Know the Difference Between a Cupcake and a Muffin | Theobroma (2024)

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Know the Difference Between a Cupcake and a Muffin | Theobroma? ›

The fluffy batter is what gives cupcakes their soft, spongy texture. Muffins, on the other hand, are moist and dense. Another important difference between a cupcake and a muffin is that cupcakes tend to have more sugar and so they're a lot sweeter than muffins.

Texture: Cupcakes have a lighter and fluffier texture than muffins. While cupcake batters are soft and smooth, muffin batters are thicker, resulting in a denser texture, similar to bread.

Muffin Cases – A little larger than standard cupcake cases, these will accommodate a larger appetite. Size is around 55mm base x 33mm deep. Other non-standard cases are: Wraps – Very popular for muffins with not much decoration, if any, eg.

Cupcakes and muffins share similarities in their base ingredients of flour, sugar, and fat, but in many cases the commonalities end there. My husband's moniker "sugar muffin" assumes all cupcakes are sweeter than muffins. This is true — cupcakes have more sugar and fat (oil, butter, or dairy).

If you're wondering if a cupcake pan is the same as a muffin pan, the answer is yes! Though generally called muffin pans, they can be used to bake cupcakes, muffins and even savory items, like egg cups.

The main difference between a cake and cupcake is the size. Cupcakes are much smaller, and meant to be consumed by one person whereas cakes are large and meant to be consumed by a group. Any cake can be turned into a cupcake by adjusting the ratio of ingredients, which is why they can be thought of as mini-cakes.

Cupcakes and fairy cakes are often made using the creaming method, with the sugar and butter mixed together, followed by the eggs then the flour. Muffins, on the other hand, are made with the dry ingredients combined separately to the wet ingredients before being mixed together.

Cupcake recipes generally have more sugar and fat (butter, oil, or dairy) than muffins and may include ingredients like whipped eggs or even mayo for texture. And yes, cupcakes almost always include frosting. Muffins, on the other hand, are typically mixed with the muffin method no matter their flavor.

The size and shape of the pan come into play when choosing a muffin or cupcake pan. Mini muffin pans are fabulous for bite-sized snacks, while jumbo muffin pans are ideal for larger groups. Cupcake pans usually have 6 or 12 cups, while muffin pans typically have 6, 12, or 24 cups.

Cupcake recipes generally contain much higher levels of sugar and fat. This makes cupcakes sweeter, and juicier with finer crumbs. Muffins usually have fruit, nuts, and other ingredients mixed into the batter to compensate. Because of this, muffins are usually considered healthier than cupcakes.

What are the 2 main types of muffins? ›

MUFFIN TYPES AND MIXING METHODS

There are two types of muffins: Standard (bread-like) or cake-like, each mixed using a different method and containing different proportions of fat and sugar to flour.

Muffins, coffeecakes, scones, and pancakes are examples of quick breads, that like their name implies, can be prepared quickly in a kitchen.

Likewise, the name “cupcake” comes from how the recipe was measured: 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, and 4 eggs. Early cupcakes were baked in teacups or ramekins (small clay pots) before the invention of the multi-cup pans we use today. Hence, a cup of cake!

Muffins have a thick batter that gives them a bread-like texture. They are either sweet or savory and have no frosting or icing. On the other hand, cupcakes have a light and fluffy texture. they are sweet and always have frosting or icing on top.

Our recipes suggest you bake using muffin cases rather than dainty little fairy cake cases so that you get a more satisfying sponge. When filling your cupcake cases, only pour the batter until it is two thirds full… then stop! Overfilling leads to overflowing, so always leave some rising room for your cupcake sponge.

Many muffin recipes come so close to the edge of actually being cake that I would not hesitate to think of them in that category. I think a little glaze is okay on a muffin (or some crystal sugar baked on top). But big dollops of frosting belong on cupcakes, not muffins.

Muffins have more or less all ingredients used in cakes but the proportion is different. There is more flour, more liquid, less sugar and fat in muffin batter. Most cakes need two or more eggs while muffins use only one. Baking powder is used for batter rise but yeast is never used in muffins.

Cupcake recipes generally contain much higher levels of sugar and fat. This makes cupcakes sweeter, and juicier with finer crumbs. Muffins usually have fruit, nuts, and other ingredients mixed into the batter to compensate. Because of this, muffins are usually considered healthier than cupcakes.

There are two types of muffins: Standard (bread-like) or cake-like, each mixed using a different method and containing different proportions of fat and sugar to flour.

In previous centuries, before muffin tins were widely available, the cakes were often baked in individual pottery cups, ramekins, or molds and took their name from the cups they were baked in.