- When seeking out substitutes, you need to consider what the purpose of the parchment paper would have been. If it was simply to protect the pan and make it easier to clean, that gives you a shortlist of items you can use as replacements. If it was used to make baked goods easier to release from the pan, that opens up a second set of replacement possibilities.
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The easiest substitution of all is to use nothing. Parchment paper is often used for the ease of the cook by aiding cleanup, so if you do not need that particular benefit, then place your dough directly on the pan.
Pan sprays like Pam's baking formulation can be used in lieu of parchment paper when baking cookies. They contain oil and flour. These are oils specially formulated for baking that are sprayed evenly over the surface of a cookie sheet before the dough is applied. They will prevent the cookies from sticking and will make them easy to slide off in one piece with your spatula. You should be aware that the oil sometimes sticks to the pans when they are not scrubbed immediately. You should not use pan sprays for any recipes that tell you to use an non-greased cookie sheet.
If the parchment paper's purpose was solely to keep a pan clean so that it could be immediately reused, you could try using aluminum foil as a substation. Because aluminum conducts heat faster than paper, you may find that your cookie bottoms brown faster than they would have with parchment so you will need to keep an eye on them during the baking process. Spray the foil with oil if you are concerned about sticking unless the recipe advises you to use an non-greased pan.
Wax paper can be used as a substitution for parchment paper in a pinch, although you should avoid using it when baking. Wax paper has a distinct scent when baked that may transfer to your food items. Further, it browns quickly and may begin to smoke in your oven. If you're making refrigerator cookies, wax paper is an ideal surface cover; however, for oven baking reserve only for situations where you're making cookies that bake very quickly.
