What is the difference between a cup cake and a muffin?

Answer 1

It is a common misconception that muffins and cupcakes are the same thing. While some people have answered that they are different because cupcakes are sweeter or muffins have fruit and nuts in them, these two are incorrect. The difference lies in the basic formulas. Cupcakes are exactly as described....very small cakes. The preparation it the same as a large cake. Now, muffins, on the other hand are not cakes at all. There is no similarities between cupcakes and muffins, except for the fact that they are baked in the same fashion. Most basic muffin formulas call for an oil, as the fat, instead of butter. Most cake recipes will have you cream the fat(butter) and sugar. A muffin is actually classified as a bread, a quick bread to be exact. Muffin formulas contain all purpose flour, bread flour, or cake flour.....or a combination of any of these. A cake recipe will generally only contain cake flour or all purpose. while muffins might contain these too, the actual preparation is different. A muffin recipe might contain a bread flour for added gluten. This gluten helps form the stronger texture that a muffin has. All muffin recipes I use employ the same methods of procedure as scones and biscuits. I hope this helped!!

Answer 2

It has come down to several factors, according various sources:
1. They are normally different sizes, cupcakes being smaller.
2. Cupcakes have more sugar.
3. Muffins don't have frosting.

Perhaps the only legitimate difference is that of sugar content. Cupcakes, admittedly, have more sugar. But I feel that the line has become increasingly blurred. Perhaps in earlier days, muffins had far less sugar than pancakes, and didn't taste to sweet. But no more! The muffins you can buy in bakeries nowadays have plenty of sugar, and how. Muffins and cupcakes may have a slightly different texture, but if you slapped frosting on a muffin, it would probably taste about the same, and I don't know that I would know the difference.

The only conclusion to be drawn is that there is in fact no difference between cupcakes and muffins. A blueberry muffin is secretly also a blueberry cupcake, but a blueberry cupcake is strange, so we market it as a blueberry muffin.

Answer 3

A cupcake is a small cake designed to be one serving size and usually has frosting on top. Cupcakes are often served for some type of celebration such as birthdays for kids.

A muffin is more like a small piece of bread. They often have nuts, fruit, or chocolate added. Muffins are often served for breakfast.

They're both great because they don't require plates, utensils, and easy to serve.

Answer 4

To me they are really the same in terms of fat and sugar. However, a muffin sounds healthier because they usually contain some sort of fruit (blueberry, raisin bran, etc.). Also a muffin generally does not have frosting, although it can contain a "crumble top" which is nothing but fat and sugar. So if you want the healthy choice, go for the one you are craving and just eat a smaller portion.

Answer 5

a cup cake has icing and its just cake in a muffin rapper and a muffin is like a breakfast thing or suppost to be n/e ways

Answer 6

While you don't need to frost either. Generally you don't frost a muffin.

A muffin is also more dense in texture and consistency than a cupcake.

If you show up at your kids school with birthday muffins your child will never forgive you.

Answer 7

Typically a cupcake has more sugar and is frosted. Muffins are more likely to be made with fruit.

Answer 8

Nothing really. One is considered a breakfast food and the other a dessert. And don't be fooled.....muffins are not generally more healthy than cupcakes.

Answer 9

cupcake is usually just cake with icing, mostly sweet. Muffins are usually made with berries, nuts ,bran. They can also be sweet, but muffins are usually more healthy.

Answer 10

Cup cake generally has frosting on top and can be from a different dough?