Muffins & Cupcakes: Why they are different.

I found a lot of talk and misconceptions about the similarities and differences between a muffin and a cupcake online. Some say a muffin becomes a cupcake when there is frosting on it. Some say that cupcakes are smaller than muffins. That is incorrect, here is my take on it. Let’s conquer the cupcake first.

Cupcakes

• A cupcake is essentially the same as a whole cake. It is simply baked and served in a portion to serve one individual.
• It is usually frosted (like those in the photos above) and decorated. It is common to see it at birthday parties and weddings.
• It is sweet and hence eaten mostly as a dessert or a sweet treat.
• An un-frosted cupcakes does not equate to a muffin.
• Butter is usually used in a cupcake recipe.
• Conclusion: A cupcake is a cake.

Muffins

Source: Wikipedia

• A muffin is one of the easiest things to bake (although I’ve had my fair share of failures, will give you tips to succeed in baking a muffin). It is simply mixing the wet and dry ingredients together and some recipes do not even require the use of an electronic beater or whisk.
• It can be frosted or not frosted. For fruit muffins, I like to use a crumble on top (recipe in the next post).
• It can be sweet or savoury and is mostly eaten during breakfast or tea.
• A frosted muffin does not equate a to cupcake.
• Oil is usually used in a muffin recipe.
• Conclusion: A muffin is a type of bread (quick bread).

I hope this clarifies the difference between a cupcake and a muffin better. Watch out for my next post on my experience with baking muffins.

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