stupid question.....?

You can pour the batter into the muffin pan without the paper cups. Slightly grease the pans if you don't have the nonstick variety. Also, dust the muffin pan with a very small amount of flour. This will make the bottoms of the cupcakes come out without sticking. Don't forget to only fill the pan 2/3 of the way to the top, so they won't come out of the pan as they bake.

As others have said, the paper just helps it not to stick. Even a non-stick pan that is buttered can still cause problems. I would suggest you butter it, then add a layer of plain flour (sprinkle it over the top and shake it around until it has covered and stuck to the buttered areas.) To help even further I would cut out little circles of baking paper for each cupcake form so that the bottom comes out easily (you can always run a knife around the edges if it sticks - but the base could be a little harder) Just remember to take the baking paper off before serving!!!

One of the reasons that the papers are used is to delay the drying out of the cupcakes. Since the cakes do not get frosted all the way around like a cake does the bottom part that is exposed dries out faster.

The papers do make removal from the pan easier.

If you make and eat the cupcakes the same day they should not dry out that much.

I would remove them from the muffin pan to cool then frost and place back in the tin so that it is easier to transport and they will stay moist. When you get to work remove them from the tin and place on a platter.

Not a stupid question... yes, you can. The paper liners are for convenience, not any other purpose but. Just make sure you grease the pan top and the muffin cups and it will be fine. To get them easily to work tomorrow, after frosting, you could put them back in the washed and dried muffin pans for easy transport, unless you have a special container for them.

You could use the paper cups for easy handeling and not worring if they will stick. Thats what I do. But I have done the cupcakes with ouy paper liners just spray the pan really really well and continue as normal. But that paper acts as a barier so the icing doesnt go all over the place while frosting

Only if you have a good non-stick muffin tin. Even then, I'd butter them (wrap a three fingers in wax paper and dip in a bit of room temp butter and rub it thoroughly around the inside of the cups).

Alternatively, you could make your own muffin cups with wax paper (though it will be hard to make them conform perfectly to the bottom, so they might not sit flat when you serve them).

Or... by the time you get all these answers you could probably have made a run to the store.

Yes you can, just butter the muffin tray before filling to prevent sticking.

you could do that but you need to grease the pan with butter or something. its just easier with the cups.