Eater's Digest Blog > The Cupcake v. Muffin Debate
The Cupcake v. Muffin Debate
August 12, 2006 | (9 comments) | Post a Comment
How do you define a cupcake? What's a muffin? In general, cupcakes are light, sweet individual cakes that are usually frosted. Muffins fall into the quick bread category and are heavier, less sweet, less moist and are typically not frosted. Cupcakes are served for dessert; while muffins can be sweet or savory and go well with breakfast, lunch or dinner. No matter how you choose to define them, cupcakes and muffins are popular treats. Here are some favorites: ~ Kid-Pleasing Cupcakes
~ Fruity Muffins
~ Muffins with Veggies
~ Chocolate! a good choice for both Muffins and Cupcakes
After you find a cupcake recipe, browse through the frosting recipes — you're sure to find one that meets your needs.
Comments
What is the difference between a muffin and a cupcake ?? Well, it is definately called a muffin if I'm eating it for breakfast, because I would never, ever eat a cupcake for breakfast ! [wink]
As an English person, I would say that cup cakes are what most Americans call Muffins! Our muffins in England are savoury and more like a solid "Crumpet" without so many holes. We use our muffins for savoury cooking mainly such as Eggs Benedict, Bacon Butties or just lightly toasted with butter & cheese! Our cup cakes, do NOT have to be iced - they resemble American Muffins but tend to be smaller. I remember making Butterfly Cup (Fairy) Cakes with my Mum when I was very small!! I think the debate is a linguistics thing, as even in Great Britain we call what used be cup cakes, Muffins now - well the younger generation do anyway!One last point - our cup cakes used to be called & MAY still be called "Fairy Cakes" - a lovely name I think for little light, sweet bites!!!!
I would say that a muffin is coarser, heavier, and usually has bits of "stuff" in it, whereas a cupcake is exactly what it says, a "cup cake." Cupcakes have, to me, a finer texture, is more tender, and is sweeter and more "monotone" than a muffin. I do like cupcakes better, since I don't like the heavy texture of muffins. Bring on the frosting!!!
Cupcakes to me are a mini version of an iced cake. Muffins on the other hand can be sweet or savoury as you like. Same could be said of scones as I have made sweet or savoury ones of those. Who cares really as long as they are edible.
I love them both! Donna A.
The words cup cakes denote cup size cakes. Most of us think of cakes as something sweet and dessertish with frosting. Muffins on the other hand can be an addition to a meal. Such as dunking the muffin in the the egg yolk or as a bread subsitute. These are just my thoughts and how I have always thought of the difference. I agree with Donna A., I love them both!
I never knew there was a 'debate' over cupcakes vs. muffins *chuckles*...In any case, thanks to this page AND my recent purchase of new muffin/cupcake tins, I'll definitely be checking out the recipe links on this page!
If kids eat it because they like it - It's a cupcake but if adults it it because they think it's healthy...It's a muffin! LOL
i m a muffin and this makes my buddies to be cupcakes ...[ mux hekk jew =p ] i love both muffins and cupcakes since i love both myself and my friends XD I eat them both ... no matter what time of day , and don t really care if they re healthy or not ... i just go crazy for them =] <3
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