. I'd love to try these!

    bjacques18@gmail.com

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  70. These baking cups are also a great gift to give muffins in (to a new mom, for example). I've like to enter the drawing, as I love these things. Just got some this year when Miles was born. You have my email. Hope vacation went well! :) adriann

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  71. I love making cupcakes! I think these would work so much better than the paper liners I'm used to.

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  72. These look great, I'm always using paper liners and the kids toss them as soon as they pick up the cupcake (what a waste) I always wondered if these work - thanks for letting us know!!
    Fondly, MaryLea

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  73. I've always wanted to try these too! What a great giveaway!
    Thanks~

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  74. I'm always looking for new muffin tin ideas. I would like to test these out too. melissa@christensenfamily.ws

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  75. I love to bake cupcakes so this would awesome to win!

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  76. I would really love to try those silicone liners. We make muffins every Saturday and I've been wanting to try them.

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  77. I would love to try one out!

    I'm also subscribed to your blog!

    hj4him@gmail.com

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  78. would love these~ so cute!
    thanks~lisa

    midnightcowgirl@sbcglobal.net

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  79. Better late than never, right :)
    I would love to try these. I had wondered about silicone and always thought it was safe. I didn't think about making sure it was 100%, why do they have to make everything so difficult? Anyway, thanks for another great giveaway.

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  80. these look great! ive always used the paper .

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  81. I have never used silicone baking cups :)

    aunteegem@yahoo.com

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  82. I have never used these but have heard great things about them, I'd love to try them!

    Thanks!
    xpsundell at gmail dot com

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  83. These would be so great for muffins and many other things like little snack cups for the kids.

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